Mental Health Court budget cut is counterproductive

Not only is it counterproductive, it is an injustice. The mental health community has worked tirelessly to be able to raise awareness of the difference between someone who has an impaired mental state and those who have criminal intent. Aside from getting average citizens into treatment instead of jail, it has also been raising awareness of the unique circumstances when combat veterans come home wounded by PTSD and end up in trouble. This is one of the last things that should be cut from a budget, especially one that is facing tight financial times. It will only increase the numbers of incarcerated individuals and many of them don't belong there.

Mental Health Court makes strides, but funds drying up
By M.S. Enkoji - menkoji@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, October 6, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B1
Sacramento Bee - CA, USA


Every week, Superior Court Judge Jaime Román finds a reason among a pile of stuffed manila folders to lead applause in his courtroom.

Both sides of the courtroom join him with genuine joy.

"You are incredibly positive," Román said to a woman standing before him who beamed at his praise. She's a criminal – a mentally ill one.


But she's garnering high praise from a judge, a prosecutor and a probation officer.

Sacramento County's Mental Health Court is diverting mentally ill, habitual, nonviolent offenders away from a cycle that spins them through jail and back on the street.

For a year to 18 months, with intense supervision, classes, medical treatment, unannounced monitoring, housing and transportation assistance – and regular check-ins with Román – they rebuild their lives and stay out of jail.

Mental health court is saving millions in criminal justice costs, as it has in Santa Clara County, supporters say. And it could save much more.

"We're taking people who, through no fault of their own, can't function as a regular part of society and we're helping them," said Siena Riffia, a Sacramento County public defender who works in Mental Health Court.

But just as the new court is hitting stride with stable graduates in school and on the job, the new state budget has virtually gutted the whole effort.

"There is no money," Román said to a handful of stunned clients in his courtroom last week.
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