Chairman, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts
SPECIAL REPORT
June 2008
MENTAL HEALTH COURTS
In my last Special Report I discussed a problem-solving court known as "Drug Treatment Court." In this report I will describe another specialized court known as "Mental Health Court."
Problem-solving courts come in all sizes and shapes. All models, however, utilize a collaborative, multi-disciplinary, problem-solving approach to address the underlying issues that contribute to the criminal behavior. In the case of Drug Treatment Court the underlying issue is drug or alcohol addiction; in the case of Mental Health Court the underlying issue is mental illness.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT
Recently I convened two days of meetings of the Subcommittee on Courts with the Allegheny County Mental Health Court. We met with the following county officials who collaborate to make the Court a success:
1. Judge John Zottola;
2. an Assistant Public Defender;
3. a Deputy District Attorney;
4. the Deputy Director, Adult Probation Office; and
5. a Forensic Probation Officer.
The Allegheny County Mental Health Court links individuals convicted of non-violent crimes to community-based treatment for mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction. A recently released Rand Corporation study found that the court has the potential to save taxpayers money.
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT WHILE SAVING TAX DOLLARS
Rand researchers found that participants in Allegheny County’s Mental Health Court program received more mental health services and spent fewer days in jail than they might have if they had been sentenced in criminal court. They found that spending on additional mental health treatment is largely offset by tax dollar savings generated because offenders under mental health court supervision spend less time in jail in the first year after sentencing.
The study concluded that in the second year after sentencing the ongoing decline in jail time for participants more than offset the cost of mental health treatment. All in all, Allegheny County saved more than $9,500 per mental health court participant in a two-year span. Completion of the mental health court program substantially reduces the chance that the offender will commit another crime, hence more taxpayer resources are saved as a result.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Allegheny Mental Health Court is not a “walk in the park” for offenders who enter the program. They must enter into an agreement to follow a service plan, which sets forth a number of stipulations, such as attendance at an inpatient drug rehabilitation program and refraining from any use of illegal substances or alcohol. The offender must comply with the stipulations or be sent to jail.
When an offender completes the mental health court program, it is clear that tax dollars and other resources of society are saved. It is also clear that lives are saved.
I salute Judge John Zottola and the entire crew at the Allegheny County Mental Health Court. They are nothing short of inspirational.
If you have questions about the above or any other state-related matter, please contact one of my offices.
DISTRICT OFFICE CAPITOL OFFICE
3880 Perrysville Avenue P.O. Box 202020
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(412) 321-5523 (717) 787-5470 (412) 321-5517 fax (717) 783-0407 fax