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Program Description
The Jefferson County Mental Health Court Program in conjunction with UAB Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime (TASC) will target persons having Class C felony charges and/or Class B property charges along with an Axis I serious mental illness (SMI). Initially, the program will target offenders in the County Jail with preliminary screening conducted at booking for the purpose of classification. Additional screening for the program will take place by the Mental Health Court case manager who will screen for program eligibility. The goals of the Mental Health Court program are to expedite case processing, create effective dialogue between mental health and the criminal justice system, increase access to mental health resources, reduce recidivism and to reduce the time spent in jail. The supervising judge will be Judge Virginia A. Vinson, who along with Deputy District Attorney, Tyrone Townsend, will finalize disposition of cases that come through the Mental Health Court. Participants of the program will be supervised for a minimum of six months or longer, depending on the defendant. The Jail's contract psychiatrist will conduct clinical assessment and will also assess for competency of prospective program participants. Mental Health Court case managers will provide intensive case management that will include field supervision of program participants, in addition to jail interviews and screening for eligibility.
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Program Eligibility
1. Felony offense- Class C felonies or Class B property offense 2. No prior violent felony convictions within the past five years 3. Identified Axis I mental illness 4. Currently in the Jefferson County Jail 5. Jefferson County resident Discretion will be given to the Mental Health Court team to review each potential participant on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility. Judge Vinson will determine final eligibility of case based upon the recommendation of the Mental Health Court team. Court Reviews Upon release from the County Jail to community placement, the defendant will appear before the Judge for an initial review. In the first phase of the program, reviews will be every other Thursday in the month at 1:30 p.m., or on an as-needed basis. In phase two and three, the defendant will meet for judicial review once a month, on a Thursday at 1:30 p.m. or on an as-needed basis.
Mental Health Court
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Target Population
Persons who have a serious mental illness (SMI), are currently in the Jefferson County Jail and possess non-violent Class C felony charges or Class B property charges. "Serious mental illness" includes the Axis I diagnosis listed below. Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders:
295.xx Schizophrenia Mood Disorders (Major):
296.xx Major Depressive Disorder Anxiety Disorders (Severe):
300.01 Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia |
Referrals At the time Mental Health Court case managers verify eligibility for the program, the attorney will be notified. If the attorney feels the program would be good for his/her client, then the following will take place: -If the case is in District Court, the Mental Health Court case manager will contact the attorney who will request that his client's case be transferred to Judge Vinson's courtroom to participate in the Mental Health Court Program. -If the case have been waived to the grand jury, but have not made it on the grand jury, then the attorney will need to make the referral to the Mental Health Court case manager, and contact Deputy District Attorney Tyrone Townsend so he can follow up with the status of the case. -If the case is in Circuit Court, the attorney will need to make the referral to the Mental Health Court case manager, and see Judge Vinson who will then discuss with Circuit Court judges about the transferring of cases at the Circuit Court level.
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