Philadelphia creates mental health court

From The Philadelphia Inquirer:

Saying prisons have replaced state hospitals as a repository for people with mental illness, Philadelphia court officials July 7 announced a new special court to provide post-prison supervision designed to keep convicted criminals with mental health problems from returning to custody.

The Philadelphia Mental Health Court officially begins operating July 8 with a group of 15 inmates about to be released after serving jail terms.

"We want to stop the revolving door of recidivism," said Common Pleas Court Supervising Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper in announcing the court this morning at the Criminal Justice Center.

Under the Mental Health Court, non-violent offenders with mental illness who are nearing the end of their prison term and qualify for inclusion will be assigned a probation officer and a program of mental health treatment. Woods-Skipper said the combination of long-term supervision and continuing treatment will help the individual successfully return to the community.

The program is not for people charged with murder or manslaughter, violent and sex crimes or gun charges, the judge said.

State Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, a former city police officer and judge, said almost 30 percent of those serving prison terms have some form of mental illness.

"Jail is not the proper place for so many of our citizens," McCaffery said.

Court officials said the new court will be started with a one-time state grant of about $60,000 and will not affect the already strained city budget.

Personnel will be drawn from the current staff of the city's probation and mental health agencies.

Untreated mental illness has been identified as a contributor to homelessness and repeat offenses by many people who initially enter the justice system through misdemeanors and minor crimes.