Utah county makes plans for mental health court

From the Deseret News:

FARMINGTON, Utah — Davis County commissioners are seeking to bring mental health court to Davis County.

The commissioners approved a letter Tuesday endorsing a grant application that would help fund the specialized court. The $250,000 grant would be administered in a partnership with the Davis County Attorney's Office, Davis Behavioral Health, law enforcement agencies and Utah State Courts.

Mental health courts were introduced in Utah 10 years ago and allow offenders with mental health issues to work with a judge who can help them get treatment instead of jail time.

"We believe mental health court will be a beneficial jail diversion program for persons with mental illness," the letter states.

Commissioner Bret Millburn, who has worked on the proposal with Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings, said he hopes the mental health court will be operating by the summer.

"We can keep people out of jail and get them on a routine and reduce recidivism," Millburn said. "It's a way of being more efficient with dealing with offenders in our current system."