Illinois Supreme Court to examine how mental health courts are working

From The Associated Press:

Treatment instead of jail is an appropriate option for some people with serious mental illness. And getting help for those people is a goal of Illinois’ 12 mental health courts.

Now, the chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court wants to examine how well those special courts are working.

Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald announced Tuesday that a committee of judges will study the courts and make recommendations.

The state’s mental health courts are in Cook, McHenry, Kane, Lake, DuPage, Winnebago, Rock Island, Lee and Madison counties.

Planning for new mental health courts is under way in McLean, Grundy, Will, Peoria and Macon counties.

Illinois Appellate Justice Kathryn Zenoff of the Second Judicial District is chairing the committee.