Mental Health Court Case Study

Courts, are usually established to either declare a defendant innocent or announce him guilty with a particular sentence depending strictly on the crime. However, the Yuma Mental Health Court is like no other court in the U.S Criminal Justice System. This unique court has specifically been established for two main reasons. The first reason, is to maintain mental ill defendants out of any jails or prisons, in order for them to receive proper treatments. The next reason, is that this court tries to help special defendants by sending them to treatment agencies so they can either be provided with medications or get some form of therapy. Yuma County is very fortunate to have this type of court in their area. In this writing, this author will analyze

The three goals are promoting public safety, reducing criminal recidivism, plus engaging and retaining mentally ill offenders in appropriate treatment resources. Public safety is the main reason courts in America were invented, so they can determine if someone is or not, a danger to society (Yuma County Superior Court Mental Health Court, 2013). Keeping those who are consider dangerous locked up and away from society, creates a safer environment. Secondly, reducing criminal recidivism is another goal for MHC. Studies showed that the majority of mentally ill people who entered jail/prison, would come in and out of the Justice System (Yuma County Superior Court Mental Health Court, 2013). As a result, this court was created to maintain mentally ill individuals’ stable, so they can have control over themselves. This helps them to maintain themselves away from crimes. Reducing criminal recidivism, allows the government to save millions of dollars. The last goal is engaging and retaining mentally ill offenders in appropriate treatment resources so they can maintain themselves stabilized (Yuma County Superior Court Mental Health Court, 2013). This will not only secure mentally ill individuals from snapping, it will also help them maintain a regular life. With these goals, comes great benefits for both the mental ill person and society itself. Benefits such as having a mentally ill defendant not being sentences on