On Thursday, June 23, the Thurston County Mental Health Court Program will host a celebration to recognize ten years of successes.
Mental Health Court is a two-year diversion program for criminal defendants that promotes treatment along with accountability. Participants must demonstrate law abiding behavior, participate in recommended treatment, submit to random urinalyses and portable breath tests, attend regular court reviews, and maintain frequent contact with assigned staff.
Once participants successfully complete the program, they may be convicted of lesser charges or have their case dismissed. It is estimated that between 2009 and 2013, Mental Health Court has saved the county in excess of $6.8 million in terms of reduced jail bed days, averaging more than $1,378,000 annually.
Not only does Mental Health Court significantly reduce criminal justice costs for taxpayers, it also results in dramatically lower recidivism rates for its participants.
