Survey says mental health courts effective
The findings of a survey of participants in 10 mental health court programs in Michigan show the effectiveness of such programs and support a package of legislation that would statutorily create mental health courts and lay out a blueprint for these programs.
“This survey shows how effective mental health court programs can be and why they are an important investment for Michigan,” said State Rep. John Walsh, R-Livonia, Speaker Pro Tempore of the House. “Participants in these programs are significantly less likely to become repeat offenders than the rest of the prison population. They also are more likely to have improved mental health, education and job outcomes after they complete their program.”
The survey was conducted over three years, and found that participants in a mental health court program were 300 percent less likely to become a repeat offender than similar offenders. This difference continued even after a participant graduated from the program, with 18.97 percent of program participants becoming repeat offenders 30 months later, or over a year after graduation from their program.
Participants in mental health court programs were also able to improve both their employment status and education level. A total of 23 percent of participants improve their employment status while in the program, while more than a quarter of participants improve their education levels before graduation.
“The results clearly show that these programs have a significant benefit for the participants,” Walsh said. “Mental health courts have proven to be worth the investment in Michigan by preventing crime and helping the participants become productive members of society. Expanding mental health courts in Michigan would help reduce the cost of the state’s prison system while helping individuals lead better and more productive lives.”
House Bills 4694-4697 are currently up for consideration in the House Judiciary Committee. Walsh is the sponsor of HB 4695.
50th Anniversary of State Constitution
The 2013 Wayne Law Review Symposium, “A Wave of Change: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Michigan’s Constitution and the Evolution of State Constitutionalism” will be hosted on Friday, Oct. 11, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year’s symposium marks the 50th Anniversary of Michigan’s Constitution. Ratified in 1963, it was part of a wave of change in state constitutions sparked by the “one person, one vote” standard formulated by the U.S. Supreme Court in Baker v. Carr. After 1963, nine states ratified new constitutions as part of this wave. This symposium seeks to evaluate the progress of state constitutions over the past 50 years. Speakers will include national scholars on state constitutionalism as well as Michigan judges, practitioners, and community members.
For more information about this event, please visit waynelawreview.org and click on the tab entitled “Symposia” or contact Stephanie Eisenberg at 248-884-2116 or eisenberg.steph@gmail.com.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
