All smiles at the 29th District Court in Wayne are (center) Chief Judge Breeda O’Leary and Deputy County Executive Assad Turfe, along with graduates of the Western Wayne Regional Behavioral Treatment Court.
Pictured are (l-r) Judge O’Leary, Zenell Brown and Anthony Guerriero.
In attendance at the Western Wayne Regional Behavioral Treatment Court’s graduation on September 13 were (l-r) Finley Carter, deputy chief of the Wayne Police Department, Wayne Council members Deborah Wass and Mathew Mulholland, Judge O’Leary, and John Rhaesa, mayor of Wayne.
On Friday, September 13, Judge Breeda O’Leary, chief judge of the 29th District Court in Wayne, presided over the Western Wayne Regional Behavioral Treatment Court’s graduation. The ceremony took place at the 29th District Court, and there were about 40 people in attendance, including Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa; City Manager Diane Webb; and city council members Deborah Wass and Mathew Mulholland. Other guests included Zenell Brown, Region 1 Administrator of SCAO; Anthony Guerriero, on behalf of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office; Judge Michael Gerou of the 35th District Court; and Deputy Wayne County Executive Assad Turfe. Numerous court and law enforcement staff representing Wayne Westland, Livonia, Inkster, Canton and others also attended along with mental health court team members, graduates and their families, and current participants. Four participants received Certificates of Graduation and hearty congratulations from those in attendance.
The mission of the 29th District Mental Health Treatment Court is to provide appropriate services and monitoring for misdemeanor adult defendants suffering from serious mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and/or co-occurring disorders. The main goals are to get non-violent mentally ill defendants out of jail and to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, along with ancillary services such as housing and employment assistance, to keep them from re-offending. At its core, the Mental Health Treatment Court is a collaboration between the criminal justice system and community mental health providers. Team Wellness is the court’s community mental health treatment provider.
The graduation ceremony was a joyful occasion. Three graduates spoke about their personal experiences and how the Mental Health Court program has drastically improved the quality of their lives. A light lunch was served.
The mission of the 29th District Mental Health Treatment Court is to provide appropriate services and monitoring for misdemeanor adult defendants suffering from serious mental illnesses, developmental disabilities and/or co-occurring disorders. The main goals are to get non-violent mentally ill defendants out of jail and to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment, along with ancillary services such as housing and employment assistance, to keep them from re-offending. At its core, the Mental Health Treatment Court is a collaboration between the criminal justice system and community mental health providers. Team Wellness is the court’s community mental health treatment provider.
The graduation ceremony was a joyful occasion. Three graduates spoke about their personal experiences and how the Mental Health Court program has drastically improved the quality of their lives. A light lunch was served.
