{"id":389,"date":"2025-02-25T17:30:16","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/mhcourtprg\/"},"modified":"2025-02-25T17:30:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:30:16","slug":"mhcourtprg","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/mhcourtprg\/","title":{"rendered":"mhcourtprg ~  Delaware&#8217;s Mental Health Court  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n  \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/mhcourtprg.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->Delaware Mental Health Court<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Substance Abuse and Mental Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dsamh\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/about.html\">About DSAMH<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/faq.html\">FAQs<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/contact.html\">Contact Information<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">  \n   <!-- <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/cccp_red.html\">CCCP & Residential Programs<\/a>\n    <\/li>-->\n        <li>\n      <a href=\"\/988.html\">988<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/crisis_intervention.html\">Crisis Intervention<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/court_programs.html\">Court Programs<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/mental_health_cmhc.html\">PROMISE Assessment Center&#8217;s<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/dpc.html\">Delaware Psychiatric Center<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/eeu_home.html\">Eligibility &#038; Enrollment Unit<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n   \n   \n      <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/peerservices.html\">Peer Services<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n\n  \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/promise.html\">PROMISE<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/gambling.html\">Problem Gambling<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/substance_abuse.html\">Substance Abuse<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/tasc.html\">Treatment Access Centers<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n    <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/train.html\">Training<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n   \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/screenerscorner.html\">Mental Health Screener&#8217;s Corner<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/recovery_resources.html\">Recovery Resources<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n \n    <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/residency\/index.html\">Residency<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n   \n  \n         <li>\n      <a href=\"\/dsamh\/policies\/index.html\">Provider Policies  &#038; Resources<\/a>\n    <\/li>\n         \n        \n        \n        \n  <\/ul><\/li>\n<!--    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n  <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n    <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\" target=\"_blank\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n  <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/li> -->\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The Delaware Mental Health Court Program is an interagency effort to screen, identify, treat and divert misdemeanor offenders in need of\n\n\n\n  mental health services.\u00a0 Offenders with a possible mental illness are referred early in the adjudication process to the Mental\n\n\n\n  Health Court Program\u2019s clinical case manager.\u00a0 The clinical case manager assesses the offender using the Locus and other\n\n\n\n  assessment instruments to ensure that the offender has an Axis I diagnosis (criteria for eligibility) prior to their enrollment in the\n\n\n\n  Mental Health Court. The clinical case manager is targeted to manage up to 30 offenders at any given time with referrals being made to\n\n\n\n  the appropriate community services.\u00a0 The <a href=\"\/dsamh\/index.html\">Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health<\/a>, has\n\n\n\n  designated staff both in their Community Mental Health and Treatment Access Centers <a href=\"\/dsamh\/tasc.html\">(TASC)<\/a> to work on this project.\u00a0 In addition, the <a href=\"http:\/\/courts.delaware.gov\/Courts\/Court%20of%20Common%20Pleas\/\">Court of Common Pleas<\/a> provides judicial oversight and monitors the\n\n\n\n  progress of offenders enrolled in the Mental Health Court through the designated Court of Common Pleas Judge.\u00a0 The Deputy Attorney\n\n\n\n  General and Public Defender assigned to the project work together to ensure that client rights are represented and legal issues\n\n\n\n  addressed.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The value of the program is seen in the improvements made in accessing community mental health services; relief in prison overcrowding;\n\n\n\n  reduction in clinical and legal recidivism and improved public safety.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The formal start-up of the program was in November 2003.\u00a0 As of December 31, 2006, for example, the program has served one hundred\n\n\n\n  thirty nine offenders with one hundred twenty one volunteering to enter the program. The program length is determined by the\n\n\n\n  offender\u2019s progress but with a minimum of fourteen (14) weeks participation.\u00a0\u00a0 All participants are given a handbook\n\n\n\n  outlining both the court and participants responsibilities while involved in the program.\u00a0 Offenders return to court on a regular\n\n\n\n  basis for status hearings before the Mental Health Court Judge. Sanctions and incentives are imposed by the Judge according to the\n\n\n\n  offender\u2019s progress in the program.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The first graduation ceremony took place in May of 2004 with two individuals successfully completing the program.\u00a0 These\n\n\n\n  participants voluntarily agreed to meet with the media to discuss their experience with the diversion program. Subsequently, the News\n\n\n\n  Journal printed an article outlining the program and the individual participants\u2019 successes.\u00a0 As of December 2006, 92% (53 of\n\n\n\n  57) of those offenders who successfully completed the program did not incur new convictions within six months of graduating; seven (7)\n\n\n\n  individuals were terminated for failure to comply with the program requirements.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-center\">\n\n\n\n  Return to <a href=\"\/dsamh\/court_programs.html\">Court Programs<\/a>.\n\n\n\n<\/p>  <!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Mental Health Court Substance Abuse and Mental Health Menu Home About About DSAMH Sections &#038; Programs FAQs Contact Information Office Locations Services 988 Crisis Intervention Court Programs PROMISE Assessment Center&#8217;s Delaware Psychiatric Center Eligibility &#038; Enrollment Unit Peer Services PROMISE Problem Gambling Substance Abuse Treatment Access Centers Information Training Mental Health Screener&#8217;s Corner [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-389","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/389\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dsamh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}