12-09-S IN RE: MENTAL HEALTH COURT - ORDERED 6/01/2012 BY ALAN A. DICKEY
EXCERPT: “WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of Florida, Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court and its’ subcommittee on mental health was charged with addressing the issues of persons with mental illnesses involved in the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, specialized courts can enhance the expediency, effectiveness and quality of judicial administration; and WHEREAS, in view of the nature of mental illness and developmental disability, it is in the public interest and in the interest of justice that a new strategy be implemented to address persons who are mentally ill or developmentally disabled and who are arrested for nonviolent criminal offenses; and WHEREAS, the Court in the interest of justice strives to balance the need for mentally ill and developmentally disabled defendants to receive appropriate treatment with the need for public safety; and WHEREAS, there is a recognized need for the Court to expeditiously and efficiently move mentally ill or developmentally disabled defendants, who are qualified to participate in the Mental health Court from jail into the mental health system without compromising the safety of the public; It is, therefore ORDERED: (Open AO for more information.)”
Additional Information: