County courts partner for new program

The men and women responsible for administering justice to local offenders are always cognizant of the careful balance they must preserve between protecting the public and rehabilitating criminals.

In the case of crimes caused by mental illness, though, walking that fine line between both aspects isn’t always easy.

The State of Michigan has stepped in to help courthouses across the state deal with these complicated issues, providing funding to county law enforcement agencies to establish Regional Mental Health Court program, which begins operations on Oct. 1. The new initiative is an expansion of the 15 pre-existing mental health courts in the state, creating new partnerships across counties intended to tackle cases concerning mental issues.

Among these new collaborations is one between Berrien and Cass counties. The former will expand its existing mental health court to the latter, with each receiving $424,000 from the state to fund the new partnership. Judges from both counties are expected to work with 50 defendants between Oct. 1 and Sept. 20 of 2015, according to the Berrien County Trial Court.

“We’re focusing on individuals who end in the criminal justice system not because of criminal thinking, but because of mental issues,” said Cass County Probate Judge Susan Dobrich.

The new court joins the existing specialized justice programs in the county, including family treatment, swift and sure, and sobriety courts.

“Both Berrien and Cass have lengthy history of treatment courts, so it was a natural fit to bring this here,” Dobrich said.

One of the goals of the new system is to provide more appropriate sentences for offenders with mental illness, with prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges working together to find suitable alternative to straight incarceration for defendants. Judges will have the power to mandate treatment under court supervision, in order to help eliminate the source of the criminal behavior.

“It’s treatment with a hammer,” Dobrich said. “Once they agree to the conditions they have to follow them. Either you get the treatment or you go to jail.”

In Cass County, cases will be first screened by staff with Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare, who will make appropriate recommendations for treatment, Dobrich said.

With this new system in place, the judge hopes that county will be able to reduce its jail population, while making sure that people with mental illnesses receive the attention they need, for both their and their neighbor’s benefit.

“Our number one priority is the protection of the public,” she said. “You can protect the public best by ensuring that offenders don’t reoffend.”