Mental Health Court
What is Mental Health Court:
Grafton County Mental Health Courts are intensive and comprehensive court programs designed as alternatives to incarceration. The programs strive to hold its participants accountable for their behavior while also holding the community accountable for quality of care of the individual.
12-18 month program
What is offered?
Services offered within this program are;
- Substance Abuse Evaluations
- Mental Health Referral
- Intensive Case Management
- Individual Counseling
- Psychoeducation / Therapeutic Groups
- Restitution Support
- Education
- Employment Assistance
- Community Connections
- Substance Abuse Testing
- Community Service
- Medication Monitoring
- Veterans Assistance
- Housing Assistance
More services may be offered as the need arises.
Referral Process
Referrals for these programs come from a number of different sources, including the Department of Corrections, law enforcement, prosecutor, defense counsel, treatment provider, family members or the court. All referrals are made to the Mental Health Court Coordinator who will explain the program to the individual and defense counsel. The individual must complete an application to determine program eligibility. If an individual is eligible they will be referred to the corresponding Mental Health agency for an intake evaluation. Once approved for MHC participants may enter two different ways;
Track 1: The participant maintains his/her plea of “not guilty” and enters into an Agreement to Continue for Dismissal, an agreement in which the person waives his or her right to a speedy trial and the case is continued for a designated period of time. During this period, the participant must remain of good behavior and comply with his/her treatment plan.
Track 2: The participant is ordered to enter into the program as part of a suspended or deferred sentence, where the participant pleads “guilty” to the charge. A sentence, such as jail time, is suspended or deferred for a designated period of time which the person must remain of good behavior and comply with his/her treatment plan.