§ 16-100-204 — Administration of mental health specialty court program

(a) A mental health specialty court program may require a separate judicial processing system differing in practice and design from the traditional adversarial criminal prosecution and trial systems. (b) (1) The administrative judge of the judicial district shall designate one (1) or more circuit judges to be mental health specialty court judges and to administer the mental health specialty court program. (2) If a county is in a judicial district that does not have a circuit judge who is able to administer the mental health specialty court program on a consistent basis, the administrative plan for the judicial circuit required by Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 14 may designate a district court judge to be a mental health specialty court judge and to administer the mental health specialty court program. (c) A mental health specialty court team shall be designated by a mental health specialty court judge and may include: (1) A circuit judge; (2) A prosecuting attorney; (3) A public defender or private defense attorney; (4) One (1) or more healthcare providers with experience in the field of mental health treatment; (5) One (1) or more probation officers; (6) One (1) or more private mental health treatment provider representatives with experience in the field of mental health treatment; and (7) Any other individual determined necessary by the mental health specialty court judge. (d) Each judicial district may develop a training and implementation manual for the mental health specialty court program with the assistance of the: (1) Department of Human Services; (2) Department of Health; (3) Division of Community Correction; (4) Administrative Office of the Courts; and (5) Other federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, or entities with an established history of expertise in mental health conditions.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2017, No. 506,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.