§ 13:5353 — Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse court program" means a program that, through the participation of professionals with training and experience in treating persons with mental illness issues and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse issues, addresses the needs of criminal defendants with either mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance abuse issues.
(2) "Mental health court" or "mental health court program" means a structured judicial intervention process for mental health treatment of eligible criminal defendants that includes mental health court professionals, local social programs, and intensive judicial monitoring in support of such defendants.
(3) "Mental health court professional" means a member of the mental health court team, including but not limited to a judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, probation officer, coordinator, treatment provider, behavioral health advocate, or case manager.
(4) "Post-adjudicatory mental health court program" means a program in which the defendant has pled guilty or has been convicted and the defendant then agrees, with consent of the prosecution, to enter a mental health court program as part of the defendant's criminal sentence.

Legislative History

Acts 2013, No. 346, §1.