Granted

Court treatment program is awarded state funding

Celebrating the state grant received for the Western Wayne Regional
 Behavioral Treatment Court at the 29th District Court in Wayne are,
from left, Home Compliance Officer Ed Johnson, Program Coordinator
Karen Finney,Judge Breeda O'Leary, Probation Officer Purity Marsh,
and Care Manager Elizabeth Barton.

The Western Wayne Regional Behavioral Treatment Court located at the 29th District Court in Wayne, was recently awarded $203,000 in grant funding from the State Court Administrative Office. The funds will be used to administer services to participants in the jail diversion program that serves mentally ill offenders from eight district courts in western Wayne County. 

Judge Breeda O'Leary of the 29th District Court presides over the program.

The treatment court  program is available for defendants affected by mental illness (or co-occurring Substance-Use Disorder) and who are at high risk of reoffending. The 12-month program is very intensive and hands-on, officials said.  The grant funding will enable the program to provide participants links to mental health and substance use treatment, drug screening, access to properly prescribed medications, and frequent monitoring by the probation officer. 

“The treatment court model addresses the underlying problems that can cause criminal behavior," O'Leary explained.  She noted that mental illness and substance use, very often, are major contributory factors. The grant funds will also allow the treatment court to provide wraparound support such as case management, housing and employment assistance, linkage to primary care physicians, and access to support groups. 

Mental health treatment courts have been proven to reduce recidivism, O'Leary said. According to the 2021 Problem Solving Court Annual Report, the statewide recidivism rate within three years for graduates of Mental Health Courts is 20 percent versus 38 percent for comparison members of the population. 

Funding is imperative for the mental health court to continue offering these services, O'Leary said, and the state grant will support the program goal of jail diversion and treatment for participants.