Fla. County Plans Court For Mentally Ill Defendants

[The Straight Story]

Fla. County Plans Court For Mentally Ill Defendants

POSTED: 11:43 am EST March 13, 2006

FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- St. Lucie County officials have devised a plan to create a special court for mentally ill defendants to get them treatment instead of incarceration.

The Palm Beach Post reports that mentally ill inmates make up about 20 percent of the population at the county jail.

Assistant Public Defender Katie Alonzo, Assistant State Attorney Jason Berger and other officials helped create the program to handle the cases. Officials hope to have the court operating by April.

Under the plan, attorneys or jail officials would determine which defendants arrested on misdemeanors show signs of mental illness. The state attorney's office would then ultimately decide whether the defendant, who also must agree, is a fit for the program.

http://www.local6.com/news/7962730/detail.html

Well, we know where they will hold a trial for Jeb if they ever charge him...

[mom cat]

1. Only one problem: Jeb would have to fund the programs.

[SPKrazy]

2. This Is Really A Progressive Move For Florida

Under Jebbie, I always think of them as being stuck in some kind of time warp. But this is very progressive legislation. It is also being done to save the jails and counties money. Most of these folks will probably either have disability or qualify for it, therefore get their meds from Medicaid. It also may not provide for food and shelter, as jail would and since mentally ill defendents take up beds that criminals could use, this will help the state and counties as well.

All that said, it is still a progressive move to treat mental illness instead of lock it up.