Beginning in July 2022, certain felons facing mental health and substance abuse problems will be eligible to participate in an all-new Specialty Treatment Court.

In specialized courts, such as mental health courts, offenders are placed on probation, provided with resources, tested for drug and alcohol use, treated in a non-hostile manner, and charged in exchange for completion of the program. is reduced or the sentence is reduced.

In some cases, a person who makes a complaint to a mental health court can escape imprisonment.

The Coconino County program is one of many popular programs nationwide. The program targets people categorized by criminal justice professionals as “high risk, high need,” that is, those who are likely to reoffend and who require supervision and treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. It is specifically designed to serve the

There are currently 12 participants in the Mental Health Tribunal. The limit is 25.

“Most of our referrals come from public defenders’ offices. They represent clients who feel they are suitable or qualified for our program,” says Mental Health. Court Coordinator and Clinical Liaison Sidney Ciarniello explained. “They go through a screening process. If they are screened eligible, they will plead and be sentenced to join our program. It is overseen by the whole.”

Participation in mental health courts is voluntary, because it is no less intense.

Mental health courts are divided into stages. The first phase is 60-90 days long and is designed to immerse newcomers in the processes and supports used in the program to ideally achieve sobriety and stability.

“This is our most structured phase. You see what you see and what you do,” said Cialniello. “As people go through the stages of compliance, all the oversight is reduced. As time goes on, they become less and less visible, but at first they are designed to be very enthusiastic.”

The Arizona Daily Sun spoke to a man who chose to join mental health court in September 2022. His name is Brian and he is currently in Phase 3 of the program.

“When I received the documents, I thought, ‘Wow,'” That’s a lot. I don’t know if we can do this,” Brian said.

Ultimately, he said, he decided that attending a mental health court was better than going to prison. He braced himself for the promise of time.

Cialniello said the Coconino County Attorney’s endorsement and cooperation in fee reduction negotiations helped create an important incentive for people like Bryan.

“So for those who think this might be a lot of work, it might be more desirable. , when you’re in the program, you’re usually more likely to participate, and our county attorneys are very good at proposing fair plea deals to those who participate,” Cialniello said.

Brian is probably the best example of this in terms of participating in this program. Participating in a mental health court allowed a team of people working on his case to keep an eye on him and provide resources and support.

“We have a designated judge who does our calendar each week, we have a designated county attorney from the county attorney’s office, and we have a designated public defender. I have a certified probation officer and I am working with two behavioral health providers and their case managers are joining us in court.From Hope Lives, a local peer support agency. are also participating,” Cialniello said.

As a participant, Brian sees Judge Brent Harris regularly and can see the judge as someone who invested in his success, rather than just someone in a punitive position. He has similar relationships with probation officers and case attorneys.

“As a mental health court judge, I have seen how courts can have a positive impact on our entire community. A team approach can promote healing and empowerment far beyond the courtroom, improve health, reduce recidivism and victimization, and enhance community security,” said Harris.

The structure of mental health courts follows the National Standards for Treatment Courts supervised by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Based on that guidance, the composition of the team for each case was determined.

For Brian, his interaction with Hope Lives was life-changing.

pass through ” [Mental Health Court] It brought out something in me that I didn’t have when I was a kid: the joy of helping people,” he said.

He said he felt it was his calling to work with others at the shelter and Hope Lives he had been in. After completing mental health court, he hopes to continue working with people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders.

“My dream will be great because it will always reward me. Working with homeless and addicts and mental health groups, I just want to do my part and share what I have and my knowledge,” Brian said.

The mental health court is designed to take about a year and a half to complete, but timing is flexible.

“While we try to have general guidelines, we understand that everyone is different and that they reach their goals at different speeds,” Cialniello said.

Bryan hasn’t graduated yet, but his assigned team of supporters expects him to be one of the first success stories on the relatively new specialty court.

“Helping the homeless and drug addicts has always been an uplifting thing for me. Working every day.Tired but rewarding to work with them in the peer support program.I am now on a mission to help as many people as possible.If I have the chance,I will go to jail soon Instead, let me get treatment,” Bryan said.

according to A study published in 2011 The Justice Quarterly magazine found that specialized courts reduced recidivism, or the likelihood that a person would reoffend and be involved in justice again, by 9%. Other research Researchers found the treatment to be effective in up to 60% of participants, but both research and treatment methodologies vary widely across the country.

The consensus remains that specialized courts generally help curb incarceration rates and keep successful participants out of the criminal justice system more permanently.

“All studies show that this type of treatment court reduces recidivism. , a program that reduces recidivism in such high-need and high-risk people.

Ciarnello started working for the Coconino County Adult Probation Service right out of college. There she spent six years, supervising cases of people suffering from severe mental illness.

Now she acts as a kind of formal program coordinator while remaining on a team that supports people recovering from mental illness and substance use.

Her position was established with funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA).

Coconino County Judge Sharon Yates referred to figures like Judge Harris, saying, “The mental health courts don’t have additional funding, so these figures can’t do this within their current positions and roles.” I am going,” he said.

Still, she said she believes the court’s investment of time and resources will be worth it in the end.

“I think this is useful because these people are already involved in our criminal justice system and our court system. Even if you’re not involved, it will help you in the long run,” Yates said.

The first round of the mental health court has yet to conclude, so it’s hard to tell if the team’s efforts will pay off.

Not everyone who files a complaint with a mental health court gets through the program. Ciarniello said several people have already dropped out of the Coconino County version.

“Some people work, some people don’t. Not everyone is ready for it, so I really believe you have to be ready,” Brian said.

Still, the Coconino County team continues to invest in people who want to change their lives for the better.

“I believe in them. Told.

Brian himself is perhaps the most optimistic about the future performance of the burgeoning program.

“They are going to help a lot of people. I hope there will be more people like me,” he said.