COLLIER COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM:
Welcome to the Collier County Mental Health Court Website for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
TABLE OF CONTENTS - COLLIER COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COURT PROGRAM
INTRODUCTION
The Collier County Mental Health Court Program was developed in October 2007 as an effort to indentify and address the unique needs of individuals living with a mental illness who have entered into the criminal justice system. The intent is to improve public safety by helping these individuals continue to be productive and responsible members of the community.
The Collier County Mental Health Court Program is an alternative to the traditional court system. An individual may be self referred, by his or her attorney, a family member, law enforcement officer, court personnel, or mental health professional. The individual must have a qualifying Axis One diagnosis from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), some correlation between the offense and the diagnosis, and agree to voluntarily enter the program. However, final acceptance is determined by the State Attorney’s Office. Once accepted, the defendant and mental health professionals develop an individual mental health treatment plan for the defendant to participate in and approved by the court. Assistance and treatment is coordinated throughout the plan and progress is monitored closely. The defendant must attend regular court appearances and must meet conditions of probation when applicable.
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INFORMATION / CONTACTS
For more information about this program and/or to make a referral, please contact Charles R. Crews of the Collier County Probation Department at (239) 252-8702.
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