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2001 SESSION

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HJ 522 Study; mental health courts.

Introduced by: Jerrauld C. Jones | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Study; mental health courts. Directs the Joint Commission on Behavioral Health Care to study the desirability and feasibility of mental health courts for nonviolent offenders with serious mental illnesses in Virginia. The study shall make recommendations that link the criminal justice system and the mental health and substance abuse treatment system to respond to the full-range of needs of individuals with serious mental illness who are charged with misdemeanor or nonviolent felonies in an integrated and cost-effective manner. Such recommendations shall address, but not be limited to, (i) specialized training of law-enforcement and judicial personnel to identify and address the treatment and support needs of people with serious mental illness, (ii) increased linkages between the criminal justice and mental health treatment systems to assure that nonviolent offenders with serious mental illnesses receive needed treatment services, (iii) the implementation of a program to encourage and assist in the establishment of one or more mental health courts on a pilot basis, and (iv) statutory changes needed to effect the Commission's recommendations.


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