KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. – (WATE) — The Knox County Mental Health Court has seen success since planning first began in August.
Fifteen people are enrolled in the program. Knox County Criminal Court Clerk Mike Hammond said the process provides an alternative to jail for adults with mental illnesses.
“Instead of putting them in jail, they can go before the judge. The judge will be presented with all the facts of the case and the judge will make the final determination,” Hammond said.
Eligible defendants begin the process which typically lasts 16-24 months. The defendant is assigned a case manager who develops a treatment plan and provides guidance through the court process. Hammond said they’ve already seen success with the program.
“We’re excited because on May 31, we will have our very first graduate. The individual who is going to be graduating was in recovery court before the mental health court but we knew they needed the resources of mental health court, so they transitioned over,” he said.
There are 48 people currently waiting to see if they’re eligible for the court, hoping to see the same results as those already enrolled.
“They have gone to their case management. They’re making great progress. They have to be drug tested. They have to do all of those things, but they have their clinicals. They have to come to court on a regular basis and report in and we have seen of the 15 participants we have, we have a willingness,” Hammond said.
Knox County is one of just 300 communities in the United States with a mental health court. Hammond encourages other local leaders to create one.
“Do it, because it will help you get people out of jail. The Knox County detention facility is the number one mental health facility in East Tennessee. About 30-35 percent of the people out there are mentally ill. The jail is not prepared to take care of those folks. Utilizing this program, we’re able to get those people out of jail, get them into treatment, and that reduces our inmate population,” Hammond said.
Anyone over the age of 18 with an outstanding charge in Knox County and a mental health disorder that may have contributed to that charge is eligible to participate, except for those who have a violent or sexual offense history.
The mental health court is held weekly in the First Sessions Court at the City County Building.
