How does the Mental Health Court program in the 18th Judicial District work?
A referral must be made. Generally, the individual will be recommended to the program by the public defender, defense attorney, probation, district attorney or Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network staff who work in the jails. The application screening and review process is a cross-system collaboration between the District Attorney’s office, defense attorneys, law enforcement, probation, the Mental Health Court, and the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network Mental Health Court Treatment Team. Adherence to a strict plan is mandatory. An individualized treatment and supervision plan is developed and must be approved by the court for the participant, who must agree to all court terms and conditions. It is a rigorous program, requiring adherence to an intensive community-based treatment plan based on the Forensic ACT model. Particpants in the beginning phases of the program are required to have weekly court appearances, frequent substance abuse testing (urine analysis and BA?), daily con
