May 9, 2007

Mass. lacks court for mentally ill

Establish a separate court system for offenders with mental health problems

Scott Wachtler, Correspondent
BostonNOW

Since 2000, more than 100 separate mental health courts have been set up across the country to handle the needs of the mentally ill inside the criminal justice system.

None exist in Massachusetts.

State Rep. Ruth Balser hopes to change that. Yesterday at the Statehouse, she proposed a bill that would establish a separate court system for offenders with mental health problems.

Balser said the large number of mentally ill individuals that land in the criminal justice system makes this bill necessary.

"[When] a mentally ill person [is] arrested for disorderly conduct or a public nuisance, really what's happening is their mental illness is being displayed and the police don't know what to do, so what a mental health court would do is redirect those people into treatment," Balser said.

Balser said that her bill has the support of the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association.

"Once in jail these people just get worse," Balser said. "It's exactly the opposite of what you want to happen."

Balser said federal grants have been available to fund such a bill since 2000 and Massachusetts should take advantage of the existing money.

"I have spoken to Governor Patrick about this because he could apply for this grant," Balser said.

Patrick, according to Balser, is reviewing the proposal.