Friday, February 3, 2012

What goes on in Mental Health Court

Judge Charles Weech runs a great court in McHenry County for those who have a mental health diagnosis and get caught up in a crime. The Court convenes several times each month, and Judge Weech takes a very personal interest in each case.

The Court is conducted differently than the criminal courts. Judge Weech actually has a conversation with each defendant. When the defendants are complying with their treatment plans and court-ordered appointments, everything goes smoothly. Judge Weech will praise the defendant, and from time to time the Court even awards a small gift of encouragement to the defendant. That happened today.

And today something else happened. One defendant had missed four court-ordered meetings this week. Worse, he apparently had lied to the Mental Health Court team. Judge Weech revoked the man's bond and had him taken into custody during today's Court session. The bailiff stepped up and handcuffed the man, who will spend the week-end in jail and have lots of time to think about how much better it would have been to go to those four meetings. And not to lie to the team. He'll have until Monday at 10:00AM to wear orange and think about it.

The requirements of the Court are reasonable, and they are designed to help defendants get their lives back on track. Some see the light early and get on the train. Others push back a little. And some leave the program before graduation and go back to the regular criminal court system.

Tuesday night, February 7, at 6:30PM, the Mental Health Court will hold a graduation ceremony for those who have completed their programs. It takes a lot of hard work, and defendants are given tremendous support. The ceremony is truly a "graduation". One of the rewards of graduation is that the criminal charges are dismissed.

Congratulations to all those who will graduate on Tuesday!

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