Mental Health Court - NOT a free ride

One of the specialty courts in the McHenry County's court system, the Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, is the Mental Health Court. Circuit Judge Charles P. Weech is the presiding judge in this court.

A defendant in a criminal case can apply to have his case transferred from one of the criminal court rooms if he meets the requirements for the Mental Health Court. To learn more about the Court, click here.

Participation in the Mental Health Court is voluntary. A defendant does not have to have his case heard in this court. Once accepted, very rigid supervision is quickly put in place, and the defendant is expected to comply.

A Court Team is in place, and the team includes Judge Weech, an administrator, a nurse, a probation officer, a clinician, the defendant's attorney (public defender or private) and an Assistant State's Attorney.

Judge Weech and the team are thoroughly engaged with each defendant, and the goal is for the defendant to complete the program successfully and graduate. Successful completion means a dismissal of the charges, although there may be some costs levied and restitution in certain cases.

Defendants are given every opportunity to begin changing their ways. Sometimes they don't. Then the judge imposes sanctions, which might  drug and alcohol screenings, community service, brief incarceration and, ultimately, dismissal from the court, which means the defendant returns to the regular criminal court room.

Today Judge Weech had to deal with two individuals who earned serious sanctions.

One young woman had failed a drug test and, although on home confinement, had found a way to get drugs. Her bond was revoked and she will sit in McHenry County Jail until Tuesday morning.

The second, a man, was in court on an aggravated battery charge and had failed a drug test. He presented a certificate that indicated he had been ordained in 2007 in the Universal Life Church and he apparently was claiming his cannabis usage was an expression of his religious freedom. The man refused to answer question from Judge Weech. Judge Weech didn't buy it and jailed him,

That case caused me to look up the Universal Life Church. How do you get ordained in that church? Well, you can skip the college degree and the seminary. Just visit this website, complete the online application, submit it (no fee required) and you are instantly ordained. According to the website, "The Universal Life Church ordains clergy for life for free."

Just don't plan to skate through court with cannabis in your system.