Mental health courts have a strong start in the United States. It is not unrealistic to think that one day there will be a mental health court available for all people who have been charged with a crime and have a diminished mental capacity or mental health issue.
These courts are set up to help all clients to be able to have a fair trial and a trial that they can understand. Without these courts a whole population of citizens in the United States would not be getting a fair trial and would be standing in a courtroom where they were underrepresented and where they often times simply could not know what was going on.
These courts are a blessing to those who are fortunate enough to utilize them and they offer a great benefit for the clients as they are offering help in a way that other courts would not do. The mental health courts help a client to learn necessary skills, help rehabilitation and to reduce the reoccurrence of clients being seen in court as well as providing structured collaborative services with other agencies as needed. Works Consulted Bernstein, Robert and Tammy Seltzer.
“The Role of Mental Health Courts in System Reform. ” The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. 2004. Judge David L Bazelon for Mental Health Law. 24 February 2009. <http://www. bazelon. org/issues/criminalization/publications/mentalhealthcourts/> Qazilbash, Ruby. “Mental Health Courts Program. ” Programs: Mental Health Courts Programs. 2004. Bureau of Justice Assistance. 24 February 2009. <http://www. ojp. usdoj. gov/BJA/grant/mentalhealth. html>