The goal of the Towaliga Mental Health Court (TMHC) is to improve mental health, promote self sufficiency, reduce recidivism, and offer cost effective alternatives to incarceration and hospitalization for participants. The TMHC provides community protection with an integrated continuum of care through the development and utilization of community resources. The THMC holds defendants accountable and assists offenders to achieve long-term stability, become law-abiding citizens, and become successful family/community members.
About the Towaliga Mental Health Court
The Towaliga Mental Health Court program is a voluntary post-conviction program for offenders who are mentally ill and have not been successful in their compliance with treatment. The four-phase program consists of intensive supervision of clients by a mental health professional, frequent appearances before the THMC judge, mandatory mental health counseling, regular attendance at cognitive change classes, and mental health substance treatmen and substance abuse testing.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to participate inthe TMHC program, you must:
Have the capacity to manage the structure of TMHC: You must be able to read, write & understand information given to you.
Must be eligible for services: You must be diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorders, severe mood disorders, psychotic disorders, delusional disorders, and/or borderline personality disorder and demonstrate 2 or more functional limitations. Candidates will be screened for Mental Health eligibility by Team staff and exception may be made on a case by case basis.
Have a criminal history and be identifed as having mental illness for which treatment attempts have been unsuccessful.
You will be exclused from applying for the TMHC program if you are a "violent offender". A "violent offender" is a person who is currently charged with or has been convicted of an offense, during the course of which offense or conduct:
- The person carried, possessed or used a firearm or dangerous weapon;
- There occurred the death of, or serious bodily injury to any person;
- There occurred the use of force against the person of another, without regard to whether any of the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (1) or (2) is an element of the offense or conduct of which or for which the person is charged or convicted; or
- Have one or more prior convictions for a felony crime of violence involving the use or attempted use of force against a person with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm
You will be excluded from applying for the TMHC program if you are currently charged with, have pled guilty to or been found guilty of a felony in which you committed, attempted to commit, conspired to commit, or intended to commit a sex offense.