Wellness by the Hon. Joseph A. Migliozzi Jr. and Casey A. Coleman Mental Health Courts During the COVID-19 Pandemic M ental Health Courts are designed to accommodate non-violent habitual offenders that have a mental health diagnosis and have been important in the Common-wealth of Virginia since their inception. They have been a successful alternative to tradi-tional criminal justice adjudication for these offenders because of the multidisciplinary treatment that characterize these dockets. 1 During the pandemic, Mental Health Courts have become essential for participants. When the global COVID pandemic disrupted daily life, these dockets provided participants with a routine, services, and a sense of community necessary for their recovery. Therapeutic Dockets in Virginia The Supreme Court of Virginia has authorized the creation of 72 therapeutic dockets across the Commonwealth. 2 Within these dockets there are four types of therapeutic dockets: Drug Court, within which there is a special track for veterans, i.e., Veterans Court; Reentry Court; and Mental Health Court. 3 Each court was created to address the needs of perpetual non-violent offenders. There are differences among the therapeutic dockets based on the unique needs and operational environments of local jurisdictions. 4 In the Norfolk Circuit Court, for example, the therapeutic dockets look for non-violent offenders with no prior or current violent and/or sex offenses, no record of gang activity, nor any pending charges in other jurisdictions. 5 Drug Court focuses on offenders whose involvement with the criminal justice system has been driven by drug addiction. 6 The veteran’s track within Drug Court focuses on non-violent offenders with a drug addiction who served in the U.S. Military. 7 Reentry Court is for offenders who would like to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent re-offending. 8 Mental Health Court addresses the unique needs of non-violent offenders with mental illness and/ or co-occurring disorders. 9 To be eligible for Norfolk Circuit’s Mental Health Court, participants must be a non-violent perpetual offender with a pre-diagnosed serious mental illness. Upon entry into the program, the participant pleads guilty to their pending charge and begins www.vsb.org VOL. 70 | JUNE 2021 | VIRGINIA LAWYER 27 Photo compilation: Vasile, Theodor, unsplash.com and Riva, Elisa, pixabay.com
Issue Articles
Wellness
Hon. Joseph A. Migliozzi Jr., Casey A. Coleman
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