Mental Illness and Criminal Justice: Muskegon’s Mental Health Court Changes Lives
The same was true of Mablen Jones, a bundle of enthusiasm that autumn afternoon. Both women recently “graduated” from Muskegon County’s mental health court.
The court is a collaboration of 60th District Court, Community Mental Health Services of Muskegon County and the court’s probation office, with cooperation from defense and prosecuting attorneys.
The goal is to protect the public by reducing repeat crimes by mentally ill criminal defendants, at the same time improving the participants’ lives.
Defendants plead guilty or no contest to their charges - mostly misdemeanors like shoplifting, domestic assault, petty larceny - and are given a suspended jail sentence and supervised probation as well as the usual fines and costs.
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