Assessment of the BJA Asst. Mental Health Crt Initiative

Project Summary for 2003-DD-BX-1012 This project will provide an evaluation of the mental health courts which have already been implemented and are receiving funds from BJA for those activities in 2003. The project will examine the structure and operations of the seven operational mental health courts, determine the degrees to which the presence of a mental health court effects the diversion of defendants from the criminal justice system to the mental health system, and the cost effectiveness of these activities. Both client and program data will be collected for the study. Thus study will parallel one funded by the MacArthur Foundation looking at mandated community treatment. The activities will lay the basis for a muti-site outcome study of these new mental health programs. CA/NCF