Mental Health Treatment Court

What Is Mental Health Treatment Court?

Mental Health Treatment Court seeks to address the inappropriate involvement of individuals in the criminal justice system with mental illness, with or without substance abuse, who have been charged with a crime, resulting mainly from untreated symptoms of psychiatric and co-occurring disorders.

Treatment is obtained for the individuals through collaboration among the judicial, mental health and substance abuse systems. Through a collaborative effort among members of the Mental Health Court team, treatment services are provided to offenders to help rehabilitate and educate so that further involvement in the criminal justice system is avoided. The purpose of the Mental Health Treatment Court Program is to provide rehabilitation and restoration of mental health for adult offenders suffering from an untreated or undiagnosed mental health issue.

Eligibility

• Have an identifiable mental illness with or without a co-occurring disorder of substance abuse
• Charged with non-violent misdemeanor and/or felony offense(s) in Richland County

Exclusions

• Probation for a violent offense to include stalking and harassment
• Pending charges that may prevent completion of the program
• Prior conviction(s) or pending charges for a violent crime to include stalking and harassment
• Companion weapon charges
• Criminal Domestic Violence charges
• History of drug dealing
• Lewd Act on a Minor
• Traffic offenses
• Gang Affiliation
• Criminal Sexual Conduct with Minor

Program Requirements

The Solicitor’s Office will review and present cases to the Mental Health Treatment Court judge. The Solicitor’s Office has the final authority to accept or refuse applications to the program. The Mental Health Treatment Court judge has the final authority on all applicants admitted to the program.

To enter the program a defendant must admit his/her guilt. Jurisdiction of the charges will be transferred by the court system to the Mental Health Treatment Court Program.

The transferring court will accept the guilty plea and will issue a conditional discharge for the offense. Successful completion of the Mental Health Treatment Court Program will result in a dismissal of the charges.

Intensive case management and supervision is provided to the defendant based on an individualized treatment plan. As treatment progresses, the defendant will move to more traditional mental health services. Defendants spend at least (1) one year under the supervision of the Mental Health Treatment Court Program.

Dismissal from the program will result in the Defendant’s case being returned to the traditional court system for immediate prosecution.

For more information or to apply please contact:

The Mental Health Treatment Court Program
Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office
Post Office Box 192
1701 Main Street
Family Court/1st Floor/West Wing
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Phone 803.576.1893
Fax: 803.576.1592