When Steve Baratta was a lowly District Attorney in John Morganelli's office, he used to tell his boss how helpful a Mental Health County could be in Northampton County, Now, as President Judge, he'll be in charge of it. DA John Morganelli, along with Judge Baratta and County Executive John Brown, have announced the formation of a Mental Health Court. It goes into business next year. Judge Baratta called it a "real problem-solving court." It will be administered by him and Judge Craig Dally.
"For far too long, I witnessed individuals who are truly mentally ill enter the criminal justice system," explained Morganelli. "I am not talking about those who commit a horrendous crime such as a homicide and then feign mental illness in order to escape responsibility. I am talking about individuals who have a life long history of mental illness and also commit most often misdemeanor crimes and summary offenses over and over again, which brings them into the system.
Morganelli spoke in particular of veterans "who have placed their lives on the line" overseas,only to return home to face inner demons far more sinister than any other enemy. Certain kinds of crimes, particularly felony crimes of violence or felony drug offenses, would be excluded, he explained.
Currently, there are 17 mental health courts in Pennsylvania The concept was formally proposed by Morganelli in February, After that, President Judge Baratta conducted several meetings involving law clerks, assistant DAs and representatives of the Administration.
Morganelli will personally screen applications, which are available in his office. Judges Baratta and Dally will then administer the program, twice a week. They will provide classic mental health treatment, along with housing opportunities, for up to 25 people in the first year. "Our job will be to make sure people are complying with mental health needs, he explained.
No new resources are needed for this project, noted Morganelli, "The hope is that there will be some savings to the County." Baratta added.
Like Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD), a special program for first offenders in which charges are dismissed after a successful period of probation, charges against mentally ill people who are successful in the program will avoid a record that often prevents them from getting a job
Pledging his support, Executive Brown called the Mental Health Court a "team effort right from the beginning."
21 comments:
And que the john brown mental illness jokes in 3....2......1....
The first case can be Brown. He needs some serious mh treatment.
JIM GREGORY SHOULD BE 1ST
Since Brown is a killer, per Bernie, perhaps he can plead insanity.
That is a subject on which you are obviously well-versed
Thanks to Bernie, Jim Gregory will never be free
"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time." Tony Baretta
Bernie, can you move away from the mic it's really rude. Pretty sure it's you or someone similarly obese.
RON ANGLE THE LEGEND!!!!!!
Ronnie Angle going waaaay over five minutes, cracking bad jokes, kissing Flisser's ass, rambling about Brown, an utter disgrace. THank god Pegasus pulled the cord.
Anon ;7.09 Mr Angle is quit adjusted.More so than some flunkies that have psychiatry degrees,believe me .They tend to be weirdos,and off center!!Who the the hell are they to make judgement?
Look at Ronnie double dipping, talking about "humor" guy's about as funny as a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Peter J Cochran Ronnie lost to Barney Rubble which says a lot about the confidence the voters had in him.
Ronnie was born with a silver spoon in his colon, his little man servant Bernie will give his tirade a glowing write up shame on Ronnie's sycophants they stroke his ego til it's rock hard and ready to erupt.
TAKE THIS TO THE BANK;When some employer or a government entity wants to do 'TESTS" beware!Who do they think they are? I am a prime example. - The City of Easton wanted a psychological evaluations of some hires before commitment.I SAID NO, your are not going to look into my brains- I had a Secret Clearance with the NSA- I still hold the papers from the government authorizing my to FLY COMMERCIAL with FIREARMS, and the city wants to have me digested- Screw that! See they don't know anything.I can prove it .
&;27 you are fucked up .AND I SIGN MY NAME YOU SCREWBALL.PUT you bag ass name on here if you want to confront me.END OF MESSAGE.
7:27 is a good candidate for that mental health court.
Who made the crack about rectal thermometers and Gracedale's pharmacy, totally classless and out of line
Bernie can you sit in the PIP area, me and Peter J want to see our favorite blogger in all his sartorial splendor.
Mezzacappa , you can't post comments like that and expect to get a license to carry. It's just more evidence of your irrational behavior. Get help
I think John Brown may qualify for some type of commitment. He is a danger to himself and others.
Where was the Human Services Director or aren`t they involved ?
She was not at this news conference, but HS people were at the first announcement in February and will be involved in a big way.
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