Statement from District Attorney Deberry on Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative

The Durham County Criminal Justice Resource Center (CJRC) was recently awarded a federal grant to expand Durham County’s Mental Health Court program.

According to Durham County, through the Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative, “CJRC will collaborate with the Durham County District Attorney’s Office and the Durham County Courts to enhance the capacity of the existing Mental Health Court and align with best practices.” The expansion includes placing a diversion liaison in the Durham DA’s Office.

Administered by the Criminal Justice Resource Center, Durham’s Mental Health Court is one of seven specialty diversion courts in North Carolina dedicated to diverting people with mental illnesses away from the traditional court process and toward treatment and support. The program offers individuals whose cases are related to serious or persistent mental illness the opportunity to receive treatment and wrap-around services in lieu of prosecution. Participants who successfully complete the program have their charges dismissed. A prosecutor in the Durham DA’s Office is tasked with reviewing and approving referrals after they are screened by Mental Health Court coordinators and representing the State in Mental Health Court. Assistant district attorneys may also work with defense counsel to proactively identify appropriate cases.

Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry issued the following statement on the Expansion Initiative:

“The criminal legal system disproportionately impacts, yet is often unequipped to serve people with mental illness. Mental Health Court not only connects participants to critical treatment and services, it provides an alternative to prosecution and helps participants avoid new offenses. The Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative will allow this proven, successful program to serve more Durham residents, benefiting our entire community. As part of our ongoing commitment to working with community partners to identify and meet needs neglected by the traditional court process, the grant will also place a mental health professional in the Durham County District Attorney’s Office next year. This position will maximize our efforts to identify individuals and cases best served by diversion. We appreciate our partners at the Criminal Justice Resource Center and look forward to collaborating on this exciting expansion.”

Read more about the Mental Health Court Expansion Initiative via Durham County.