Arkansas Code
Subchapter 2 - Mental Health Specialty Courts
§ 16-100-202. Goals of mental health specialty court program

(a) The goals of a mental health specialty court program established under this subchapter include the following:
(1) Integration of mental health treatment with criminal justice system case processing;
(2) Use of a nonadversarial approach in which the prosecution and defense promote public safety while protecting the right of a mental health specialty court program participant to due process;
(3) Early identification of eligible mental health specialty court program participants, with the use of a validated risk-needs assessment, and prompt placement of eligible mental health specialty court program participants;
(4) Access to a continuum of treatment, rehabilitation, and related services for mental health specialty court program participants;
(5) Periodic testing for alcohol and controlled substances at the discretion of the mental health specialty court, if a mental health specialty court program participant has been identified as a user of alcohol or controlled substances;
(6) A coordinated strategy among the mental health specialty court judge, prosecution, defense, and mental health treatment providers to govern the compliance of a mental health specialty court program participant with the mental health specialty court program;
(7) Ongoing judicial interaction with each mental health specialty court program participant;
(8) Monitoring and evaluation of the achievement of mental health specialty court program goals and effectiveness;
(9) Continuing interdisciplinary education to promote effective planning, implementation, and operation of the mental health specialty court program; and
(10) Development of partnerships with public agencies and community-based organizations to generate local support and enhance mental health specialty court program effectiveness.

(b) Mental health specialty court program success is determined by the rate of recidivism of all mental health specialty court program participants, including mental health specialty court program participants who do not graduate from the mental health specialty court program.

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