Fulton Mental Health Court To Hold First Graduation

FULTON COUNTY, GA — Fulton County Chief Magistrate Judge and Magistrate Court Administrator Cassandra Kirk will celebrate the graduation of the Court’s first cohort to complete the Misdemeanor Mental Health Court program.

The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 19 in Courtroom 2C at the Fulton County Justice Tower located at 185 Central Avenue SW in Atlanta. Undertaken with justice system stakeholders to provide better outcomes, this innovative evidence-based pilot program ultimately serves to reduce recidivism by promoting safe communities and fair outcomes for misdemeanor defendants struggling with mental health concerns.

The program consists of a collaborative effort among State Court, Magistrate Court and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

“Criminal justice touches all people,” said Chief Magistrate Judge Kirk. “Ensuring fair and appropriate outcomes for all citizens, including those struggling with mental health, means that our residents can feel assured they will receive justice whether they are a victim of a crime or have been accused of committing one.”

LaTrina Foster, director of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Judge Kirk and State Court Judge Patsy Porter expressed their gratitude for the support of the Fulton County Commission for their funding of a solutions-based program that can mean potentially life changing moves toward emotional well-being for defendants while also reducing the numbers of those jailed for misdemeanor crimes.

The Misdemeanor Mental Health Court program was first launched in July by the Magistrate Court of Fulton County, with the goal of protecting public safety, providing a healthier and more sustainable release for detained misdemeanor defendants with mental health needs and supporting those released and diverted through State Court.

Adopting a collaborative approach, the Court brings together the Magistrate and State courts, Fulton County Behavioral Health, local mental health providers, and various community service providers to leverage resources and generate positive long-term outcomes for defendants.

The upcoming Misdemeanor Mental Health Court graduation is part of a wider initiative to improve mental health outcomes for all citizens. Many jurisdictions, Fulton County included, are working to address issues surrounding public trust and fairness in the court system for citizens with mental health issues.

Misdemeanor Mental Health Court works with defendants to meaningfully address the factors precipitating their involvement with the justice system. Equipping participants with resources and guidance empowers them to transcend their current circumstances and begin healthy and crime-free lives. In the long-term, both individuals and communities are safer and stronger when defendants can break the cycle of court involvement.

In 2003, the Magistrate Court Treatment Diversion Court began diverting mentally ill misdemeanor defendants out of jail and into community-based treatment through specialized mental health court programming and discharge planning.

In September 2017, after 13 years, the county’s behavior health model changed, ending the Diversion Court. The county’s new behavioral health model began in January and the Mental Health Task Force recommended a misdemeanor mental health court to serve Magistrate Court and State Court misdemeanor defendants pre-plea and post adjudication.

For additional information about the Misdemeanor Mental Health Court, call 404-613-9071.

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