The existence of “mental health courts” are rather experimental, but the implementation of “drug courts” in various jurisdictions has been a step in the right direction.

The American Medical Association has long diagnosed drug addiction as a disease, but citizens are often jailed due to drug possession on a “revolving door” basis without opportunity for effective medical treatment. Mental illness and illegal drug use often go hand-in-hand as co-occurring conditions; mental illness often impairs judgment and leads to substance abuse – and substance abuse can aggravate the symptoms of mental illness.

The State of Michigan recently restructured its administration of community mental health services to integrate it with it substance abuse programs. The courts should follow suit in this state. Effective professional mental health and substance abuse intervention as part of criminal sentencing can make a difference in reducing recidivism and providing needed direction for criminal defendants having such afflictions.

The successes of pilot programs addressing substance abuse in the Oakland County and Wayne County circuit court systems should not be overlooked and hopefully criminal defendants in Metro Detroit with mental health issues will also have opportunities for intensive professional intervention to address these often contributing factors to criminal behavior.