County receives grant, donation to establish mental health court

July 5, 2019 | 3:30 am

Updated July 4, 2019 | 11:37 pm

Daviess County received a $77,000 grant from the Department of Corrections and a $10,000 donation from RiverValley Behavioral Health this week to help get the long-awaited mental health court up and running. While county officials are still hoping for more funding, they say the $87,000 will be enough to move things in the right direction.

RiverValley President and CEO Wanda Figueroa said a mental health court is very important for the community.

“As many as 60 percent of inmates were on drugs when they were incarcerated or suffered from mental illness when they committed these crimes,” Figueroa said. “It’s our responsibility to help them. They still have to take accountability for their actions, but these types of individuals do not belong in the criminal justice system. They’ve made mistakes, yes, but they need rehabilitation.”

Daviess County mental health court will step in and take a separate action for those who’ve committed crimes but suffer from mental illness. By keeping a closer eye on these individuals — making sure they are taking their medication and getting them to points where they can take responsibility for themselves — officials believe it can keep them away from jail, and on a path toward self-reliance that may include employment and rehabilitation for some.

Daviess District Judge Lisa Payne will preside over the mental health court around late August. Payne said the court still needs more funding in order to provide these wraparound services to a greater number of individuals.

“We had asked for around $180,000,” Payne said. “We were hoping for all of it, but $100,000 would have been enough to get started. The $77,000 was good news, but not great news.”

Payne said Porter had to debate the funding before accepting the $77,000. Without the additional funding from RiverValley, Payne said mental health court wouldn’t have had the funding to get started.

“We have to watch the number of people we take in and the services we can provide, but we can get it started,” she said. “Hopefully the Department of Corrections will send more.”

Rachel Pate, a forensic social worker for the Department of Public Advocacy Trial Division, will oversee much of mental health court’s proceedings and individuals involved with the program.

“I’ll be working with the mental health coordinator at the jail and give the judge a heads up about individuals we want to take a look at,” Pate said. “We’ll slowly start identifying individuals throughout the jail and this will allow Owensboro Police Department and Daviess County Sheriff’s Office to contact us about certain individuals too.”

Once things get up and running, mental health court will allow judges and law enforcement to quickly identify those committing crimes who have a history of mental illness.

“We can step in more quickly,” Pate said. “Veterans and those with intellectual disabilities don’t need jail. They need support.”

Payne echoed that statement — even adding that those who will benefit from mental health court are often exploited and assaulted in jail because of their setbacks and disabilities.

“When they stay in jail, it’s harder for them to get back on track,” Payne said. “A lot of co-occurring disorders happen in jail. We’re looking closely at those with psychosis — PTSD, schizophrenia — severe mental illnesses. We’re going to be able to take the people who truly need this, who are very vulnerable in jail.”

Figueroa, Payne and Pate said mental health court will need the help from as many community partners as possible. So far, St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter for Men, Friends of Sinners and Audubon Area Community Services have stepped up to help, but all three individuals said they hope more organizations come forward.

“Any person can go through a difficult time in life that can lead to mental illness,” Figueroa said. “We help our families when they need it, and it’s our responsibility to help the community. Putting these people in jail is an example of our moral failure so far. The criminal justice system shouldn’t be the first place people get mental health treatment. We need to stop failing them.”

July 5, 2019 | 3:30 am

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