Montgomery, AL – Montgomery County Court officials are expanding a Mental Health Court program to help mentally ill offenders.
Circuit Judge Tracy McCooey announced Monday that the county will now have a part-time psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker in addition to a clinician and case worker who are already participating.
Mental Health Court allows qualifying nonviolent offenders who have a history of mental illness to avoid jail by entering the structured treatment program.
Officials say the program saves Montgomery County more than $150,000 to $200,000 a year.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)