Some Alabama families who have considered committing mentally ill relatives are asking judges to consider something different.
Among them is Marla Pope, whose daughter has been in and out of psychiatric facilities nine times in nine years since her diagnosis with bipolar schizoaffective disorder.
Al.com reports Pope filed a petition to have her daughter committed. But she came to a recent hearing to ask a judge to consider an alternative -- a program called outpatient commitment. It offers court-ordered treatment in the home.
Across Alabama, judges have used outpatient commitment to varying degrees.
In Madison County, probate courts sent 13 percent of patients to outpatient commitment last year.
Jefferson County's rate was 14 percent; Montgomery County's rate was 18 percent.
Mobile County's rate was much higher at 57 percent.