Northampton County’s Mental Health Court is one of the County’s two established problem-solving courts. Mental Health Court offers evidence-based treatment programs that are designed to address some of the underlying causes of crime.
Defendants who are interested in applying for admission into Mental Health Court must submit an application and supporting documentation to the District Attorney’s Office. To be eligible to participate in Mental Health Court, a defendant must be at least eighteen years of age and reside in Northampton County. Further, eligibility depends on the type of offense with which a defendant is charged, the defendant’s prior record, the defendant’s mental health diagnosis, and whether the defendant’s mental health condition was a causal factor in the charged offenses.
If accepted into Mental Health Court, defendants are given the opportunity to participate in a treatment-based diversionary program. Representatives from the Judiciary, the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, Pretrial Supervision, and the Mental Health team work closely with local treatment providers to provide support and oversight to defendants while they are being treated for their underlying mental illness. The purpose of Mental Health Court is to reduce the potential for recidivism by giving individuals the tools they need to cope with their mental health issues, as well as to avoid overly-harsh punishments for behaviors that are directly related to their diagnosis. Successful completion of the program results in a dismissal of the underlying criminal charges.
It should be noted that although Northampton County does not have a specifically designated Veterans Court, Mental Health Court has specific screenings in place to identify veterans and to provide specific, tailored treatment for their individual needs.
Applications are also availabe at the District Attorney's Office.