Hon. Boyd M. Patterson
Criminal Court Judge, Division III
Hon. Lila Statom
Sessions Court Judge, Division IV
Purpose

Serves a diverse group of justice involved mental health consumers and their families with a goal in decreasing recidivism and improving public safety for those living in Hamilton County, Tennessee.

Vision

Works with consumers at multiple intercept points within the criminal justice system: Pre-arrest, on bond, in custody and on probation.

Mission

A department dedicated to justice-involved mental health consumers in Hamilton County, Tennessee, linking them to diagnostic help, accountability, treatment and necessary supports while in custody and upon reentry to our community.


What is Mental Health Court?

Hamilton County Mental Health Court (HCMHC) launched in 2015 as a Public Defender led program with community collaboration from 6 community mental health centers and the direct support of the District Attorney's Office and TDOC State Probation. In June 2017 the Hamilton County Commission voted to award HCMHC an independent budget and its own organizational department within Hamilton County General Government.

HCMHC offers an alternative to institutional incarceration for justice involved mental health consumers and provides treatment and wraparound supports for individuals on probation or bond. Providing access to mental health treatment and monitoring of that treatment is a core function of Mental Health Court. Supervision can also include state supervised probation, electronic monitoring, drug screening, substance abuse treatment monitoring, intensive case management, assistance with housing and disability and other necessary supports. Participants in HCMHC are judicially supervised in either Criminal Court or General Sessions Court. Criminal Court participants are in HCMHC for a minimum of 24 months. General Sessions Court Participants are in HCMHC for a minimum 11 months and 29 days. Participants progress through 5 phases to graduate: orientation/ stabilization phase, intensive treatment, treatment maintenance, and building community supports/ community transition phase.

How Does It Work?

  • HCMHC consists of two (2) courts both Criminal and General Sessions
  • Each of these courts consists of dedicated Judges and a dedicated docket for defendants with severe and persistent mental illness.
  • HCMHC applies collaborative justice principles to combine judicial supervision with intensive social and treatment services. These services are provided to defendants who would otherwise be released into the community likely without additional support.
  • HCMHC involves a multidisciplinary team approach with involvement from law enforcement, corrections staff, court system representatives, mental health providers all together with voluntary participation.
  • HCMHC collaborates with collaborative partners to provide intensive case management that includes supervision focused on accountability and treatment monitoring.