Editorial: New court will tackle old issue

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003 | 8:38 a.m.

A District Court judge in December will begin spending one day a week hearing cases involving mentally ill people accused of nonviolent crimes. A year ago we expressed some reservation about specialization in the court system and cautioned against speedily embracing this nationwide trend. Judicial officials, however, proceeded cautiously in starting a mental health court and we agree with their vision.

Just 35 cases will be heard during the program's initial phase. This will give the program time to demonstrate whether more funding is warranted. Defendants appearing in the court will be screened by a team of professionals to ensure against misuse of the program by people who are not mentally ill. Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, a state agency, will assist with the program. This will enable Judge John McGroarty, who will preside over mental health court, to render sentencings that include psychotherapy and other treatment that could extend from six months to two years.

Mental illness, in our view, qualifies as a court specialty because of the sheer numbers of people who suffer from it. Mentally ill defendants who are nonviolent shouldn't be subjected to standard judicial procedures, which include expensive jail time but no treatment -- a situation that often leads to repeat offenses. Of the 2,860 beds in the Clark County Detention Center, 350 to 500 are occupied every day by mentally ill people.

The new triage center run by WestCare in Las Vegas also shows the scope of mental illness. Begun just this year using funds from the state and local governments, the center has already received more than 3,300 people suffering from mental illness and drug or alcohol addictions. The only previous alternative -- and a much more expensive one -- would have been jail or a hospital emergency room. The volume of patients is so high, however, that its annual budget of $3.8 million is proving insufficient. WestCare asked the 2003 Legislature for an additional $1.2 million but was denied. State officials are now debating whether to provide the program with another $200,000, which we think would be money well spent.

The mental health court should be closely monitored by the Legislature, as it too will need more funding if it's shown to be a success. We expect its worth will be shown through savings in both public money and human lives.