Guinn lends support for mental court

Kirsten Searer

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.

Gov. Kenny Guinn made a personal appeal to legislators Wednesday to approve $2 million for a mental health court in Clark County.

The specialty court is already in session in Clark County but now has just 25 people with mental health issues. It focuses on a comprehensive way to provide housing, treatment, medicine, job training and constant reinforcement.

Proponents billed the court as a way to treat patients who otherwise ended up in a revolving door of being arrested time and time again.

"It's cheaper, it's faster, and, most important of all, it brings some kind of dignity back to the people who go through these courts," Guinn said.

Thirty-three people have gone through the mental health court since December, 2003, when it opened. The group had 668 total prior arrests before they entered the court, compared with just 49 total arrests after moving to the special court.

Guinn said he didn't include the money in his budget because his staff members didn't list it as a top priority. But he said he supported the idea.

Assemblyman William Horne, D-Las Vegas, who is sponsoring the bill, said he hopes it will cut down on waits in emergency rooms.