City of Tempe, AZ
Home MenuMental Health Court
What is the Tempe Municipal Court Mental Health Court?
- Problem-solving court program with a weekly docket.
- Established to address the unique needs of participants with mental illness and/or developmental disabilities.
- A cooperative effort among the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney and treatment team working together to address the participant's behavioral health and other needs, create treatment and service referrals, and assist participants in achieving goals and successfully completing the program.
Benefits of a Mental Health Court Program?
- Addresses pending charges and life situations such as medical conditions, unemployment, lack of education, homelessness, behavioral health issues, including drug or alcohol abuse that may be contributing to the participant's charges.
- Provides individualized treatment and support services that focus on returning its participants to a mentally healthy status.
- Aims to reduce the possibility of reoffending and the number of days spent in custody.
- Improves the quality of life for people with mental illness who are charged with crimes.
- Graduates may earn a dismissal or a reduction in charges.
Who is Eligible to Participate?
Individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities who are charged with misdemeanors in the Tempe Municipal Court. Participants must be enrolled and case managed with the local Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) or another provider who is willing to monitor the participant and provide treatment information to the court.
How Do I Enroll?
If you want to be considered for the Tempe Mental Health Court, ask your case manager, your attorney, the prosecutor or the judge to determine your eligibility.
Resources:
Arizona Court Care - Click here to visit the Arizona Court Care website
Care 7 - Click here to visit the Care 7 website
Mercy Care - Click here to visit the Mercy Care website
Mental Health Court Brochure PDF - Click here to view the Mental Health Court Brochure PDF
"Phoenix-Area Courts Provide Alternate Path for Mentally Ill" - Click here to read "Phoenix-Area Courts Provide Alternate Path for Mentally Ill" - Arizona Republic, December 2, 2016
"Tempe to Start Mental Health Court" - Click here to read "Tempe to Start Mental Health Court" - East Valley Tribune, August 19, 2003
Click here to send a Mental Health Court inquiry to court-inquiries@tempe.gov
Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.
