An overview of Mahoning County’s felony mental health court :

An overview of Mahoning County’s felony mental health court :

The Mahoning County program, which typically takes two about years to complete, has 20 current participants. Two more applicants have been accepted, but their guilty pleas to the charges they face are still pending.

To be admitted to felony mental health court, applicants must be charged with a low level felony crime (felony of the fourth or fifth degree) and have a professionally certified mental illness diagnosis.

Once a professional evaluation verifies a mental illness, a team consisting of the judge, her magistrate and bailiff, an Ohio Adult Parole Authority representative and three counselors determines whether the applicant is a viable candidate for mental health court.

Participants plead guilty to the offenses they’re charged with, but the judge places their sentences in abeyance.

At graduation, the prosecutor makes a motion to vacate their guilty pleas. The judge dismisses the charges against the graduates, and their records are sealed from public view.

Mental health court participants are required initially to appear weekly in court, then every two weeks, every three weeks and monthly as they progress through four program stages.

Participants must submit to alcohol and drug testing upon demand, follow their treatment plan, including undergoing any prescribed mental health counseling and taking any prescribed medications, participate in General Educational Development or vocational training and obtain employment.

Source: Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court