Canyon County Mental Health Court celebrates graduation
Third Judicial District Mental Health Court graduate Leslie Michels, left, holds an award given by District Judge Renae Hoff for completing the program Tuesday night at the Canyon County Courthouse. Mike Vogt/IPT
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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
CANYON COUNTY — One of the four inaugural graduates of the 3rd Judicial District Mental Health Court, Carolynn Boots said Tuesday the program showed her a new way to live (watch video of graduation).
"It's been two years and it feels great. I came to this court due to a crime I committed due to my mental illness and my addiction," Boots told the Idaho Press-Tribune, explaining that an attorney told her about her possible eligibility for the intensive 18-24 month program. "They were able to help me with my symptoms of my bipolar disorder and help me understand both my mental illness and my addiction."
Now that she's graduated, Boots said she still attends some weekly Friday court meetings, to support the fellow program participants, "to let them know there is hope."
Boots and her fellow graduates — Glen Hayes, Leslie Michels and Peggy Rhodes — received congratulations with a ceremony Tuesday.
Fellow program participants — there are 25 total — 3rd District Judge Renae Hoff and Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak were on hand to share in the celebration with a packed courtroom.
District Magistrate Judge Frank P. Kotyk, who was appointed district judge pro-tem to preside over the Mental Health Court, also attended. He said one of the ideas of the specialty court is to help keep the prison population down by treating individuals in the community.
"We're all proud of them and all the participants in Mental Health Court are proud of them," Kotyk said. "It's been a long road."
Hoff explained some of the principles behind the court, which serves offenders who are severely and persistently mentally ill, and often have accompanying drug addictions. Individuals can be referred by attorneys or judges and are evaluated for their eligibility by a team including defenders, prosecution, probation officers and the treatment team.
"We're not an easy way out. We like to consider ourselves a virtual prison," Hoff said. "They have to submit to random drug testing, they have to be treated medically and be medication compliant. They have to take classes to learn about their mental illness and/or addiction."
The classes are designed to help keep participants from reoffending.
"We have some people who are in classes almost every day, on top of being in court every Friday," Hoff said.
Judy Shannon, a mental health coordinator, was also on hand to see the graduates get their diplomas and plaques.
"It's really a diversion program," Shannon said. "We divert them from prison and keep them in the community with treatment and supervision and they seem to respond well."
Bujak congratulated the judges and everyone who came together to make the court a reality starting in 2007. He also honored the participants, who he said had the hardest road to travel.
"These specialty courts work ... the time has come for us to embrace these programs," Bujak said.
