McHenry County celebrates second mental health court graduation

Less than two years ago, the nine people who stood in court before a McHenry County judge Tuesday night would have been there for all the wrong reasons: theft, drunken driving, trespassing, etc.

But on Tuesday night, they weren't there for anything they did wrong. They were there for all the things they were doing right.

The nine made up the second graduating class of McHenry County's Mental Health Court, honored in a graduation ceremony before family, friends, judges and other courts and county officials.

Their graduation brings to 16 the number of people who successfully have navigated the program founded in April 2007 as an alternative to the traditional criminal justice system for many afflicted by mental illness.

"We've had a lot of successes, and we've had some failures," Judge Charles Weech said of the program he helped found. "But you ask those nine people, and those nine families, the program is a success."

The mental health court allows nonviolent offenders whose mental illness plays a part in their unlawful behavior to seek treatment and live 18 to 24 months under the close scrutiny of a judge, prosecutors, probation officers and mental health advocates.

Those who succeed will have the criminal case that brought them there dropped. And, more importantly, graduate with the tools they need to avoid a return.

"The idea is to get the individual engaged in mental health services, but also get them to a place where they're stable and able to do things on their own," said Scott Block, mental health court coordinator for McHenry County's 22nd Judicial Circuit.

Tuesday night's graduation leaves nine openings in the court, which was created to serve about 30 people at a time. Weech said if the funding and resources were available, there is enough of a need to fill 30 more spots.

Still, he said, the county's court system, law enforcement and mental health service agencies should be lauded for their efforts.

"I'd love to be able to help more than we're helping," he said. "We have such good collaboration with the mental health community. We really have a common goal, and that is to help the mentally ill."