Early success of new court encouraging

It may be premature to declare something a success after just eight months in existence, but McHenry County's new mental health court sure seems to be heading that way.

Since its creation last April, the court has taken in 11 longtime offenders whose string of arrests have more to do with their mental health struggles than any criminal nature. Another 14 people are on the waiting list to get in the special court and its operators expect to be at their maximum of 30 by the summer.

"The growth is a testament to the people who work in the mental health court," State's Attorney Louis Bianchi said.

Here's how the court works: Non-violent offenders whose mental health is the main source of their legal problems are diverted into the program either by police, prosecutors or their defense lawyers.

Once in the program, the defendants are required to undergo treatment, take medication if necessary, participate in counseling, job training and whatever else the court and a team of experts believes is necessary to get their lives back on track.

If they follow through on all those requirements, the charges that landed them there in the first place will be dismissed. If not, that person will be sent back to a regular criminal courtroom to face the full legal consequences of their actions.

"We have very few repeat offenders with our program so far," Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Demetri Tsilimigras said. "When these people came to the court, their lives were a mess. Now these individuals are happy, they're responding to the program and they want to be in the program."

Tsmiligas, presiding Judge Charles Weech and many of the others who work in the court appeared before the McHenry County Board last week to update board members on the their progress. Weech also received a special recognition for his efforts to make the court a reality.

As is his nature, Weech quickly gave credit for the court's success to the people who work around him.

"It's a passion of mine, but I couldn't do the job without everybody's help," he said. "When I look at this award, I'll accept it, but I feel guilty doing so because I couldn't do this alone."

Familiar name, new role: As a former police chief and law enforcement officer for three decades, Howard Parth knows plenty about sending people to court.

Now it's his job to make sure they're safe once they get there.

Parth, Crystal Lake's police chief between 2001 and 2005, was named last week the new chief of court security for McHenry County, a position that will put him in charge of safety in the McHenry County courthouse and the 26 full-time court security officers whose responsibility it is to provide that safety.

Sheriff Keith Nygren announced the appointment last week, saying Parth was an ideal candidate for a job with increasing demands and expectations.

"He has 30 years law enforcement experience, a lot of it in supervisory positions," Nygren said. "I wanted this position to be much more than it has been and he brings the credentials to do that."

Parth won't have to go far to move into his new office. Since last year he has served as commander of the sheriff's Marine Unit, which patrols the Fox River during boating season.

Parth, Nygren said, was chosen from among 12 candidates for the job.