Clearwater County Mental Health Treatment Diversion Courts

Mental Health Court requires random and frequent testing on all participants who are in the program. Testing occurs on a random basis on any days during the week, weekends and holidays. Participants will call the UA line every single day according to the procedure set by their program. All positive tests will be sent in for confirmation at the participant's request.

Mental Health Court is designed for high risk/high need offenders who are suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. Mental Health Court provides intensive outpatient treatment, medication management, individual and group counseling, increased supervision and weekly review hearings with the Mental Health Court Judge. Mental Health Court is designed to keep mentally ill offenders out of the prison system. Mental Health Court follows evidence based practice in the design and implementation of their programs. Participants are expected to follow program rules and participate in treatment. The length of the program ranges between 17-24 months long. Upon graduation, participants may receive a reduction in sentence, dismissal or avoid imposition of sentence and/or prison (riders). Participants are subject to sanctions and incentives depending on their progress in the program.

When did the program start? 2012

Clearwater County Mental Health Court currently partners with Riverside Recovery. Upon initial application to Mental Health Court, the participant will meet with one of the counselors at Riverside Recovery for a mental health evaluation. Based upon the assessment recommendations and acceptance to the program, the participant will be assigned groups and an individual counselor. All participants must apply for Medicaid.

Anyone may refer a person to Mental Health Court. Typically, a defendant's attorney will refer their client to the program. If you would like to refer your client to Mental Health Court, please review our eligibility requirements first, then fill out the referral form below and submit to [email protected]. If the defendant's case is out of county, please check with the coordinator first to see if they are accepting out of county cases at that time.