When McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi announced his campaign for re-election, he made a big deal about the imminent formation of a mental health court.

He announced that newly elected Circuit Court Judge Charles P. Weech would be its judge. The court is convened once a month.

Who might qualify?

Those who are mentally ill, according to a technical definition that includes bi-polar and schizophrenia, and who break misdemeanor criminal statutes.

Such people will not get off the hook if they commit a sex crime, however. Nor will those who cause great bodily harm (“unless the victim consents,” the press release says) And someone arrested for a DUI will still be prosecuted. Non-probation offenses also are excluded. Felonies and offenses including a firearm may, on a case-by-case basis be included in the program.

So what will the defendant have to do?

Be 17 or older, cooperative, legally fit, sign releases as requested and agree to comply with pre-trial bond.

Since March, about 40 have met such or might meet such requirements. It takes about a month to learn if one wins acceptance into the program.

The press release states, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, that as many as 26% of the population have such problems at some time in their lives.

That’s 81,000 people for a county the size of McHenry.

67,000 won’t request treatment.

“For many individuals with mental health problems circulation in and out of the criminal justice system is a way of life,” the press release about the new program says.

Incarceration of those whose offenses are related to the symptoms of their mental illness just perpetuates the cycle, supporters of the new program argue.

The goals of the new court are three-fold:

• To reduce recidivism
• To assure defendants receive proper treatment, and
• To assist them in becoming stable members of the community.

To give an indication of the number affected in McHenry County’s jail, consider this:

In June, 2006, 68% of McHenry County jail inmates were administered psychotropic medications.

The cost?

$4,400.

Since 2002, the costs of serving such patients has increased 300%.

A Mental Health Court Task Force was put together under the leadership of McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler a little over a year ago. It included all of the relevant players, including the Sheriff’s and Health Departments, Court Services, county board and administration, the court itself, the Public Defender’s and State’s Attorney’s Offices, the Mental Health Board and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Court fees, county taxes and the Mental Health Board taxes financed the development of the mental health court. Outside grants will now be sought.

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The crowd scene is from McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s re-election announcement. The head shot is of Judge Charles Weech the day he was sworn in.