Administration of mental health specialty court program

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-100-204 — under Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System.

Ark. Code Ann. § 16-100-204

(a) A mental health specialty court program may require a separate judicial processing system differing in practice and design from the traditional adversarial criminal prosecution and trial systems.

(b) (1) The administrative judge of the judicial circuit shall designate one (1) or more circuit judges to be mental health specialty court judges and to administer the mental health specialty court program.(2) If a county is in a judicial circuit that does not have a circuit judge who is able to administer the mental health specialty court program on a consistent basis, the administrative plan for the judicial circuit required by Supreme Court Administrative Order Number 14 may designate a district court judge to be a mental health specialty court judge and to administer the mental health specialty court program.

(1) The administrative judge of the judicial circuit shall designate one (1) or more circuit judges to be mental health specialty court judges and to administer the mental health specialty court program.

(2) If a county is in a judicial circuit that does not have a circuit judge who is able to administer the mental health specialty court program on a consistent basis, the administrative plan for the judicial circuit required by Supreme Court Administrative Order Number 14 may designate a district court judge to be a mental health specialty court judge and to administer the mental health specialty court program.

(c) A mental health specialty court team shall be designated by a mental health specialty court judge and may include:(1) A circuit judge;(2) A prosecuting attorney;(3) A public defender or private defense attorney;(4) One (1) or more healthcare providers with experience in the field of mental health treatment;(5) One (1) or more probation officers;(6) One (1) or more private mental health treatment provider representatives with experience in the field of mental health treatment; and(7) Any other individual determined necessary by the mental health specialty court judge.

(1) A circuit judge;

(2) A prosecuting attorney;

(3) A public defender or private defense attorney;

(4) One (1) or more healthcare providers with experience in the field of mental health treatment;

(5) One (1) or more probation officers;

(6) One (1) or more private mental health treatment provider representatives with experience in the field of mental health treatment; and

(7) Any other individual determined necessary by the mental health specialty court judge.

(d) Each judicial circuit shall develop a training and implementation manual for the mental health specialty court program with the assistance of the:(1) Department of Human Services;(2) Department of Health;(3) Division of Community Correction;(4) Administrative Office of the Courts; and(5) Other federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, or entities with an established history of expertise in mental health conditions.

(1) Department of Human Services;

(2) Department of Health;

(3) Division of Community Correction;

(4) Administrative Office of the Courts; and

(5) Other federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, or entities with an established history of expertise in mental health conditions.