The Local Take on Jazz 91.9 WCLK continued our ongoing discussion about criminal justice reform by talking with Fulton County Treatment Diversion Court Judge Lillian Caudle about a court designed to result in treatment, not incarceration, for mentally ill people who get caught up in the system.
Judge Caudle shares information about the Fulton County Treatment Diversion Court, established as a pilot program in 2003. This diversion court allows for citizens who have been arrested on misdemeanor charges to receive the mental health treatment that they need as opposed to going to county jail. Currently, one-third of all defendants housed in the Fulton County Jail receive some type of psychotropic medication.
Defendants must opt in to the Treatment Diversion Court and many mentally ill people people don't realize this is an option.
Additionally Judge Caudle is on the team to implement the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) which is being implemented in Atlanta. We continue to hear that police officers are asked to do many things in support of the community. The LEAD program provides the support and tools that officers need to actually help as opposed to punish citizens.
Both of these programs save taxpayer dollars and keep citizens out of the criminal justice system.
Click here for information on Fulton County's Treatment Diversion Court or contact: Marla J. Patterson, Mental Health Court Coordinator: 404-612-4922
Click the following link for more information on LEAD