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(Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell) MENTAL HEALTH COURT By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Jackson County's high proportion of mentally ill prisoners could be reduced if an innovative court concept were implemented, state and local officials said in response to a recent study. Twenty percent of inmates in the Jackson County Jail have a serious mental illness, according to a survey released Monday by the Oregon Department of Human Services. By contrast, seriously mentally ill inmates average 9 percent of the population in the state's 30 county-run jails. DHS workers concluded that inmates and jails would benefit from a system of mental health courts, among other strategies. "These kinds of courts really represent prevention," said Jim Sellers, communication officer for DHS. Similar to drug courts, which already exist locally, mental health courts focus on treating and stabilizing the mentally ill with intensive support services and frequent court visits. Clackamas, Lane and Yamhill counties already operate mental health courts. If eligible participants complete a yearlong voluntary program, the charges are dropped. The approach has been shown to reduce repeat offenses and redirects defendants from the typical path through the criminal justice system. "The mentally ill defendants do fall through the cracks so much," said Lisa Greif, a criminal defense attorney and candidate for Jackson County Circuit Court judge. An advocate of mental health courts, Greif estimated that about half of clients represented by her office, Southern Oregon Public Defender, have a history of some type of mental illness, ranging from anxiety to more serious disorders such as schizophrenia. DHS identifies schizophrenia, severe depression and bipolar disorder as "serious" mental illnesses. Seriously mentally ill inmates cost jails about a third more than other inmates do as a result of more prescription drugs, medical care and staff time, DHS reported. The typical cost to counties for most inmates is less than $76 per day, compared to $100 for someone who suffers from serious mental illness. Although mentally ill inmates typically spend more time in isolation cells, jail can be a beneficial environment for them, said Dennis McNamara, a county mental health specialist assigned to the jail. Incarceration facilitates a regular regimen of medication and follow-up visits, McNamara said. In many cases, inmates are getting care they wouldn't otherwise receive outside of a hospital setting, he added. "Often times, we're a dumping ground because they don't fit the criteria for hospitalization," McNamara said. If hospitalization is required, admission from jail also is typically faster than through civil processes, McNamara said. These few productive aspects aside, jail remains an inappropriate place for the seriously mentally ill, McNamara said. Rallying community resources that would provide an alternative, however, is the challenge, officials said. Local drug courts operate with a support staff specializing in treatment, housing, employment and helping participants overcome numerous other barriers to sobriety. Mental health courts likely would be just as labor-intensive, said Circuit Court Administrator Jim Adams. "It would certainly take added judicial resources ... it would take added mental health resources," Adams said. "There are other very worthy project considerations, too." Given that alcohol-related matters make up the court's single largest caseload, a court for drunken drivers could be in order, Adams said. A domestic violence court could prevent crimes like the recent murder of Joyce Sterling, which was linked to spousal abuse, he said. Despite its touted value, a specialized court for the mentally ill doesn't provide any sort of real solution, said state Sen. Alan Bates, D-Ashland. The mentally ill landing in the legal system is merely a symptom of inadequate funding for treatment, he said. The senator said he and other legislators in 2003 predicted a rise in the number of mentally ill inmates when the Legislature pulled mental-health funding from the Oregon Health Plan. The result, he said, is just another type of forced confinement, decades after deinstitutionalization of the state's mental hospitals. "Now it's even worse; it's in the prison system," Bates said. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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