The 22nd Judicial Circuit of McHenry County Mental Health Court will host its 4th Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public and will take place in Courtroom 204 at McHenry County Government Center. Guests are required to use the Government Center’s East Entrance. The ceremony includes a presentation on the Illinois Mental Health Courts Study which will be conducted by Monte Staton of Loyola University and the presentation of Graduation Certificates by Mental Health Court Presiding Judge, Honorable Charles P. Weech.
The MHC is a voluntary program designed to serve defendants who are struggling with mental illness and are currently involved in the criminal justice system of McHenry County. In lieu of traditional punishment, the MHC diverts defendants with diagnosed mental illness away from the criminal justice system by offering alternative court, intensive judicial and community supervision, and treatment. The goals of the MHC are to reduce recidivism and promote self-sufficiency by offering community based treatment alternatives to incarceration.
The 4th Graduation ceremony will be a time of celebration and reflection for four (4) program graduates who have worked so hard to improve their lives and we commend them for their efforts. This brings the program’s graduation total to 25 individuals since its inception in April of 2007. The MHC is extremely proud to say that the program has a post graduation recidivism rate of only 8%!
The MHC would not be possible without the McHenry County Board, McHenry County Court Administration, McHenry County Mental Health Board, McHenry County Department of Health, McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, McHenry County Public Defender’s Office, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, Family Service and Community Mental Health Center and various other mental health service providers.
For questions pertaining to the Mental Health Court, please contact Scott Block at 815-334-4913.
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