OPINION: Therapeutic courts have helped Alaskans for 25 years

On Thursday, May 30, the public is invited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Anchorage Mental Health Court, the first therapeutic court in Alaska. Please join us at 3:30 p.m. in the Alaska Supreme Court Courtroom on the 5th floor of the Boney Courthouse in downtown Anchorage. A reception will follow in the law library on the first floor of the Boney Courthouse.

Twenty-five years ago, Anchorage’s Mental Health Court was one of only three in the nation. Created as a “specialty mental health court project” under Administrative Order 3AN-99-02 by Presiding Judge Elaine Andrews, the new court had five broad purposes: (1) to preserve public safety, (2) to reduce inappropriate incarceration of mentally disabled offenders and promote their well-being, (3) to relieve the burden on the Department of Corrections presented by inmates with mental disabilities, (4) to reduce repeated criminal activity among mentally disabled offenders, and (5) to reduce psychiatric hospitalization of mentally disabled offenders.

To achieve these goals Anchorage’s Mental Health Court functioned as a partnership including the Alaska Court System, the Alaska Department of Corrections, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and more than 20 local law enforcement, social service, and public safety agencies and organizations.

Judge Andrews’ order specifically recognized that failure to provide appropriate service for these individuals has led to “a revolving door of clinical and legal recidivism” among those struggling with mental health conditions. In addition, the order recognized the need for a more humane approach to divert defendants with mental disabilities from overcrowded jails and prisons into community treatment; the financial and administrative burden on the Department of Corrections; and the need for specialized, trained mental health court judges, as well as the overall need for coordination of court, agency and mental health resources.

The order designated Judge Stephanie Rhoades and Judge John R. Lohff to serve as the first judges for the new Anchorage Mental Health Court. Judge Rhoades was also given the role of coordinating with law enforcement, prosecuting, defense, and mental health agencies including the Department of Corrections. Initially, the program was funded for three years by the Mental Health Trust Authority for up to 40 eligible defendants.

Happily, initial reports indicated that individuals who participated in a treatment plan as part of a Mental Health Court were far less likely than non-participating individuals to be arrested again or admitted to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute.

Twenty-five years later, there are 17 specialty therapeutic courts across Alaska, including felony drug and alcohol courts for justice-involved individuals with substance abuse disorders, mental health courts, veterans’ courts, wellness courts and tribal wellness to healing courts. These diverse but related therapeutic court programs all help to save lives, reduce incarceration and increase public safety.

May is National Drug Court Month. Please help us celebrate Alaska’s success in developing these lifesaving courts, and thank our legislators, judges, court staff, the Department of Corrections, and the numerous other supportive community organizations and individuals.

Janet McCabe is a member of the Partners for Progress board of directors.

Doreen Schenkenberger is the CEO of Partners for Progress.

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