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BHC Frequently Asked Question

Behavioral Health Court Frequently Asked Questions

What are the goals of the Behavioral Health Court?

The goals of BHC are as follows:

          * Connect criminal defendants who suffer from serious mental illness to treatment and support services in the community.

          * Improve coordination between the mental health and justice systems for persons with mental illness.

          * Reduce participant days spent in jail and reduce the potential for further interactions with the criminal justice system.

          * Improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and co-occurring disorders.


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Behavioral Health Court will accept referrals after the filing of criminal charges and the case has been forwarded to the Douglas County District Court for further disposition.


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Participants are required to:

          1. Follow a treatment plan.

          2. Comply with all court ordered conditions.

          3. Obey the terms of supervision.

          4. Attend regular court appearances.


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What happens if I graduate the BHC program?

Upon successful completion of the Behavioral Health Court program, the court will dismiss the participant's charges.


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What are the eligibility requirements for the BHC program?

          * The defendant must be a resident of Douglas County, Kansas.

          * The defendant must be 18 years of age or older.

          * The defendant meets the criteria for severe mental illness and this illness contributes to the defendant's criminal behavior.

          * Eligible defendants with co-occurring disorders (mental health and substance abuse) will be evaluated for the Behavioral Health Court.

          * The court prioritizes defendants with non-violent offenses, but defendants with other offenses will be considered for the BHC on a case-by-case basis.


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What will exclude a client from being able to participate in the BHC program?

While each case is considered individually, people with the following offenses will typically be excluded from the BHC court:

          1. Felony sex offenses.

          2. Unresolved out of country charges.

          3. Murder and Manslaughter charges.


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