Clallam County gets $231K grant for mental health court

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Clallam County District Court I is the recent recipient of a $231,151 state grant to establish and operate a mental health therapeutic court, presiding judge Dave Neupert said last week.

The grant was awarded through the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The funding will apply to personnel costs in addition to staff equipment and training, treatment services, and other participant services such as bus passes to provide transportation to court-related activities, Neupert said.

Mental health therapeutic court participants will be required to receive necessary services, including treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, he said.

“The goal of our new mental health court is to reduce recidivism and hold accountable persons charged with criminal offenses who present with treatable behavioral health disorders,” Neupert noted in a press release.

“We can learn from the success of other mental health courts already operating in the state, to build the program that best fits the needs of our communities.”

Neupert also serves on the Therapeutic Courts Committee of the state-wide district and municipal court Judges Association.