Baldwin County Funds Mental Health Court

The Baldwin County Legislative Delegation has funded a mental health court for the county in the form of a $100,000 grant from its Community Capital Fund, GulfCoastNewsToday.com reports. The newly created court was established by the state and calls for a $10 fee added to criminal court cases in Baldwin County for further funding. However, a year’s worth of fees would have been needed to open the court. With the grant, the court begins immediately “to help people suffering from mental health issues in Baldwin County and the victims of those suffering from mental health issues that commit crimes,” Alabama Rep. Matt Simpson said. The mental health court is similar to the county’s existing drug and veterans courts, where people who participate in the program are diverted away from traditional jail sentences for their crimes. Potential participants will be screened by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and mental health experts from Altapointe. As many as 24 candidates could be helped by the court in the first year.