Nonviolent, severely mentally ill defendants will now have their own courtroom in Manhattan — one offering treatment rather than incarceration, officials announced today.
The new Manhattan Mental Health Court, at 100 Centre St., will offer treatment and intense monitoring to defendants who volunteer and are approved by both the presiding judge, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, and the office of DA Cyrus Vance Jr.
Defendants approved for the program would plead guilty, and agree to a court-mandated course of treatment, at the end of which the charges would either be reduced or dismissed, said Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman.
Treating, rather than simply “warehousing,” the nonviolent mentally ill will cut down on recidivism and ultimately make us safer, Vance said.
No defendants have yet been approved for the program.