(730 ILCS 168/5)
Sec. 5. Purposes. The General Assembly recognizes that a large percentage of criminal defendants have a diagnosable mental illness and that mental illnesses have a dramatic effect on the criminal justice system in the State of Illinois. The General Assembly also recognizes that mental illness and substance abuse problems co-occur in a substantial percentage of criminal defendants. There is a critical need for a criminal justice system program that will reduce the number of persons with mental illnesses and with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems in the criminal justice system, reduce recidivism among persons with mental illness and with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems, provide appropriate treatment to persons with mental illnesses and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems and reduce the incidence of crimes committed as a result of mental illnesses or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems. It is the intent of the General Assembly to create specialized mental health courts with the necessary flexibility to meet the problems of criminal defendants with mental illnesses and co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse problems in the State of Illinois.
(Source: P.A. 95-606, eff. 6-1-08.)
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Last modified: February 18, 2015