Oklahoma to begin mental health court Nov. 1

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A new kind of court opens in Oklahoma next month. Mental health court will open in Oklahoma County on November 1st. The court is intended to offer treatment as

Monday, October 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- A new kind of court opens in Oklahoma next month.

Mental health court will open in Oklahoma County on November 1st.

The court is intended to offer treatment as an alternative to jail for mentally ill defendants charged with misdemeanors. Organizers hope to eventually include nonviolent felons in the program.

Participants in the program must have a definable mental illness, volunteer to plead guilty and abide by a treatment plan prescribed by the court.

They must also appear in court each Friday for evaluation.

The program was authorized by the Legislature this spring and may be expanded statewide if successful.