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The goal is to connect defendants with mental health support services while allowing legal proceedings to proceed as quickly as possible.
DENVER — A new specialty court in Denver County aims to better meet the needs of defendants who have mental health concerns.
This week Denver County Court announced the opening of its Competency Support Docket. The goal is to connect these defendants with mental health support services so that they get the help they need, while at the same time allowing for legal proceedings to continue as quickly as possible.
Similar programs elsewhere have resulted in increased public safety and decreased recidivism rates, a spokeswoman for Denver County Court said.
“Competency cases are resource and time intensive and often involve several separate agencies. By having these cases heard and supported by a dedicated team that is fluent in competency-related matters, we expect to shorten the time it takes to stabilize defendants, keep these cases moving forward and improving public safety,” said Denver County Court Presiding Judge Kerri Lombardi.
“This approach supports equitable and procedural justice because all individuals will now have the same opportunities to connect with programs, resources, services, and specialized expertise when competency is raised or is in question. I want to commend Judge Kelly Cherry for her efforts to launch the Competency Support Docket and thank her for presiding over these cases.”
People charged with a misdemeanor offense in the City and County of Denver whose competency to proceed is questioned are eligible for the special docket which is held in Courtroom 3G of the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. Individuals who meet all eligibility criteria will have their cases reviewed in the Competency Support Docket for further case proceedings.
The Competency Support Docket team will then look at all avenues for individuals to be diverted to treatment and support services outside of the formal legal competency process as appropriate.
“Not only are we helping the defendants in these cases, but all of the rest of the citizens in this community who I’m sure will benefit from having other folks be more stabilized and be able to progress as regular citizens,” said Denver County Court Judge Kelley Cherry.
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