Contributed photo / Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Judge Don Thompson oversees a drug court, which began in October. He hopes to increase the number of defendants in the program from 20 to 50 by the end of next year.State funding for accountability courts, by year
FY 13: $10.9 millionFY 14: $11 millionFY 15: $14.7 millionFY 16: $17.2 millionFY 17: $20 millionFY 18: $23.7 millionFY 19: $28.7 millionSource: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
North Georgia defendants with mental illnesses will have an alternative to incarceration later this year.
Judges for the Conasauga Judicial Circuit and Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit announced this week they received state funding to launch mental health courts. These courts aim to help people manage their illnesses and avoid prison time.
The Conasauga circuit, which covers Whitfield and Murray counties, received a $159,000 grant this year, Judge Scott Minter said. The Lookout Mountain circuit, meanwhile, received a $154,000 grant. That circuit covers Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties.
Beginning this fall, employees of the mental health courts will receive suggestions on defendants who would be good fits for the program. Those suggestions can come from police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys or family members. If the team running the mental health court thinks a defendant is a good fit, they will be accepted in the program.