DuPage County Specialty Courts Deliver - Mental Health Court Graduates Largest Class Yet

The DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, DuPage County.

18TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MENTAL HEALTH COURT GRADUATES RECORD SIZE CLASS

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin is a proud supporter of the 18th Judicial Circuit’s specialty courts, which seek to address endemic societal problems through innovative and responsive solutions. DuPage County is currently home to several specialty courts, namely “First Offender Call Unified for Success” (F.O.C.U.S. Court) [Drug Court], Veterans Court, and Mental Health Court. The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s office is an active participant in these specialty courts. The office seeks to insure that qualified defendants are allowed to participate in these programs and receive the treatment and/or services they require to reduce recidivism and return to society equipped for success.

Notably, the F.O.C.U.S. Court recieved a 2019 Achievement Award in the category of Criminal Justice and Public Safety from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The award honors top county governments that are innovative and enhance services for their residents. Now, the Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP) has reached a landmark achievement by graduating its largest class to date. The purpose of MICAP is to redirect non-violent offenders who have a mental health diagnosis that was a contributing factor in the commission of the crime. MICAP provides a sentencing alternative with the focus on integrated treatment services diverting the offender from traditional prosecution.

The Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, Judge Kenneth Popejoy, released a statement recognizing this achievement.

From the Office of the Chief Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court of DuPage County:

DuPage County Chief Judge Kenneth Popejoy announced that the DuPage County Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP) conducted a graduation ceremony honoring twenty participants, the largest graduating class in its history, on July 9, 2021. The audience included family, friends, defense attorneys and police officers, including the arresting officers of many of the participants. Chief Judge Popejoy commented “I commend the collaborative effort of MICAP and our team members, including the DuPage County Probation Department, Health Department, State’s Attorney Office and Public Defender’s Office. Working together, we can improve participant’s lives and reduce recidivism.”

The DuPage County Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP) is designed to enhance the quality of life for participants by engaging in mental health and other treatment and community-based support systems that uses a problem-solving court model to facilitate new skills which leads to a reduction in recidivism and the stigma associated with mental illness.

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Full press release from the 18th Judicial Circuit Court: https://www.dupageco.org/Courts/18th_Judicial_Court_News/2021/65021/