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Anchorage Coordinated Resources Project (ACRP)
Anchorage Mental Health Court

What is the CRP or Anchorage Mental Health Court?

The Coordinated Resources Project (CRP) - also known as the Anchorage Mental Health Court - is a voluntary "therapeutic" or "problem-solving" court located within the Anchorage District Court that hears cases involving individuals diagnosed with mental disabilities who are charged with misdemeanor offenses and focuses on their treatment and rehabilitation. Created in 1998, the CRP is a post booking diversionary response to the problem of "criminalization" - or an increased likelihood that people with mental disabilities will be processed through the criminal justice system instead of the mental health system - observed in the Anchorage area.

What is the Purpose of the CRP?

The mission of the CRP is to divert people with mental disabilities charged with misdemeanor offenses from incarceration and into community treatment and services and to prevent further contacts with the criminal justice system. Defendants who experience mental disabilities are more frequently jailed and detained longer than defendants who do not. Jail is rarely a therapeutic environment for people experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Those who are engaged in treatment have been found to cycle through jails and psychiatric hospitals far less often others that are not engaged.

Additionally, the CRP acts to:

1) preserve the public safety;
2) reduce inappropriate incarceration of mentally disabled offenders and promote their well-being;
3) relieve the burden on the Department of Corrections presented by inmates with mental disabilities;
4) reduce repeated criminal activity among mentally disabled offenders (legal recidivism); and
5) reduce psychiatric hospitalization of mentally disabled offenders (clinical recidivism).

Who is Eligible?

Anyone charged with a misdemeanor crime who is diagnosed with a mental disability, resides in Anchorage, is eligible for treatment in the community and wishes to voluntarily participate in the treatment oriented court process in lieu of traditional district court criminal case processing will be considered for participation.

How are People Referred to the Court?

Any one can refer a person to the CRP. Police, corrections staff, lawyers, friends, family members, community behavioral health providers, judges and court staff can refer a case simply by contacting the Project Manager and indicating that a Defendant may eligible to have their case heard in the CRP.

How Does the CRP Work?

  • Designated and Trained Legal Team: Each Defendant is assigned to one of two judges trained in the area of mental health. The court utilizes the same specially trained prosecutor, defense counsel, case coordinators and court clerks to staff the project. This produces expertise in understanding mental health issues and develops a cohesive and cooperative team. Additionally, all active cases of a participant are pro-actively brought before their assigned judge to ensure all orders from the court are coordinated and consistent.

  • Case Coordination Services and Linkage to Community Treatment: The Court assigns each Defendant that participates in the project to a Case Coordinator. The Case Coordinator assists each Defendant to obtain assessments and links them to community services that will meet their individual treatment needs. The Case Coordinator - in collaboration with the community treatment providers and the Defendant - develop an individualized treatment plan to submit to the court that is ordered as conditions of bail and/or sentencing. Case Coordinators continue to monitor treatment progress and appear in all subsequent hearings with the Defendant.

  • Extra Supervision and Court Monitoring: In regular district court, there is no provision for active monitoring of regular misdemeanor probation. This court provides continued supervision through hands-on monitoring of the defendant's treatment plan through regularly held post sentencing status hearings. During these hearings the court hears reports on the defendant's progress in treatment. If there are reported problems in their treatment, the court may adjust the plan to motivate compliance or employ non-jail-based sanctions or as a last resort, incarceration for non-compliance or risk to public safety.

    Contact Information:

    The ACRP meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. in the Nesbett Courthouse, Room 204 with Judge Stephanie Rhoades presiding. The ACRP also meets on Wednesday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. in the Nesbett Courthouse, Room 203 with Judge John Lohff presiding.

    Court is open to the public. Specialized tours and training are available by contacting the Project Coordinator at 907 264-0886 or by e mail at ksumey@courts.state.ak.us

    If you are interested in observing court please call to confirm that court in being held on its regularly scheduled day. The number to call is 907 264-0886.


    Link:

    Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs publication: Emerging Judicial Strategies for the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Caseload: Mental Health Courts in Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, San Bernadino and Anchorage.


    Rev. 29 November 2007
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