SUMMARY
Providing docket coordination to the district’s competency docket by helping to assemble a team fluent in competency matters and community resources available to support its clients out-of-custody
BACKGROUND
Criminal cases wherein competency to proceed is raised are typically spread evenly across all the criminal divisions in a district or county court. Competency cases pose challenges for the operation of court divisions in that the pace of progress is slower, and often difficult to plan for as progress is dependent on clients’ ability to be restored (which is often complicated by conditions in-custody, access to specialized mental health care, and plagued by scarce resources). These challenges are further exacerbated in rural areas, such as the 12th Judicial District. Attorneys and judicial officers staffing the cases might only have a handful in a caseload with competency, and as such, they may not have the capacity to develop expertise in competency. Issues like appropriate pretrial supervision levels, client needs, and opportunities for diversion are complicated in competency cases, but achieving positive clinical and legal outcomes often depend on decisions made regarding these issues.
ELEMENTS
Court docket and support team coordination, meeting planning
PROGRAM STAFF
One docket coordinator (0.25 FTE)
CAPACITY
No limit
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
Decrease in individuals who require admittance to the state hospital for competency restoration; Decrease in time to reach competency outcome; Increase in treatment service engagement during and after justice involvement
STANDOUT ASPECTS
This program enables the implementation of a competency docket in a very rural district. The Fines Committee-funded position is expected to enable the judicial district to assist the specialized docket clients more effectively.
FUNDING
$69,555 for two years