Lawmakers, Top Judges Push to Expand Mental Health Courts
Statewide diversion courts could keep thousands out of jail, but they'll need more investments in treatment to succeed.
After his mother died in 2022, Selwyn Bernardez spiraled into a grief- and drug-induced psychosis, roaming the New York City subway system with a samurai sword.
He struck a panhandler, landing him on Rikers Island for six months he described as
"hell on Earth."
His public defender secured him a spot in the Manhattan Felony Alternative-to-Incarceration Court, a diversion program that allowed him to enter comprehensive treatment and ultimately see his felony assault charge dropped.
He spent a year in intensive therapy, attending recovery meetings, and completing regular court check-ins.
Author's summary: Lawmakers push to expand mental health courts to reduce jail time.
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