Court News - 3/19/2001 - Juvenile Mental Health Court

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03/19/01

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SUBJECT: Santa Clara County Superior Court Commences

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Juvenile Mental Health Court

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The Santa Clara County Superior Court has assumed a national leadership role in
addressing the issues of juveniie mentai health by holding the nation's first
Juvenile Mental Health Court(JMHC) on Wednesday, February 14, 2001, thus
increasing effectiveness of community mental health treatment for juvenile
offenders who are accused of less serious offenses. Supervising Judge Raymond
J. Davilla, Jr. will preside over this specialized court every second and fourth
Wednesday afternoon of the month.

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The juvenile justice system has become a common pathway for many youth with
serious mental illness who have had a protracted involvement with the juvenile

justice system. Through early identification of available resources for those youth
suffering from developmental disabilities, organic brain syndromes, and brain
conditions with a genetic component, the goal of effective juvenile rehabilitation
and community safety is addressed as well as expediting the processing within
the juvenile justice system for youth with serious mental illness. The Court has
accomplished this feat through a collaborative effort involving judicial officers,
prosecutors, public defenders, mental health representatives, juvenile probation,
and treatment provider representatives.

Judge Davilla's JMHC will effect a more humane treatment of juveniles with

serious mental illness, help relieve the overcrowding of detention facilities, and
decrease recidivism among youth. Judge Davilla states, ?The JMHC will give us

many more options in the proper treatment of these youth as well as the
protection of our community. This is truly a team effort which will continue to
adjust as we better define the needs of our juvenile population.?
L.

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