Clark County starts mental health court

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — A central Kentucky county has started a mental health court in an effort to get more help to those who need it.

The Winchester Sun (http://bit.ly/1KeemGy) reports Clark County’s mental health docket was officially announced last week after being in the works for months.

The program will be similar to the already established drug court, but its goals are more oriented toward helping participants instead of punishing them.

People can be referred to the program through various means, and they will be evaluated to see if they are a good fit. A team of 20 people from the legal, law enforcement and mental health professions will consider a variety of factors, including the severity of a crime, before deciding whether to accept a referral.

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Information from: The Winchester (Ky.) Sun, http://www.centralkynews.com/winchestersun

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