Offer eligible individuals court-supervised treatment and services as an alternative to conventional prosecution in Westchester
White Plains
Ninth Judicial District Administrative Judge Anne Minihan today announced the launch of the Westchester Misdemeanor Welfare Court (WMWC), a specialty court for people charged with misdemeanors in Westchester County who are living with a serious mental illness that affects their functioning. daily.
Located in the White Plains City Courthouse, the WMWC will offer court-supervised community-based treatment and services to eligible individuals as an alternative to conventional prosecution, addressing participant treatment and criminogenic needs while balances the public safety concerns of the community. Participation in the WMWC is voluntary.
Treatment plans will be tailored to the needs of each participant, and WMWC will offer a variety of services, including mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, education assistance, and job training. Those who comply with court treatment and other requirements may have their charges reduced or dismissed.
The new courthouse is a collaborative effort of the Ninth Judicial District, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, County Probation and Community Mental Health Departments, local advocacy and local service providers, among others. The Policy and Planning Division of the New York State Court System’s Office of Justice Initiatives, under the leadership of Assistant Administrative Judge Edwina Richardson-Mendelson and Judge Toko Serita, has been working with the WMWC throughout the process. planning and implementation.
The WMWC court will operate on Thursday afternoons. White Plains City Court Judge Eric Press will serve as the WMWC’s Presiding Judge.
“With the launch of the Westchester Misdemeanor Welfare Court, the Ninth Judicial District is advancing innovative ways for communities and courts to collaborate to reduce recidivism while serving the treatment needs of litigants involved in justice living with serious mental illness. It is our hope that the implementation of this project will help break the cycle of incarceration and guide participants towards well-being and stability in the community,” Judge Minihan said.
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- To be accepted into the program, WMWC participants must be found eligible by the Westchester District Attorney’s Office and Department of Community Mental Health, plead guilty (except in exceptional circumstances), and enter into a participation agreement with the assistance of a defense attorney.
- WMWC participants are closely monitored and must appear in court weekly for a minimum of six months, interacting directly with the judge and reporting to the court care coordinator. Additionally, some WMWC participants may be assigned mentors.
- Referrals to the WMWC can be made by any town, village or city Court in Westchester County.
- Referrals may also come from the County District Attorney’s Office, Community Mental Health Department, Probation Department, local defense bar and/or local police.[/tab][/tabs]
Posted on January 19, 2023
