Judge Milton Mack

Get them into recovery.

Aside from the economic sense, you know, avoiding jail, avoiding incarceration, which is expensive, especially for people with mental illness who have to have expensive drugs.

We spend a ton of money providing mental health treatment in our jails and prisons.

in what are not therapeutic environments.

If we can get people the kind of care they need in the community, not only can they get well, but you can save a lot of money.

Like in Genesee County, they had a 70% reduction in hospitalization.

And the individuals surrounding these outpatient treatment plans are complying with treatment, the level of 90%.

And the satisfaction rate's like 92%.

Now, when I was serving as a judge, and I'd order some of the central hospital treatment,

I don't think my satisfaction level was very high.

The average individual didn't appreciate me sending them to a hospital.

But back in Genesee County, what happens is when they order outpatient treatment, a form is sent to the patient saying, a treatment team is going to guide your treatment, and you're on the treatment team.

They do everything they can to engage the individual to participate in the planning of their own treatment plan.

And individuals in that situation feel like they're being listened to, and they respond.

So I think it's a great opportunity to help people recover from mental illness, become productive citizens, substantially reduce hospitalization or emergency room costs, and substantially reduce incarceration.

All the stakeholders are in these meetings, right?

We even had the Michigan Hospital Association.

I suggested they be part of the diversion council.

They were kind of curious why they were there.

They didn't think they were part of the issue.