Judge Milton Mack

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.

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.

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. 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. I said, actually, you're a big part of the issue. If your system isn't working, nothing's working.

All the stakeholders are in these meetings. 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. I said, actually, you're a big part of the issue. If your system isn't working, nothing's working.

All the stakeholders are in these meetings. 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. I said, actually, you're a big part of the issue. If your system isn't working, nothing's working.

With the Diversion Council, we've been developing these statutory changes in 2016 and 18 and 19. So I've kind of expanded the notion of what diversion is. So in my view, diversion is a healthy mental health system that keeps people from involving themselves in the criminal justice system at all. It's a form of diversion, but it's rather expansive.

With the Diversion Council, we've been developing these statutory changes in 2016 and 18 and 19. So I've kind of expanded the notion of what diversion is. So in my view, diversion is a healthy mental health system that keeps people from involving themselves in the criminal justice system at all. It's a form of diversion, but it's rather expansive.

With the Diversion Council, we've been developing these statutory changes in 2016 and 18 and 19. So I've kind of expanded the notion of what diversion is. So in my view, diversion is a healthy mental health system that keeps people from involving themselves in the criminal justice system at all. It's a form of diversion, but it's rather expansive.

I mean, the Diversion Council in the beginning was focused on people who are in jail and what could we do for them. I want to focus on people before they end up in jail. You think about it, in Michigan, in an average year, between 150,000 and 200,000 people show up on hospital emergency rooms. On the other hand, mental health courts we have in Michigan, we have a lot. We have over 200 courts.

I mean, the Diversion Council in the beginning was focused on people who are in jail and what could we do for them. I want to focus on people before they end up in jail. You think about it, in Michigan, in an average year, between 150,000 and 200,000 people show up on hospital emergency rooms. On the other hand, mental health courts we have in Michigan, we have a lot. We have over 200 courts.

I mean, the Diversion Council in the beginning was focused on people who are in jail and what could we do for them. I want to focus on people before they end up in jail. You think about it, in Michigan, in an average year, between 150,000 and 200,000 people show up on hospital emergency rooms. On the other hand, mental health courts we have in Michigan, we have a lot. We have over 200 courts.

that do this sort of work. But only about 3% of the people who have a mental illness in our state jails are in a treatment court. The treatment courts are expensive and you can't scale them up. So if you really want to make a difference, go upstream. Help people stay well so they don't get in trouble with the law.

that do this sort of work. But only about 3% of the people who have a mental illness in our state jails are in a treatment court. The treatment courts are expensive and you can't scale them up. So if you really want to make a difference, go upstream. Help people stay well so they don't get in trouble with the law.

that do this sort of work. But only about 3% of the people who have a mental illness in our state jails are in a treatment court. The treatment courts are expensive and you can't scale them up. So if you really want to make a difference, go upstream. Help people stay well so they don't get in trouble with the law.

That's true. But we're having one of our bills to create a diversion process for those who are charged with liftometers. So currently in Michigan and most states, when you're charged with a crime, you have a mental illness, they send you to the forensic center for an evaluation. And they have to discern if you're competent to stand trial or not.

That's true. But we're having one of our bills to create a diversion process for those who are charged with liftometers. So currently in Michigan and most states, when you're charged with a crime, you have a mental illness, they send you to the forensic center for an evaluation. And they have to discern if you're competent to stand trial or not.

That's true. But we're having one of our bills to create a diversion process for those who are charged with liftometers. So currently in Michigan and most states, when you're charged with a crime, you have a mental illness, they send you to the forensic center for an evaluation. And they have to discern if you're competent to stand trial or not.

If you're not competent to stand trial, they have to make you competent to stand trial so they can convict you. Now, for misdemeanors, sending those individuals to the forensic center is an enormous waste of time, talent, money, resources, resources. Because at the end of the day, all you're going to get is a conviction for a misdemeanor, for an individual who's going to re-offend.