A persistent struggle in a metropolitan area like Los Angeles, California, is the struggle to treat persons with mental illness before it becomes severe. In the United States mental illness since the covid pandemic has become more of a crisis. On any given day in Los Angeles, someone is coming before the Courts having broken the law while experiencing a psychotic disorder. In December of 2023, a new approach was launched to bring services rather than punishment to such an individual. It is called CARE Court. CARE stands for - Community Assistance, Recovery, & Empowerment, and perhaps the key word is empowerment. The process establishes for anyone who qualifies, the opportunity on a voluntary basis to be surrounded by services with the collaboration of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Public Health, the Public Defenders/Independent Defense Counsel offices and other community agencies. In this podcast episode we hear from Superior CourtJudge Scott R. Herin, who with Judge Rene Gilbertson, are the presiding Judges over this innovative program to promote wellbeing and empowerment rather than punishment. Listen and learn how a person may qualify for the program with a special petition to the Court and the ways that an individual’s plan for recovery is navigated and monitored. CARE Court in its early stage, is a program with hope, giving those with mental illness a chance to thrive in the community.
