Illinois has appointed a committee of judges to examine how well the state’s 12 mental health courts are working, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The courts are used as a criminal justice system option for some people with serious mental illness. Chief Justice Thomas Fitzgerald announced Tuesday that a committee of judges will study the courts and make recommendations.
The state’s mental health courts are in Cook, Winnebago, Lee, McHenry, Kane, Lake, DuPage, Rock Island and Madison counties. Planning for new mental health courts is under way in McLean, Grundy, Will, Peoria and Macon counties. Illinois Appellate Justice Kathryn Zenoff of the Second Judicial District is chairing the committee.