Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann B. Harris presided over the Mental Health Court graduation today where officials, community members, attorneys, family members and friends came together to congratulate the three newest graduates of the Cobb County Mental Health Court (MHC). MHC provides accountability and treatment to Cobb County citizens who are diagnosed with mental illness and find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. The graduates were recognized for successfully completing the rigorous 18- to 24-month program, offering supervision, accountability, and intensive treatment services.  The overriding themes from the graduates were a sense of accomplishment, hope and excitement for the next chapter of their lives.

The Cobb County Mental Health Court strives to improve mental health, promote self-sufficiency, reduce recidivism, and offer cost-effective alternatives to incarceration and hospitalization. Cobb MHC represents an effort to increase effective cooperation between two systems: the mental health system and the criminal justice system. The MHC holds participants accountable while assisting them in achieving long-term stability, becoming successful community members, and remaining law-abiding citizens. The Cobb MHC has been recognized as a Model Court in the State of Georgia by the Council of Accountability Court Judges and has served as a mentor court to other mental health courts in the state. Cobb MHC is a voluntary, pre-, or post-plea, judicially supervised, treatment-based program for those individuals with a documented mental health diagnosis. Cobb MHC partners with Highland Rivers Behavioral Health to provide comprehensive treatment services.

For more information about the Mental Health Court, please contact Coordinator Melanie Valentine at 770-528-8106 or melanie.valentine@cobbcounty.org.