NEW ORLEANS UPDATE

New Orleans sends its greetings to everyone! New Orleans is pleased to report that their mental health court is doing very well. The court is completely operational and continues to be presided over by Judge Calvin Johnson and staffed by case managers Janice Bolin and Kiana Wright. The court has only about half the number of clients that were enrolled prior to Hurricane Katrina, but the program is growing steadily as the population of the city of New Orleans increases.

The program has recently provided space for a mental health clinic to allow for quick assessment and evaluation of mental health court clients. A director, social worker, nurse and psychiatrist staff the clinic on a full-time basis. The staff is able to identify, assess, evaluate and enroll clients into the mental health court within 48 hours, which is an exceptionally fast process.

The current client population includes many individuals with long histories of substance abuse who had never received psychiatric treatment prior to Katrina, some whose substance abuse extends as far back as 20 years. The clients were quite functional prior to the hurricane, but their coping strategies deteriorated as a result of Katrina, leading them to become involved in the criminal justice system. This, in turn, has allowed them to become connected to mental health services and individualized treatment plans through the mental health court.

Several of the clients found themselves homeless upon their return to New Orleans, having lost their loved ones as well as their homes. There was no plan for living arrangements and the lack of housing and the high cost of available housing contributed to increased feelings of depression. The lack of residential programs for persons with mental illnesses and who were dually diagnosed made it very difficult to provide specialized treatment.

Case Study:

1. Mr. Jones had been going to a behavioral health clinic in the New Orleans area prior to Hurricane Katrina. He had been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder I and prescribed lithium. He took the medication regularly and it helped, but he continued smoking marijuana and drank frequently. While he was unsure about his diagnosis, he did admit to feeling better. During Hurricane Katrina, the levees protecting his neighborhood broke and he and his girlfriend and her children were trapped in their house for weeks before they were evacuated. Upon their return to New Orleans, Mr. Jones’ clinic was not in operation. As a construction worker, there was plenty of work in the city for him. The stress from the flood, the evacuation and the constant work eventually took its toll and led to increased substance abuse. One night, after drinking at home, he followed his girlfriend to a bar and events culminated in his being arrested for criminal trespass, disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. At the time of his referral to mental health court, he had been incarcerated for four months and had been placed on lithium by the jail psychiatrist. Upon his acceptance into mental health court, he was released from jail, connected to a clinic and became educated about Bipolar Disorder I. His substance abuse has ceased and he now understands the importance that therapy and medication play in his well-being.

The court continues to find partnerships and collaborations to help their clients improve all aspects of their lives. This appears to be especially challenging in light of the problems that the city now faces. The shortage of housing and lack of mental health facilities do not adequately serve its population. The courts were recently awarded a grant by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program that was funded through the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2004. These funds will be used to implement and expand services offered by the mental health court and establish programs that will better connect clients with appropriate treatment needs.

The mental health court remains active and functional because of the dedicated staff members who have worked diligently to provide individualized care for their clients.

If you have any questions, please contact Peter Brandt, Court Services Administrator, Orleans Parish Criminal District Courtand Andree Mattix, Case Manager Supervisor, Court Intervention Services, Orleans Parish at (504) 658-9400.

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