4 graduate from first Canyon County Mental Health Court

 

CALDWELL -- A Canyon County judge says 16 percent of the nation's prison population suffers from a mental illness.

Now that same judge is doing her part to help inmates get help, instead of serve time.

On Tuesday evening, four Canyon County residents graduated from the first "Mental Health Court."

They have all been diagnoised with either bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression with psychotic features, and that has potentially caused them to commit crimes.

For two years they have been getting help and taking proper medication, and their efforts have been rewarded.

One graduate is 46-year-old Carolynn Boots.  She was arrested in 2006 after a hit-and-run crash that sent her granddaughter flying out of the car.

Carolynn's punishment included Mental Health Court, and she says it's helped her completely change her life.

"It's given me my life back, it's given me knowledge of my mental illness, it's given me knowledge of my addiction, it's given me a life again," said Carolynn Boots.

Carolynn was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. For nearly nine years she says she self medicated with methamphetamine.  Mood swings and voices in her head dominated her actions, but she is taking care of that under the guidance of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and Judge Renae Hoff.

"If it is their mental illness that links them to the system, that is what we are trying to take a look at," said Hoff.

"We take these folks where society's answer in the past has been to lock them up with no treatment," said Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak.  "Knowing that they will be released back in the community to reoffend,  Here we have a real chance to turn their lives around."

Participants are drug tested, meet with probation officers and attend weekly meetings. 

If a participant does not abide by the rules, they are punished with work release or jail.  But the goal is to collect a presidential coin.  It's a weekly reward for a job well done.

"In traditional court, all we have are penalties," said Hoff  "This one emphasizes and recognizes that rewards can be motivating. 
There are weeks when sanctions are imposed, but the best weeks are when I don't have to do that."

"It's just been a blessing, it's beautiful program and I would like to see others succeed in this program," said Boots.