Participant Responsibilities

• Enter the Program Voluntarily - Before an individual enters the Durham County Mental Health Diversion Program, the assigned attorney will review the Mental Health Court Diversion Program Participation Fact Sheet.
• Attend Regular Court Appearances
• Participate in Mental Health Treatment/Take Medications as Prescribed
• Participate in the Development of a Person-Centered Treatment Plan
• Demonstrate Progress Toward Person-Centered Plan Goals
• Refrain from Engaging in Illegal Activity
• Meet Conditions of Probation (when applicable)
• Must Not Consume Alcohol or Non-Prescribed Controlled Substances
• Must Submit to Random Drug Screenings

Court Process

All court sessions are confidential. Only the individual, Mental Health Court Diversion Program Team and court staff are in the courtroom. At the initial court session, the individual will be welcomed to the program, introduced to everyone on the team and asked if he/she understands the purpose and rules of the program. All parties, including the judge, defense attorney, prosecutor, case manager and court coordinator, share a common goal of the participant successfully completing treatment. Participant progress is monitored on a regular basis, and there are consequences for non-compliance.

When the individual has met all requirements of the Mental Health Court Diversion Program and is in full compliance with treatment recommendations, a recovery celebration occurs. During the recovery celebration, the participants are allowed to share their experience, a guest speaker shares encouraging words, and light refreshments are served.