Yakima County’s New Mental Health Court Opening Soon

A new Mental Health Court in Yakima County could be up and running earlier than expected. Leaders approved the money to start the program in about a month. News partner KIMA Action News reports the program is similar to drug court. It will help treat inmates with mental health problems instead of sending them to jail. They will live on the outside and check in weekly with authorities. Court administrators say it should cut the number of people who re-offend. Graduates of the drug court, hope this will have similar success. The pilot program for mental health court will start with ten inmates.