House Committee advances bill to create mental health courts

A House committee has advanced a proposal to create treatment courts in Missouri that focus on mental health issues. 

The bill from Republican Representative John Black also offers offender treatment options as an alternative to incarceration. 

It would be similar to already existing veteran courts, DWI courts, drug courts, and family treatment courts. 

If a defendant successfully goes through treatment programs, they can avoid prison time or having a crime appear on their record. 

The proposal is one recommendation from the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Task Force, which Black chairs. 

The bill has been referred to a separate House committee for a second look.