FORT SMITH -- Sebastian County will have a new way to address those affected by mental illness in its criminal justice system.
The state Supreme Court approved the establishment of a mental health specialty court for Sebastian County through a per curiam order Thursday. Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue said in a news release Friday that he anticipates having people participate in the court "within the next several weeks."
"I continue to acknowledge an overriding responsibility for public safety and pledge to balance the desire to rehabilitate with the need for public safety," Shue said. "Second, just as we have in many years' experience with Drug Court and Veterans Treatment Court, we will act as the gatekeeper for the determination of which cases may be properly dealt with by the Sebastian County Mental Health Court."
Marty Sullivan, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, said via email that Sebastian County's approval makes for five operational mental health court programs in the state. The others are in Craighead, Crittenden, Mississippi and Pulaski counties.
On the national level, Shue said, one in four families is affected by mental illness.
"Abraham Lincoln said, 'You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today,' and we adhere to that principle," Shue said.
As per the administrative plan submitted to the Supreme Court of Arkansas by Administrative Judge Stephen Tabor on Nov. 12, Circuit Judge Annie Hendricks will preside over the Sebastian County Mental Health Court. Shue credits this court happening to the "coordination and cooperation of many stakeholders in the criminal justice system."
These stakeholders include Sebastian County Judge David Hudson; the Sebastian County Quorum Court; Arkansas Community Correction; Rusti Holwick and the Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center; Specialty Court Coordinator Becky Tabor; Assistant Specialty Court Coordinator Robyn Wilson; Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert McClure; and the Sebastian County Public Defender's Office. Janet Hawley with the Administrative Office of the Courts provided assistance as well.
Shue also acknowledged the Mental Health Specialty Court Act of 2017, which he drafted, and the important roles state Rep. Justin Boyd and state Sen. Terry Rice played in its passage.