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Mental health funding scarce

A circuit judge says advocates must understand the problems in creating a mental health court system, particularly paying for it. He advises going to lawmakers.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published February 3, 2005

HERNANDO - Circuit Judge Ric Howard urged people who are concerned about the increasing need for mental health services, particularly in the court system, to contact those who control funding and to continue to fight for more mental health awareness.

Howard's remarks came during a Tuesday night meeting of the Citrus chapter of NAMI, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Over the years, the group of mental health advocates has been highly critical of several of Howard's decisions on the bench. About 40 people attended the monthly meeting at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Hernando.

Joan Murphy, a former psychiatric nurse who helped found Citrus' NAMI chapter, said Howard's appearance at the meeting was designed to create dialogue between groups that don't always see eye to eye.

"We are in agreement in wanting treatment options," Murphy said.

She has been present in court many times, she said, and wants the criminal justice system to recognize there's a crisis in mental health and the court system because of the lack of treatment options available.

A mental health court is not beyond the reach of the judicial circuit, she said, and is a goal NAMI plans to continue to fight for in Citrus County.

During his speech, Howard explained that he could not make legal decisions that deviated from the law or raise money for increased support for those with mental illnesses, explaining that legislators have more power than judges in making societal changes.

Instead, he focused on explaining often-misunderstood legal topics, such as sentencing guidelines and the way the law handles questions of mental illness.

He calculated the salaries of top-earning baseball players, explaining that 11 top players earn more money than is allocated to the 5th Judicial Circuit, the court system charged with overseeing legal matters in Citrus and four other counties.

He used geography to explain his problems with a mental health court in the circuit.

In a circuit about the size of Connecticut that includes areas as diverse in population and needs as Spring Hill and Wildwood, he said, establishing one court for the circuit would be difficult.

Howard brought a several-inches-thick stack of documents, his weekly court docket, to show the number of cases brought to him each week. With so many cases and defendants, it's a daunting task to figure out which defendants may need mental help. Options for those with mental illnesses are limited, too.

He also told audience members that many people he sees in court have had problems all of their lives. Parents must take responsibility for their children, so the children don't end up in front of a judge one day, he said.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 860-7312 or vansickle@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 3, 2005, 01:07:17]