Marin County Grand Jury
• 2012-2013
Star Court: a Restorative Justice Success Story[PDF]
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 4 findings
F1
The STAR Court is not doing enough to include family members in the legal and treatment process.
F2
The STAR Court needs to increase minority participation.
F3
Graduates from the STAR Court need more preparation on how to maintain progress and avoid relapse after graduation.
F4
Assigning a dedicated attorney from the District Attorney’s office to STAR Court is more effective than a rotational approach
Recommendations 7
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R1It is the stated policy of Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) to include family participation in Marin’s public mental health services where permitted by law and the client. We recommend that the STAR Court work with participants’ families to put into practice the policy of the CMHS.
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R2We recommend that STAR Court provide, with the consent of participants, a session of orientation for family members to educate the family about how the 4 The original text came from the Blueprint for Mental Health Services in New Zealand, Mental Health Commission, 1998, p. 10. STAR Court operates and what its goals are. This need not in any way breach client confidentiality.
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R3Prior to graduation, the participant's family should be advised by the STAR Treatment Team of community resources available to the participants and family members, such as ongoing support groups. Engaging Minority Populations
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R4Minorities are underserved in STAR Court. This may be due to cultural factors, distrust of the system, issues of language or reluctance to be labeled mentally ill. We recommend that the Handbook provided to participants be translated into Spanish, and that there be increased outreach and engagement with minority populations by the STAR Treatment Team to broaden the referral base. Preparation for Graduation from the STAR Court
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R5The STAR Court Team should place more emphasis on the problems that newly- graduated participants are likely to encounter post-graduation, beginning in the second or third phase of the program. Participants should be encouraged to access team members even after graduation to reduce the risk of relapse.
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R6We recommend that graduates be invited and encouraged to continue participating in the peer-counseling group, which meets after court each week. The inclusion of successful program graduates as speakers, role models and sources of information could provide ongoing structure and peer support after the graduate has moved on. Decreasing Turnover and Maintaining Continuity
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R7We recommend that legal and law enforcement personnel assigned to the STAR Court be kept in place for as much as two years, if feasible, so there is continuity in the STAR Court process for the wellbeing of the participants.