Recovery with Justice (RWJ)–also known as mental health court–is a “specialty session” held weekly at Springfield District Court.
Its purpose is to help mentally ill probationers by giving them more intensive supervision and assistance.
To qualify for RWJ, the probationer (despite being mentally ill) must be competent to stand trial.
Additionally, all of his criminal charges must be resolved with either a “guilty” or a “CWOF“.
(Those charged with sexual offenses or arson are not eligible for the program.)
Applicants complete a RWJ referral form and submit it to the program along with their criminal record and their court documents. (The applicant’s lawyer will, of course, help with the paperwork.)
The applicant must also sign a release allowing the court to communicate with his treatment providers.
Finally, the applicant will meet the RWJ clinician for an assessment.
The clinician will create a service plan for the applicant and that plan will become part of his probation conditions.
According to the RWJ handbook, the program lasts between 6 to 12 months.
During that time, the participant must remain drug/alcohol free, take his prescribed medications, comply with his treatment plan, attend RWJ court dates, and attend at least 90% of his scheduled treatment appointments.
Participants benefit from “case management services, referrals to mental health treatment, and… referrals to substance abuse treatment,” according to the handbook.
Attached below are the RWJ eligibility guidelines, referral form, release form, and handbook: