Bucks County has developed a mental health court that experts say can help reduce the time offenders with mental illness spend in jail, improve public safety by reducing recidivism and lead to quality of life improvements. Here are some resources that may be helpful for residents, attorneys and public safety officials. 

CONTACT

Christine Sassane, Deputy District Attorney, 215-348-6054, csassane@buckscounty.org

MENTAL HEALTH COURT

The mission of the Bucks County Mental Health Court is to develop a partnership between the mental health and criminal justice systems. This partnership will address the specialized needs of individuals with serious mental illness diagnosis, thereby reducing recidivism rates, promoting public safety, and improving the quality of life for participants by establishing mandatory, comprehensive, community-based treatment and services within the guidelines of the Mental Health Court. 

LINK: https://www.buckscounty.gov/1658/Mental-Health-Court

REPORTS

Report by Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, “Improving Criminal Justice Outcomes through Mental Health Court Development,” June 2020.

Open Letter by District Attorney Matt Weintraub to President Judge Wallace H. Bateman about the importance of a Mental Health Court, Jan. 25, 2021.

COUNTY RESOURCES

Bucks County Network of Care: How to Get Services in Bucks County

Upper Bucks Area	Penn Foundation 807 Lawn Avenue Sellersville, PA 18960	215-257-6551
Central Bucks Area	Lenape Valley Foundation 500 N West Street Doylestown, PA 18901	215-345-5300
Lower Bucks Area	Penndel Mental Health Center 1517 Durham Road Penndel, PA 19047	215-752-1541

Links to other Bucks County Diversionary Programs

DRUG COURT: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/da/29567/content/drug-court

DISTRICT COURT DIVERSION PROGRAM: https://bucks.crimewatchpa.com/da/29567/content/district-court-diversion...