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Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are collaborating to provide behavioral health services to crimnal defendants who have a mental illness that the court deems they are incapable to proceed to trial.

A new service is coming to Mecklenburg County Detention Center.

The Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services partnered to provide behavioral health care to criminal defendants who have a mental illness that the court deems they are incapable to proceed to trial.

“There is a nationwide crisis in this country whereby states and their hospitals are overwhelmed with ITP patients needing capacity restoration,” said Dr. Robert Cochrane, director of forensic services for the Division of State Operated Healthcare Facilities. “Our facilities struggle to meet the need of both ITP patients and all other patients needing the complex psychiatric and medical care available in a state psychiatric hospital. Innovative and cost-effective alternatives are necessary in addressing the demand of the entire population.”

As of Dec. 7, eligible defendants in prison have received behavioral health treatment, education on court proceedings, and general healthcare. With funding support from the Governor’s Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force, the program is the first capacity retention program established in a detention center in North Carolina. The initiative is a comprehensive plan to offer mental health services at all levels of care, including in the community.

The new NC RISE program will begin to provide behavioral health services once a defendant is deemed ITP by the court, allowing an individual to proceed quicker through the system. Otherwise, they would have to spend unnecessary time in jail, awaiting admission to one of the three psychiatric hospitals in the state. These facilities are currently the only source in the state to provide full restoration services.

The jail-based program in Mecklenburg County will provide various services including psychiatric care, individual and group counseling, psychoeducation, and targeted case management.

Clinical care will now be provided in a more suitable setting to reduce unnecessary admissions to psychiatric hospitals and improve access to treatment. The new program could also prevent hospitalizations and lead to a faster resolution of criminal charges.

NCDHHS awarded a contract to Wellpath Recovery Solutions to implement the NC RISE program at Mecklenburg County Detention Center. The program will provide behavioral health services to those who cannot be discharged to see a community provider.

“Wellpath Recovery Solutions is honored to partner with NCDHHS and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office to implement the North Carolina RISE Program, which will increase access to care for individuals with mental illness,” said Jeremy Barr, president of Wellpath Recovery Solutions. “We look forward to a long partnership and providing more timely access to care to those in need.”

Increasing access to care addresses one of the state health departments top priorities – behavioral health and resilience. NCDHHS hopes this will be the first of many detention centers and restoration pilot program throughout North Carolina.

Prioritizing the mental health of those waiting a trial will not only resolve legal charges of detainees but will improve the legal and mental health systems within the state.

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