The Honorable Angela Warner Sims, Judge of Madison County Circuit Court 1, presides over the Madison County Problem Solving Court. Katie Stapleton is the MCPSC Program Coordinator.
The Madison County Problem Solving Court (MCPSC) is a collaboration between the judiciary, the Madison County Prosecutor's Office, and community resource providers with a mission to facilitate safe and successful reintegration of persons with substance use, mental health, rehabilitative, and legal issues into the community through early assessment and planning, active oversight, accountability, access to resources, incentivizing, graduated sanctions and positive judicial support. MCPSC integrates treatment services with justice system case processing.
MCPSC consists of three separate treatment courts: Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Reentry Court and are composed of four major components: treatment, random and frequent drug screens, regular court appearances, and meetings with a case manager.
History and Governance
In 2000, the Madison County Judiciary had the foresight to establish a Drug Court. The Madison County Drug Court primarily serves individuals with drug or alcohol related felony offenses. The Madison County Mental Health Court became operational in 2007 and serves individuals charged with felony offenses who have encountered the criminal justice system as a result of their mental illness. Finally, the Madison County Reentry Court became operational in 2008 and targets offenders who have served a minimum of one year in the Department of Correction.
In 2012, those courts were aggregated into a single problem-solving court model under a single supervising judicial officer. MCPSC are certified by the Indiana Office of Court Services (IOCS), IOCS promotes the utilization of best practices by specialty courts, monitors the evaluation of the delivery of evidence-based practices and provides direct assistance to the specialty courts. Certification for MCPSC is completed every three (3) years.
Basic Eligibility Guidelines
- Drug Court
- Must have a non-violent, substance related Level 6 offense or higher
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be a resident of Madison County
- Must have a balance of at least 30 months
- The individual meets the DSM-V criteria for substance dependence.
- The individual agrees to abide by all MCPSC and treatment center guidelines and rules
- The defendant is assessed as moderate to high risk/need as measured by the Indiana Risk Assessment System.
- Mental Health Court
- Must have committed a non-violent, Level 6 offense or higher
- Must have an Axis 1 diagnosis (can be determined during the evaluation phase)
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be a resident of Madison County
- Must have a balance of at least 30 months
- The individual meets the DSM-V criteria for substance dependence, the criteria for an Axis 1 mental health diagnosis, or is deemed in need of available treatment services/supervision.
- The individual agrees to abide by all MCPSC and treatment center guidelines and rules.
- The defendant is assessed as moderate to high risk/need as measured by the Indiana Risk Assessment System.
- Reentry Court
- Must have committed a Level 6 felony offense or higher
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must be a resident of Madison County
- Must have a balance of at least 24 months.
- The individual is deemed in need of available treatment services/supervision.
- The individual agrees to abide by all MCPSC and treatment center guidelines and rules.
- The defendant is assessed as moderate to high risk/need as measured by the Indiana Risk Assessment System.
Related Documents
Related Links
