DeKalb Diversion Treatment Court

The Diversion Treatment Court (DTC) for DeKalb County came into existence because of the mutual awareness that 18-20 % of the jail population suffers from mental illness. A group of four, Chief Magistrate Winston P. Bethel, NAMI advocate Flo Giltman, Attorney Jim Sanders and Psychiatrist Dr. Emile Risby met early in 1999 to initiate a collaborative effort to decriminalize incarcerated defendants with serious mental illness.
This court program began operations in May 2001, without funding, but with a strong commitment from partners possessing the collective vision to decriminalize the mentally ill by moving them from jail into treatment, with then Attorney Amy R. Simon as its director. Now Magistrate Judge, Amy Simon continues her work with dedication and tenacity, achieving one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country.
Mentally ill candidates must agree to participate and follow the rules. Some complete the program in 6-8 months. Others take years to turn around and recover. At present they are unable to take candidates who do not have a stable environment. The biggest need going forward is supervised and safe supportive housing. One of Amy’s defendants suffered three bouts of homelessness in one year.
 

SAMHSA Awards Grant to|
DeKalb Diversion Treatment Court

Great news came to Judge Amy Simon and her collaborators, who have been working for many years with no financial backing. On September 19, 2007, the federal agency, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), announced a grant of almost $1 million over a three year period for their DeKalb Diversion Treatment Court. Only a couple of grants are given annually in the U.S.The grant will help divert more individuals who have a mental illness from jail to a court-supervised, community–based treatment program. The Court has an enviable retention rate of 71% and low recidivism (return to jail) rate of 8% in 2006. Supplemented with local matching funds, Judge Simon plans to outreach to refugees, immigrants and ethnic minorities.

 Invitation to the Public

Everyone is invited to attend the court sessions, which are held every Thursday at 9:30 AM in the new courthouse addition in downtown Decatur. To enter, go through the metal detectors at the main entrance of DeKalb County Courthouse, go straight past the elevators and jury room to the new building. At the end of the corridor, turn right. This is the new Magistrate Court. Courtroom 1200D is the second courtroom on your left.Their address is:
Diversion Treatment Court (DTC)
DeKalb County Magistrate Court
556 North McDonough St., Suite 1200
Decatur GA 30032
404-371-2241  Fax- 404-371-2783