New court to help mentally ill offenders

DIXON - Lee County courts, law enforcement and Sinnissippi Centers have collaborated to form a "mental health" court, which, if approved, will provide social and medical services for people with a serious mental illness who are charged with nonviolent crimes. Similar to the county's drug court and bad check program, such defendants will trade standard judicial punishment for an intensive outpatient program designed to help them take any necessary medications and get counseling and job training.