James Valdez examines his graduation certificate at the Regional Justice Center on Thursday after finishing a program at Mental Health Court. Valdez's burglary case was dismissed after he completed the two-year requirements of the court, which aims to help the mentally ill who commit crimes. Photos by Ronda Churchill
Senior District Judge Jon McGroarty talks Thursday about Mental Health Court at the Regional Justice Center. The court's first two graduates were recognized.
James Valdez knows what it's like to be penniless and on the streets.
"I was pretty much a delinquent," Valdez said. "I was homeless, and I recognized I had an alcohol problem at an early age. That contributed to what happened to me."
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Trapped in a world of substance abuse, destitution and mental health problems attributable to a car accident as a child, Valdez wandered through Las Vegas and the Strip on foot, partying and getting into trouble.
He eventually landed in District Court on a burglary charge.
But when he was interviewed at the Clark County Detention Center, it was noted that Valdez was clearly in need of mental health counseling.
Eventually, he was referred to the Clark County courts' Mental Health Court.
On Thursday, Valdez was recognized as one of the program's first two graduates.
"It feels good, like I did what I had to do," said Valdez, who also completed a treatment plan aimed at getting his life back on track as part of the program. "I feel like I have an advantage now."
The program was started by court officials in 2004 to meet the critical need of dealing with the mentally ill who come through the criminal justice system.
Senior District Judge John McGroarty said about 15 percent of the people charged with crimes at the crowded detention center are mentally ill.
McGroarty described the detention center as the "largest mental health facility in Clark County."
Defendants charged with felonies and misdemeanors can be referred to Mental Health Court by judges if they see fit and if a mental health evaluation at the detention center shows mental illness.
The state Legislature recently gave the program $2 million to operate.
The district attorney's office can veto referrals of individuals with a history of violent crime.
The court provides a team approach to keeping the mentally ill on their medications and out of trouble.
The team includes a psychiatrist, a clinician, a judge, a public defender, a parole and probation officer and members of participating programs such as the Salvation Army's Pathways program.
The program started off small, with the capacity for 33 participants in 2005. Now 76 people are participating.
McGroarty said one of the key attributes of the program is to make participants available to community services and facilities that can help the mentally ill find sustenance and medications, including public assistance benefits for those in need of them.
When the mentally ill end up in jail for more than 30 days, McGroarty said, they often lose any Social Security assistance, leaving them in a repetitive cycle of destitution and homelessness in the city.
Valdez said he completed his treatment plan and stayed out of trouble for two years under the guidance of the court program, meaning his case has been dismissed.
He is now searching for a job as a bus boy and is staying at the Salvation Army with the hopes of securing an apartment through work and public assistance benefits.
