Court
Liaison Service
The Mental Health Court Liaison
Service was established in Gippsland in June 2002.
The service was developed
through a pilot program commenced at the Melbourne Magistrates Court and is
now available state wide.
The position is staffed by a
senior registered psychiatric nurse, located at the Moe Magistrates Court.
The Mental Health Court Liaison
Officer has the role of identifying, and where appropriate recommending the
diversion of offernders with a mental illness from the criminal justice
system.
Program Aims
- Psychiatric assessment and
advice to the courts
- Diversion of mentally ill
offenders from the criminal justice system
- Community Education
- Service linkage
Program Activities
Psychiatric assessment and advice to the courts
- Assessment of fitness to
appear
- Dispositional advice
- Mental state assessment of
people with a psychiatric history
- Psychiatric reports
Diversion of mentally ill offenders from the criminal
justice system
- Access treatment for
mentally ill people
- Assessment of people for
psychiatric inpatient care
- Referrals to appropriate
services
- Liaison with relevant
services
- Advocacy on behalf of
clients
Community Education
Provision of information to:
- Magistrates
- Police
- Community Corrections
- Legal Practitioners
Service Linkage
- Facilitate inter-agency
cooperation
- Service provision advocacy
Target Groups
- Offenders with a mental illness
appearing in court
- Individuals appearing in
court who display concerning behaviour
- Individuals appearing in
court where concerning
behaviour is associated with the alleged offence
Referrals
Enquires should be directed to
the Mental Health Court Liaison Officer located in the Moe Magistrates Court.
The court coordinator will
assist in locating the Court Liaison Officer.
Although requests from
magistrates take priority, referrals are also accepted from:
- Court staff
- Legal practitioners
- Court welfare and
disability services
- Police
Contact Details
Mental Health Court Liaison
Service
Moe Magistrates Court
First Floor, 53 Lloyd Street
PO Box 87
Moe Victoria 3825
Telephone 03 5127 4888
Facsimile 03 5127 8780
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