COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The 4th Judicial District is planning to launch a court for nonviolent offenders with mental illnesses. In September, Pottawattamie County was awarded a $250,000 federal grant to start the project. Officials say the purpose of the mental health court is to decrease re-arrests and divert the offenders from correctional facilities to treatment programs.  The Daily Nonpareil reports officials hope to launch the court in late January.

For a person to be eligible for mental health court, they must not have committed a violent felony. They also must have had a mental health diagnosis in the past six months or have a history of mental illness.  A mental health court team will be formed to collect information and decide whether to admit a person. Court sessions will be held at least once a month.