Reduced Length of Stay for Not in Custody Restoration to Competency

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The Superior Court of Arizona in Maricopa County orders some criminal defendants to participate in the Not in Custody Restoration to Competency program. Prior to October 1, 2018, Defense Counsel was responsible for locating a Mental Health Expert in the community to submit an Outpatient Treatment Plan to the Court. This process required approximately 42 days before the Court could formally admit the defendant to the Not in Custody Restoration to Competency program. On October 1, 2018, the Court and Correctional Health Services collaborated to streamline the assignment process for Mental Health Experts with the intent of reducing this delay. The Court eliminated the requirement for the Outpatient Treatment Plan, enabling the immediate admission of the defendant to the program. Correctional Health Services assists the Court by suggesting the geographically closest Mental Health Expert in the community, based upon the defendant’s home zip code. Correctional Health Services also revised the compensation structure from hourly rates for weekly sessions to an all-inclusive flat rate invoiced upon the Mental Health Expert’s submission of the final report. These two modifications substantially contributed to reducing the average length of stay for defendants admitted to the Not in Custody Restoration to Competency program.