Denton County
Denton County Community Diversion Coordinator
Alessia Dal Monte
“Denton County’s pilot program for the Community Diversion Coordinator has seen many successes since its launch. The position, which is situated in the county courts, has set priorities of early identification and assessment of defendants in custody, PR bond release into treatment for non-violent offenders, and continued oversight as their cases move through the courts. To the testimony of judges, attorneys, and defendants and their family members, the Community Diversion Coordinator program has been a driving force for positive change in both procedure and understanding, and will continue to do so for the betterment of the county.”
Denton County Successes
- Instituted a Jail Reentry Action Plan to identify and address potential barriers such as transportation and housing, setting up medication prescriptions, and reporting for continued monitoring and problem-solving
- Developed a mental health docket for monitoring and accountability of defendants receiving outpatient treatment in the community and those assigned to outpatient competency restoration
- Established a biweekly clinical case collaboration to provide a platform to discuss inmates with significant mental health needs and identified concerns
- Established a bi-weekly meeting to review the 46B forensic waitlist
The JCMH put on a SIM Mapping workshop in Denton County on March 3 - 4, 2022. The workshop was facilitated by JCMH Executive Director Kristi Taylor and Dallas District Attorney's Office Mental Health Division Chief Lee Pierson.
The workshop was hosted by Denton County Criminal Court #4 Judge Chance Oliver, Denton County Magistrate Court Judge Robin Ramsay, Denton County Community Diversion Coordinator Erica Baldwin, and Denton County Magistrate Court Coordinator Tiffany Cummings.
Denton MHMR announced at the workshop that they will be hosting a Mental Health & Judicial/Law Enforcement Collaborative Summit following the workshop on March 25th and shared information about their programs with participants in their MHMR Services Booklet.