By The Star Staff
The judicial branch of the island government announced on Thursday the expansion of the Specialized Mental Health Courts to the judicial regions of Arecibo, Bayamón and Caguas, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maite Oronoz Rodríguez stressed that the expansion will benefit residents of 26 municipalities, promoting the recovery and rehabilitation of people with mental health disorders through a therapeutic justice approach.
“Cases under the Mental Health Act require a different approach, where treatment and rehabilitation are the central axis, because it is not about punishment, but rather about providing support, care and healing,” Oronoz Rodríguez said in a written statement.
The specialized chambers offer remedies such as involuntary commitment orders and compulsory treatment under the Mental Health Act. Each chamber is staffed with coordinators who serve as a liaison between the court, mental health service providers and the families of participants.
The project is supported by agencies such as the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration, the Department of Health, and the Legal Aid Society, among others. The specialized courts are part of the judicial branch’s Access to Justice Program for People with Mental Health Conditions.
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