S.C. Code Ann. tit. 14, ch. 31

S.C. Code Ann. § 14-31-10 Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the "Mental Health Court Program Act".

S.C. Code Ann. § 14-31-20 Purpose of chapter.

The purpose of this chapter is to divert qualifying mentally ill offenders away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment programs, thereby reserving prison space for violent criminals and others for whom incarceration is the only reasonable alternative. Offenders with a diagnosed, or diagnosable mental illness generally recognized in the psychiatric community, qualify for participation in a mental health court program.

S.C. Code Ann. § 14-31-30 Definitions.

The following definitions shall apply to this chapter: (1) "Pre-adjudicatory mental health court program" means a program that allows an offender to expedite the offender's criminal case before conviction and requires successful completion of the mental health court program as part of the agreement. (2) "Post-adjudicatory mental health court program" means a program in which an offender has admitted guilt or has been found guilty and agrees to enter a mental health court program as part of the offender's sentence. (3) "Combination mental health court program" means a mental health court program that includes a pre-adjudicatory mental health court program and a post-adjudicatory mental health court program.

S.C. Code Ann. § 14-31-40 Mental health court program established; appointment of mental health judges; civil liability protection and immunities.

(A)(1)(a) Except as provided in item (2), each circuit solicitor may establish a mental health court program under one of the formats defined in Section 14-31-30. An offender arrested or convicted for any charges, except those excluded under the provisions of Section 16-1-130, who are suffering from a diagnosed, or diagnosable mental illness, including those with a co-concurring disorder of substance abuse, may be eligible for referral to a mental health court program. In cases involving victims, proper notice shall be given to victims pursuant to Section 16-3-1525. Proper notice to a victim is not achieved unless reasonable attempts are made to contact the victim and the victim is either nonresponsive or cannot be located after a reasonable search. (b) Each circuit solicitor that accepts state funding for the implementation of a mental health treatment court program must establish and administer at least one mental health court program for the circuit within one hundred eighty days of receipt of funding. The circuit solicitor must administer the program and ensure that all eligible persons are permitted to apply for admission to the program. (2) Mental health court programs established pursuant to an administrative order issued by the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court shall continue to operate pursuant to the terms and conditions of the court's orders pertaining to that mental health court program. To the extent that provisions contained in this chapter conflict with provisions contained in those Supreme Court administrative orders, the provisions of the administrative orders shall control. (B) The Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court shall appoint all mental health court judges for mental health courts operating pursuant to subsection (A)(1) and (2). Service as a mental health court judge shall be at the pleasure of the Chief Justice and shall be subject to any limitations and directives issued by the Chief Justice. In order to be appointed as a mental health court judge, a person must be a probate judge, a summary court judge, or an active or retired member of the state's unified judicial system. Service as a mental health court judge is voluntary. (C) Mental health court judges are entitled to the same protections from civil liability and immunities as judicial office holders in this State.