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Outreach & Intervention Services
Forensic Intervention & Outreach Program
The Forensic Program is designed to assist individuals who have been charged with an offense and have been referred by the court, defense counsel, state attorney, court services or jail, and assessed by this program to have a mental illness. The majority of the persons enrolled in this program will be persons under Florida Statute 916, and persons with a mental health diagnosis with a felony or misdemeanor charge. Forensic Services are strength based, and focus on reducing risk by providing intensive case management, enhancing competence and court advocacy. Meridian has a Forensic Liaison office located directly in the public defenders office. Advocacy services are provided in all criminal courts.
The objective of the Forensic Program is to divert persons with a mental illness from the criminal justice system. Assistance is provided with the courts and the individual's criminal proceedings. Additionally, ongoing competency restoration training/education is done in the jail and in the community for all defendants still pending criminal charges. The ultimate goal is to keep individuals from re-offending and to reduce symptoms that might require involuntary hospitalization if the program were not available.
*In Alachua County: In addition to working in all of the court divisions, Meridian's forensic specialists work in the 916 Forensic Court which is a specialist court for persons who are mentally ill and have been changed with a felony.