Thank You!

Bill Lindsey, Executive Director for National Alliance on Mental Illness in South Carolina (NAMI SC)

WELCOME TO PROBATE COURT�

Irv Condon

Judge of Probate

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CHARLESTON COUNTY PROBATE COURT

OBJECTIVES

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• Overview of Probate Court, its jurisdiction and functions
• Civil commitment process for the mentally ill and for alcohol and other drugs
• Our problem-solving courts
• Points to ponder/Trivia

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Probate Court Organizational Chart

Estate Division

Commitment & Guardianship/ Conservatorship Division

Adult Drug Court

Marriage License Division

Juvenile Drug Court

Court Staff

Portia

Geathers

Veterans Treatment Court

Mental Health Court

Probate Court Staff’s Contact Information�

• Irvin G. Condon Judge of Probate 843.958.5193/843.817.2039 irvcondon@charlestoncounty.org
• Regina LeBlanc: Clerk of Court, GC Division & Problem-Solving Courts                 843.958.5192/rleblanc@charlestoncounty.org
• Elizabeth Currie:              Community Outreach Coordinator & Adult Guardianship Coordinator/Monitor   843.958.5189/843.666.5163/ecurrie@charlesoncounty.org 
• Tina Homer: GC Clerk for even # files 843.958.5190/843.209.3288/thomer@charlestoncounty.org  
• Tonya Vanderhoof GC Clerk for odd # files 843.958.5184/TKVanderhoof@charlestoncounty.org
• Megan Arnett: Commitment Clerk and Juvenile Drug Court Clerk 843.958.5188/843.666.9782/marnett@charlestoncounty.org 
• Skylar Shepard: Commitment Clerk 843.958.5185/843.666.9840/sshepard@charlestoncounty.org 
• Hollen Sellers: Coordinator, Mental Health Court & Veterans Court    843.958.5186/843.666.5633/hsellers@charlestoncounty.org 
• Kate Burroughs: Coordinator for Adult Drug Court                             843.958.5189/843.666.5629/kburroughs@charlestoncounty.org 
• Portia Geathers: Marriage License Clerk 843.958.5183/pgeathers@charlestoncounty.org 
• Harry D. Cale, III: Comptroller 843.958.5196/843.371.6227/hcale@charlestoncounty.org
• Jamie Robinson: Estate Projects Officer 843.666.4701/jrobinson@charlestoncounty.org

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• Lenna K. Kirchner Associate Judge of Probate 843.958.4363/lkirchner@charlestoncounty.org
• Peter A. Kouten Associate Judge of Probate 843.958.5197/pkouten@charlestoncounty.org
• David L. Michel Associate Judge of Probate 843.958.5032/dmichel@charlestoncounty.org
• Alison Atwood: Clerk of Court, Estates 843.958.5031/843.666.4034/aatwood@charlestoncounty.org
• Tina Grooms: Estate Clerk for #s ending in 0, 5 843.958.5038/843.666.9662/tgrooms@charlestoncounty.org
• Sharon Clark: Estate Clerk for #s ending in 1, 6 843.958.5033/843.666.4646/sclark@charlestoncounty.org
• Nicole Rollins: Estate Clerk for #s ending in 2, 7 843.958.5039/843.666.4276/nrollins@charlestoncounty.org
• Tleshia Schoenith: Estate Clerk for #s ending in 3, 8 843.958.5037/843.666.4723/tschoenith@charlestoncounty.org
• Lindsay E. Williams: Estate Clerk for #s ending in 4, 9 843.958.5034/843.408.9381/lewilliams2@charlestoncounty.org
• OPEN Customer Service Representative
• Julius J. Gailliard: Law Clerk 843.958.5045/843.666.7364/jgailliard@charlestoncounty.org
• Eric Pettis: Law Clerk 843.958.5012/epettis@charlestoncounty.org
• Robin Slikker Law Clerk 843.958.5194/rslikker@charlestoncounty.org

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Four Corners of Law

Getting Treatment

I. VOLUNTARY

SEIZE THE AWKWARD

II. Involuntary - Civil Commitment

MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR SOCIETY

• According to NAMI Statistics, 1 in 5 American adults had some type of mental disorders in 2020. Getting a diagnosis from a professional is essential.

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• Mental disorders affect not only your emotions but also your thoughts and your physical functions.

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DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS

• Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a mental illness.
• Caused by a combination of behavioral, biological, and environmental factors.
• Results in changes in the brain’s structure and function. 
• Similar to other mental illnesses, addiction (also known as substance use disorder) impairs a person’s ability to function at work or school, maintain stable relationships, and cope with stressful situations.
• Untreated mental health disorders can increase the risk of substance abuse.

Civil Commitment

• Involuntary commitment for alcohol and drugs and/or mental illness
• Affects all of our families
• Hearings are held at the hospitals and the courthouse

“Lowcountry Rapist”: June, 1992

Involuntary Commitment

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• A person can be involuntarily committed by Mobile Crisis and taken to the ER when Mobile Crisis determines they are a DANGER TO OTHERS OR A DANGER TO SELF.

COURT ASSISTED TREATMENT (CAT)

- Uses the tools of the problem-solving courts to help our citizens under a civil commitment Order

PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS

Adult Drug Court

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Miami, Florida

The late Judge Stanley Goldstein

Mental Health Court

Seattle, Washington

Judge James Cayce

Veterans Treatment Court

Buffalo, New York

Judge Robert Russell

BRIAN AND CHIEF MULLEN �ADULT DRUG COURT

FREE WORKSHOPS

• Judge Irv Condon holds a free virtual or in person estate planning and estate administration workshop every Monday, alternating at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Please contact Jamie Robinson at (843) 666-4701, or jrobinson@charlestoncounty.org for the dates and times and to register.

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• Judge Irv Condon will speak to your civic group or organization for free. Please contact Jamie at (843) 958.5036 or jrobinson@charlestoncounty.org to have Judge Irv Condon speak to your group.

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• Contact Jamie Robinson for a copy of today’s PowerPoint or any information from any slide in the presentation: 843.958.5036 or jrobinson@charlestoncounty.org

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Please call or email me if I can ever help you.  �

Irv Condon

Probate Judge

Direct (843) 958-5193   

Cell   (843) 817-2039

irvcondon@charlestoncounty.org

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SCDMH MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS AND REGIONS (Greenville and Piedmont merged into Greater Greenville MHC –effective 6/30/19)

SCDMH - A TRUE SYSTEM OF CARE�(A BRIEF OVERVIEW)

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TARGET POPULATION APPROPRIATE STRATEGY

PATIENTS WITH MILD/MODERATE SYMPTOMS; PATIENTS WITH STABLE CHRONIC SYMPTOMS, BUT IN NEED OF ONGOING CARE, ETC.

PREVENTION – INFANT & EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE,

SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH, ANTI-STIGMA CAMPAIGNS, CIT*,

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID, SUICIDE PREVENTION,

STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, FARMACY TEAMS, ETC.

SCHOOLS, PTAS, CHURCHES, FIRST STEPS, BUSINESSES, FIRST RESPONDERS, CIVIC CLUBS, GENERAL PUBLIC AT FESTIVALS, FAIRS, MARKETS, ETC.

IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO EVIDENCED BASED TX & PROGRAMS* VIA WALK-IN CLINICS, EXTENDED HOURS,TELEPYSCH. INTEGRATED CARE, CARE COORDINATION, PEER SUPPORT, MED. MGT.

PATIENTS WITH ACUTE SYMPTOMS OR SIGNIFICANT, UNSTABLE CHRONIC SYMPTOMS

ABOVE; PLUS ICT, MDFT, FEP, FRST*, HOMELESS OUTREACH, CO-OCCURRING TX, ETC.

PATIENTS WITH EXACERBATION OF SYMPTOMS & IN CRISIS

ABOVE: PLUS CSUs, CCRI, LE & DJJ* EMBEDDED MHPS, EMS TELEPSYCH, ETC.

PATIENTS IN AN ED OR JAIL

MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, MHPS IN EDS & JAILS

DANGER TO SELF/ OTHERS

INPATIENT CARE

*CSU – Crisis Stabilization Unit

CCRI – Community Crisis Response & Intervention

LE – Law Enforcement

DJJ – Department Of Juvenile Justice

*ICT – Intensive Community Treatment

MDFT- Multidimensional Family Therapy

FEP – First Episode Psychosis

FRST – First Responder Support Teams

TARGET:

Right Treatment At The Right Time In The Right Place By The Right Provider - Preventing Avoidable Emergency Department (ED) Visits, Hospitalizations, and Incarcerations

*Crisis Intervention Team Training

*CBT, DBT, EMDR, PCIT, TFCBT, MI, IPS, etc.

Best Pharmacological Practices, DBT, Learning Labs, Transition Specialists, Peer Support, etc.

Cost-sharing Positions, Liaisons, etc.

Deborah S. Blalock, 2019

SCDMH/CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INTERCEPT MAP

• Statewide crisis line – 833-DMH-CCRI/988 call center
• School Mental Health
• Statewide Mobile Crisis Team (24/7)
• Street Medicine Teams
• Mental Health First Aid
• Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training
• Intensive Community Services
• Homeless Outreach

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• Mobile Crisis
• EMS/MHC telehealth
• LE/MHC telehealth
• MHPs in consolidated dispatch
• First Responder Support Teams
• SCLEAP support
• SCDMH JIP Program Director
• Mental Health Task Forces
• CJCC participation
• MHPs embedded in LEA/CIT

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• MHPs embedded in detention centers
• Designated Examiners
• Forensic Evaluations
• Restoration Services
• Forensic Inpatient Services
• Detention Center Liaisons
• DJJ MOA, Liaison
• LAI project
• Jail/community based restoration

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• Mental Health Courts
• Drug Courts
• Veterans’ Courts
• Homeless Courts

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• Sharing records w/SCDC
• SOAR project
• SVP Program
• Opportunity to improve data sharing perhaps with SCEIX

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• Released inmates offered immediate appointment with MHC
• MOA with PPP
• Care Coordination
• CPSS staff
• Opportunity to create warm handoff when being released – exploring EBPs to determine most effective in engaging patient in treatment

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Institutional Trends

Mental Health and Corrections

• 2021 Bureau of Justice Statistics referencing 2016 article Indicators of Mental Health Problems Reported by Prisoners: Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016 by L. Marushcak and J. Bronson notes:
• About 14% of state and 8% of federal prisoners met the threshold for past 30-day SPD.
• Females in state (19%) or federal (17%) prison were more likely than males in state (14%) or federal (7%) prison to have met the threshold for past 30-day SPD.
• About 43% of state and 23% of federal prisoners had a history of a mental health problem.
• An estimated 27% of state and 14% of federal prisoners reported being told they had a major depressive disorder, the most common mental disorder reported.
• 2019 American Psychological Association article Improving mental health for inmates by H. Stringer notes:
• About 37 percent of people in prison have a history of mental health problems, according to a 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Justice. More than 24 percent have been previously diagnosed with major depressive order, 17 percent with bipolar disorder, 13 percent with a personality disorder and 12 percent with post-traumatic stress disorder. The numbers are even higher for people in jail, where one-third have been previously diagnosed with major depressive disorder and almost one-quarter with bipolar disorder.
• 2020 Population Health article Does in-prison physical and mental health impact recidivism by D. Wallace and X. Wang notes:
• …the combination of better mental health in-prison and increases in mental health post-release is associated with reductions in the likelihood of re-offending for both technical violations and new convictions.

SCDMH and Detention� Center Collaborations�2023

• 33 Detention Centers/Jails in South Carolina collaborate with 16 SCDMH Mental Health Centers in their respective catchment area to provide access to Mental Health services.

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• 12 Detention Centers in South Carolina contract with Mental Health Centers for services.

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• Programming collaborations (may vary depending on site and needs) consist of:
• Embedded clinicians weekly
• Embedded clinicians for weekend coverage
• Psychiatrist Coverage
• Telehealth services
• Follow-up services post-release
• Consultation and Liaison services
• 24/7 Mobile Crisis response
• Long Acting Injectable medication availability

BCMHC/Hill-Finklea Detention Center Collaboration

Fall 2022 at the initial request by Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis, S.C. Representative Sylleste Davis secured funds for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office to partner with Berkeley Community Mental Health Center (BCMHC) to provide mental health services to inmates.

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• October 2022 Mental Health Collaboration began with:
• 2 Mental Health Professionals, 1 Outreach Clinician, Weekend coverage, 12 hrs per week Psychiatrist
• Note: Hill-Finklea Detention Center assigned a Full-Time Detention Officer to Mental Health Team
• 1^st Quarter Outcomes
• First Quarter reporting period has 344 inmates meeting with a mental health professional.
• 119 of inmates who received mental health services and were released, 22% had follow up care at BCMHC or have agreed to follow-up with care.
• Greater than 90% of inmates evaluated by psychiatrist were prescribed medication.
• Approximately 41% of HFDC inmates evaluated by BCMHC psychiatrist have a Serious Mental Illness.
• BCMHC provided a total of 615 services; 53 were Crisis level care, including Suicide Watch services.
• The average number of days an inmate remained on suicide watch classification started at 12.5 days and reduced to an average of 2.8 days during reporting period.

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Thank You!