Overall, the concerns about mental health courts are: * Forced medication and/or civil commitment requirements * Lack of referral sources/mental health agencies for treatment mandates * Stigmatization * Longer "sentence" mandates * Over-criminalization of the mentally ill * Coercion to plead guilty <http://blogs.psychcentral.com/forensic-focus/2010/04/mental-health-court-the-drawbacks/>http://blogs.psychcentral.com/forensic-focus/2010/04/mental-health-court-the-drawbacks/ (part of a series weighing pros and cons - above is the con. Sylvia ) Bazelon discussion: <http://www.bazelon.org/issues/criminalization/publications/mentalhealthcourts/#analysis>http://www.bazelon.org/issues/criminalization/publications/mentalhealthcourts/#analysis Powered by LSoft's LISTSERV(R) list management software