Kansas City offers a voluntary mental health court that has been serving people for over 20 years.
The mental health court assists people struggling with mental health issues.
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Maurice Johnson faced this reality after serving 33 years in prison for bank robbery.
“I didn’t have anywhere to go…homeless,” Johnson explained. “I just started going to the hospital and police station.”
He struggled to avoid the criminal justice system, but was able to receive assistance from the mental health court.
Johnson’s start was rocky, according to Patrice Winston, the program’s organizer.
“He came in distrusting a lot of people,” Winston added. “He was always in survival mode.”
Johnson required assistance outside of the court program to get where he needed to go.
He became associated with Kevin Morgan’s charity, Lean on Me Ministries, which helps formerly jailed males.
Johnson began participating in the neighborhood and assisting at-risk youngsters.
Johnson graduated from the mental health court on Tuesday.
Graduation suggests a reduction in his municipal charges.
Judge Martina Peterson gave him his graduation diploma and marveled at how far he had come.
“You worked harder than most people in this program to get to where you are because you started 50 yards behind everyone else.”
Johnson is responsible for the next steps.
Johnson said, “I’m trying to get an apartment and find me a part-time job.” “The next step is the hardest step.”
He should no longer be a familiar face in front of the judge.
“That’s success for us,” Winston remarked. “Just don’t come back into the system.” We’d prefer to see you at Walmart rather than the courthouse.
Johnson stated that he was despondent when he joined the mental health court program.
He evaluated his mental health as three or four on a scale of ten.
He now rates his mental health as an eight on a scale of ten.
“Kevin and the judge, a shout out, because if it weren’t for Kevin and the judge, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you today,” Johnson stated.
