The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to explore expanding a special, intensive and in-demand criminal court program that aims to get mentally ill offenders out of jail and into housing and treatment.

The board wants to take a closer look at growing what is known as Behavioral Health Court, designed for offenders who have a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia.

The 12-year-old program the county funds in San Diego Superior Court is relatively small, capped at 60 people. There is more demand to join than there are available spots.

To read more of Teri Figueroa's article, please click here, Court program for defendants with mental illness eyed for expansion in San Diego County - The San Diego Union-Tribune (sandiegouniontribune.com).