Office of the Mental Health Advocate

Judge Winston P. Bethel Receives the
2006 Debra J. Blum Award

Group shot - Judge Bethel holds up his award surrounded by the staff of OMHA

Judge Bethel surrounded by the staff of OMHA. From left to right: Alicia Thomas, Trina Cox, Susan Myrick, Sabrina Rhinehart, Judge Bethel, Charles Hess, Cathy Sonier

The Office of the Mental Health Advocate recognized the Honorable Judge Winston P. Bethel, the Chief Judge of DeKalb County Magistrate Court, for his substantial contributions in providing alternatives for mentally ill persons caught up in the criminal justice system by awarding him the Debra J. Blum Award on March 2, 2006. In 2001, DeKalb County became the first jurisdiction in the State of Georgia to implement a Diversion Treatment Court dedicated to Sabrina Rhinehart presents Judge Bethel with award plaque.

Sabrina Rhinehart presents Judge Bethel with award plaque.

addressing the problem of mentally ill defendants. Judge Bethel has worked tirelessly with many others in the community to research and implement a mental health court in order to divert defendants with mental illness from the inadequate consequences of the criminal justice system. Judge Bethel has been the Chief Judge of the DeKalb County Magistrate Court since 1998 and has promoted the concept of Therapeutic Jurisprudence as demonstrated not only by the mental health court but also by various other initiatives including a domestic violence diversion court and a child support/abandonment court. He remains dedicated to idea of intervention and alternative sentencing as a way of treating mental illness.

Judge Bethel and GPDSC Director, Michael Mears

Announcements and Articles
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 11:40 AM

Check here frequently for OMHA news and articles about mental health issues in the criminal justice system.

February 7 Seminar: "Psychotic Illness, Cognition & Functional Outcomes"

Legislative Update: Changes in 17-7-130 Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST)

The Office of the Mental Health Advocate Welcomes its 2007 Summer Interns
Our office has added four interns to its staff for the summer. The interns are: Amber L. Bagley, Emory Law School, 3L; Justin Holcombe, Georgia State University College of Law, 2L; Sheena Bosket, Georgia State University College of Law, 2L; and Santisa Hambrick, Atlanta Technical College, sophomore. Our office welcomes the extra help and the energy that this group of interns brings to defending the mentally challenged.