Mental Health Court

Assistant District Attorney Derek Richmond oversees Northampton County’s Mental Health Court, guiding a collaborative effort to address the needs of offenders with mental health conditions. He leads a multidisciplinary team, including judges, mental health professionals, probation officers, and attorneys, to ensure participants receive treatment, support, and supervision rather than incarceration. Through regular court reviews and individualized care plans, ADA Richmond prioritizes accountability, rehabilitation and public safety. His leadership fosters a compassionate, structured environment that reduces recidivism and improves long-term outcomes for individuals navigating both the criminal justice system and serious mental health challenges.

Program Overview

Northampton County Mental Health Court operates two distinct tracks:

Track One – Pretrial Diversion

  • Designed for individuals facing new criminal charges.
  • Requires approval from the District Attorney’s Office and the Mental Health Court Team.
  • Upon acceptance, charges are held in abeyance.
  • If the participant successfully completes the program, the charges are not prosecuted.
  • Note: No expungement occurs; the fact that charges were filed remains on the record.

Track Two – Post-Conviction Supervision

  • Available to individuals who have violated the terms of probation or parole.
  • Requires approval from the Mental Health Court Team.
  • Upon acceptance, the violation is held in abeyance.
  • Successful completion results in the violation hearing not being held.

Participation is voluntary for both tracks. However, noncompliance may result in unsuccessful termination from the program at the discretion of the Mental Health Court Judge. In such cases, charges or violations will be relisted for disposition.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Be 18 years or older and a resident of Northampton County;

  • Have a qualifying mental health diagnosis;

  • Been charged with an eligible offense;

  • Have a qualifying limited prior record;

  • Enter into the program knowingly and voluntarily;

  • Be amenable to recommended treatment and services.

Disqualifying Offenses

Applicants are not eligible if current charges or prior record includes:

  • Murder or Manslaughter;
  • Felony sex offenses;
  • Unresolved out-of-county charges;
  • Violent offenses committed with a firearm;
  • Other charges deemed by the Court to present an unreasonable risk to society.

Application Proccess

Interested individuals or their attorneys must complete and submit a Mental Health Court Application, available on the Criminal Forms section of the Northampton County Cout of Common Pleas website.

The application includes:

  • Application: Three-page application to be completed, signed and dated.
  • Mental Health Court Rules & Waiver of Rights: Two-page document acknowledging understanding of the program rules and voluntary participation.  
  • Certification of Mental Health Diagnosis & Decision-Making Assessment: Completed by a qualified medical/mental health professional.
  • Authorization for Release of Information: Permitting the Court to access relevant medical records to determine eligibility.

The applicant must also provide:

  • Recent Assessments and Current Mental Health Records: Applicant shall obtain a copy of any recent evaluations and mental health records from any evaluating or treating physician, if available, and include the same with the application packet.

Submission Instructions

Completed packets must be submitted to Administrative Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold via:

  • Hand-delivery to Court Administration, or
  • Electronically to Judicial Secretary Sandra Pascoe at spascoe@norcopa.gov.

The Coordinator will notify legal counsel if the application is accepted and schedule the applicant to appear before the Court for admission.

Note: Every component of the application packet must be fully completed before consideration. Incomplete applications will be returned.