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Specialty Courts

Specialty Courts
Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP)

What is MICAP?

MICAP is a court supervised program for participants who have been charged with a criminal offense that is determined to be related to a diagnosed mental illness or the symptoms and behaviors of an undiagnosed mental illness. MICAP is a voluntary program.

The mission of MICAP is to enhance the quality of life for participants by engaging in treatment and community-based support systems that uses a problem-solving court model to facilitate new skills which leads to a reduction in recidivism and the stigma associated with mental illness.

Contact / Questions / Document Submission

For all questions and document submissions contact the Program Coordinator, Bernadine Howard, at Bernadine.howard@dupageco.org or 630-407-8448

MICAP Eligibility / Exclusion Criteria

To be eligible for MICAP, applicants must:

  • Be 18 years old or older
  • Be Either a citizen or legal resident of the United States
  • Be resident of DuPage County. 
  • Be diagnosed with a mental illness or get diagnosed through the assessment as part of the application process.
  • Demonstrate willingness to participate in MICAP and all recommended treatment, including therapy and psychiatry appointments and taking all prescribed medications.
  • Plead guilty as a part of the contract with the disposition of the case to be agreed upon by the SAO and the defense council for successful completion of the program. If unsuccessful, they will be sentenced on the original charge.
  • Demonstrate willingness to follow the zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol, cannabis and non-prescribed drugs.
  • No crimes of violence (730 ILCS 168/20 et, seq.): Applicant must not have been convicted within the last five (5) years, excluding incarceration, of the following offenses: first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability, stalking, aggravated stalking, or any offense involving the discharge of a firearm.

*Applicants will not be excluded from MICAP based upon their gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, limited English proficiency, disability, socio-economic status or sexual orientation.

CMICAP Application Process

  • Step 1. The defense attorney reviews the MICAP Participant Handbook (see pdf below) with the Applicant to make sure the applicant understands the requirements and voluntarily wants to participate in MICAP.
  • Step 2.The MICAP application (PDF) must be filed in court with a requested next court date (Friday in courtroom 4001) of a minimum of 3 weeks for the return of a criminal history report.
  • Step 3. The MICAP application packet (PDF) must be completed and turned into probation
  • Step 4. At the first staffing (staffing is always the Thursday before MICAP court date) the program coordinator provides information as to whether the applicant is eligible. If the applicant is deemed eligible, the applicant is approved to screen and must be in person on the first court date.
  • Step 5. At the first court date the applicant will schedule a screening appointment with a MICAP Probation Officer to discuss background information and understanding of the requirements of MICAP.
  • Step 6. If the applicant attends the probation screening appointment and demonstrated a willingness to engage in the requirements of MICAP, the applicant will schedule and attend an appointment with the Health Department clinician. At this appointment, mental health, substance use, and other relevant history is discussed to assess the link between the applicant's mental illness and the presenting charges.
  • Step 7 Using the screening and clinical evaluation assessments, the case is staffed by the team including the defense attorney for amenability and acceptability at staffing the Thursday prior to the second court date.
  • Step 8. If the applicant is accepted into the program, the state prepares a contract (PDF) for review by the defense attorney and applicant.
  • Step 9. If an agreement is reached the Applicant and Defense attorney will need to appear in person at court to execute the MICAP contract and enter the plea.
  • Step 10. The Applicant (now the Participant) begins MICAP.

For further information about MICAP, please review the MICAP Program Manual and Participant Handbook, below.

Program Documents

MICAP Team

  • Judge:  Paul Marchese
  • Coordinator: Bernadine Howard
  • Probation Supervisor: Deena Kuranda
  • Probation Officers: Joey Johanning, Sheryl Calderon and Emily Grunwald
  • Clinician: Andrew O’Brien
  • Assistant Public Defender: Andrea Neumann
  • Assistant State’s Attorney: Jessica Sisler

MICAP Team Links

Additional Resource Links:

Suicide Hotline

  • 988 Three-digit for suicide, mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Job / Career Assistance

  • WorkNet DuPage: Free career center, assists job seekers and employers.

Self Help / Support Groups

Other Hotlines

Drug Court
Veterans Court

Veterans Court

What is Veterans Court? Veterans Court is a court supervised program for Veterans who have been charged with a criminal offense and to assist them by addressing their specific treatment needs such as mental health, substance abuse, anger management, or intimate partner violence.

The mission of the Veterans Court program is to enhance the quality of life for participants by engaging in treatment and community-based support systems that uses a problem-solving court model to facilitate new skills which leads to a reduction in recidivism and the stigma associated with having a criminal record.

Contact / Questions / Document Submission

For all questions and document submissions contact the Program Coordinator, Deena Kuranda, at Deena.Kuranda@dupageco.org or 630-407-8450.

Veterans Court Eligibility / Exclusion Criteria

To be eligible for Veterans Court, applicants must:

  • Be 18 years old or older
  • Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States
  • Have a treatment need such as substance use disorder or mental health diagnosis, or get diagnosed through the assessment as part of the application process.
  • Must Demonstrate willingness to participate in Veterans Court and all recommended treatment, including therapy and psychiatry appointments and taking all prescribed medications.
  • Plead guilty as a part of the contract with the disposition of the case to be agreed upon by the SAO and the defense council for successful completion of the program. If unsuccessful, they will be sentenced on the original charge.
  • Demonstrate willingness to follow the zero-tolerance policy towards alcohol, cannabis, and non-prescribed drugs
  • Must, prior to applying, resolve all out of county cases (e.g. pending cases, warrants or holds);
  • Must, prior to applying, resolve all DuPage County cases not being considered for Veterans Court.
  • Must not have been “dishonorably discharged”.
  • Must not have committed a crime of violence in the past five (5) years, excluding periods of incarceration. A crime of violence pursuant to the Veterans Court Treatment Act, (730 ILCS 167/20 et, seq.), defines a crime of violence as, including but not limited to, first degree murder, second degree murder, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, armed robbery, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm or permanent disability, stalking, aggravated stalking, or any offense involving the discharge of a firearm

*Applicants will not be excluded from Veterans Court based upon their gender, race, nationality, ethnicity, limited English proficiency, disability, socio-economic status or sexual orientation.

Veterans Court Application Process

Step 1. The defense attorney must review the program requirements with the Applicant to determine if the applicant understands what is required and wishes to apply for the program. (See Veterans Court Participant Handbook, below)

Step 2. The Veterans Court application (PDF) must be filed in court with a requested next court date (Friday in courtroom 4001) of a minimum of 3 weeks for the return of a criminal history report

Step 3. The Veterans Court application packet (PDF) must be completed and turned into probation

Step 4. At the first staffing (staffing is always the Thursday before Veterans Court court date) the program coordinator provides information as to whether the applicant is eligible. If the applicant is deemed eligible, the applicant is approved to screen and must be in person on the first court date.

Step 5. At the first court date the applicant will schedule a screening appointment with a Veterans Court Probation Officer to discuss background information and understanding of the requirements of Veterans Court.

Step 6. If the applicant attends the probation screening appointment and demonstrated a willingness to engage in the requirements of Veterans Court, the applicant will schedule and attend an appointment with the Health Department clinician. At this appointment, mental health, substance use, and other relevant history is discussed to assess the link between the applicant's mental illness and the presenting charges.

Step 7. Using the screening and clinical evaluation assessments, the case is staffed by the team including the defense attorney for amenability and acceptability at staffing the Thursday prior to the second court date.

Step 8. If the applicant is accepted into the program, the state prepares a contract (PDF) for review by the defense attorney and applicant.

Step 9. If an agreement is reached the Applicant and Defense attorney will need to appear in person at court to; execute the Veterans Court contract and enter the plea.

Step 10. The Applicant (now the Participant) begins Veterans court. 

For further information about Veterans Court, please review the Veterans Court Program Manual and Participant Handbook, below.

Veterans Court Program Documents

Veterans Court Team

  • Judge: Paul Marchese
  • Coordinator: Bernadine Howard
  • Probation Supervisor: Deena Kuranda
  • Probation Officers: Sheryl Calderon
  • Veterans Outreach Specialist: Jessica Ogletree
  • Assistant Public Defender: Andrea Neumann
  • Assistant State’s Attorney: Jessica Sisler

Veterans Court Team Links

Veterans Court Mentors

Veterans Court mentors are Veteran volunteers who provide support to participants in a veterans court by engaging, encouraging and empowering the participant. Veterans Court mentors are:

  • from the local community
  • have prior military service or are currently serving
  • provide MORAL SUPPORT to the participant / mentee.
  • Women and men who are empathetic.
  • Women and men who are essential to the VTC’s continued success.
  • Role models who are vetted, trained, and supervised

If you are a Veteran and are interested in participating in the DuPage County Vet Court Mentoring Program please contact Deena Kuranda at 630-407-8450 (deena.kuranda@dupageco.org) or Sheryl Calderon at 630-407-2555 (sheryl.calderon@dupageco.org). 

Veterans Administration Links:

Veterans Suicide Hotline

Additional Treatment Links:

Self Help / Support Groups

Housing Links:

  • 24-hour hotline for homeless veterans 1-877-4AID-VET (4243-838)
  • DuPage County PADS: 630-682-3846
  • Chicago Shelter Referral Line: 800-654-8595
  • Helplink Suburban Shelter Referral Line: 800-725-5314 (8:00AM – 5:00PM)

Job / Career Assistance

  • WorkNet DuPage: Free career center, assists job seekers and employers.

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