Mental Health Court will be fully operational by the end of 2014, according to a report by the Bermuda Judiciary.

Attorney General Mark Pettingill promised last May the court would begin operation in a matter of weeks, but Government later said suitable facilities must be secured and legislation must be put in place for the court to become operational.

The Bermuda Judiciary Annual Report 2013 stated that the court will be ready this year, with Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner writing in his commentary on the report that it’s establishment is “imminent”.

“Though not totally in place at this time, we are very pleased with the imminent establishment of our Mental Health Court,” Mr Warner wrote.

“The full report speaks to this but I must congratulate all those ‘partners’ who are working and training to make this a reality.”

The report itself explained that the main function of the Mental Health Court will be to reduce the level of recidivism by increasing the likelihood of mentally ill offenders receiving necessary treatments.

“Of equal importance is to ensure the accountability of the major players that include the client, services and the Court,” the report stated. “The Court is envisioned to operate in a problem solving capacity, with a team approach, greater interaction with the Magistrates, and a more developed integration of resources.

“The enforcement by the Court and the services directed toward the mentally ill offender are all driven by an individualised treatment plan that will focus on alleviating the symptoms responsible for the at-risk behaviours.

“It is envisioned the mentally ill offender will have the opportunity to become part of the treatment continuum as opposed to victims of the criminal justice system.”

The concept of a Mental Health Court has been floated in Bermuda for more than a decade, with a task force being established in 2003 to plan develop such a programme.

Former Attorney General Michael Scott and the Bermuda Hospitals Board both expressed their support of creating a Mental Health Court in 2011, but Mr Scott said that budget cuts forced the proposal to be put on the back burner.

The issue arose again in the Throne Speech last February, when Government pledged to address the long-standing issue.