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Mental Health Court Liaison Service

The Mental Health Court Liaison Service (MHCLS) is a court-based assessment and advice service provided by Forensicare, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.

The service, funded by the Department of Human Services, was first established at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November 1994. Due to the increasing demand on the service, positions have since been established to service the Ringwood, Heidelberg, Dandenong, Frankston, Broadmeadows and Sunshine Magistrates’ Courts.

The aim of the MHCLS is to provide court assessment and advice services to magistrates in relation to people who may have a mental illness appearing before the Magistrates’ Courts. The objectives of the MHCLS program are:

to undertake mental health assessments in order to determine the presence or absence of serious mental illness, and provide feedback based on these assessments to the court in a timely manner
to assist the court in making well informed decisions in situations where factors related to serious mental illness need to be taken into account
to provide advice and consultation about mental health issues to members of the legal profession, other relevant professionals and community agencies.
to assist with accessing appropriate treatment, including liaison with Area Mental Health Services, when a person before the court is assessed as having a serious mental illness.
to undertake liaison with Police, Victoria Police nurses and Forensic Medical Officers to ensure that the mental health needs of the accused in police custody are met.

In the metropolitan courts, Forensicare senior mental health clinicians provide the on-site services. An on-call consultant forensic psychiatrist is available to discuss issues when required.