SB 2527 Summary

• Standardizes references to "drug intervention courts," "mental health intervention courts," and "veterans intervention courts" throughout Mississippi Code Title 9 to ensure consistent terminology across all intervention court statutes.

• Requires intervention courts to implement evidence-based or research-based programs and collect comprehensive data on participants, including recidivism rates, program completion, and arrest records both during and after program participation.

• Mandates the State Intervention Courts Advisory Committee to promulgate administrative best practices for all intervention courts and requires compliance as a condition of certification or recertification on or after July 1, 2021.

• Requires external evaluation of intervention court effectiveness every five years (as funding is available) using standards from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals and other federal justice agencies.

• Repeals the mental health diversion pilot program section and makes technical corrections to certification and recertification timelines and procedures for all intervention court types.