Mental Health Court NJ MERP Gretchen Pickering Meg

Описание: Mighty MERP takes a deep, practical look at how mental health and the criminal justice system collide in real cases—not just on paper, but in courtrooms, prosecutor’s offices, and defense practices.

Host Melissa Rosenblum is joined by Meg McCormick Hoerner, certified criminal trial attorney, professor, and former prosecutor/defense lawyer, and Gretchen Pickering, Deputy First Assistant Prosecutor in Cape May County, who is helping build a new mental health diversion program.

Together, they unpack how mental health issues show up at every stage of a case, why dual diagnoses can’t be ignored, and how approaches have shifted from “just get a conviction” to problem-solving, treatment, and reducing recidivism.

They also walk through the nuts and bolts of Cape May County’s prosecutor-led mental health diversion court—who’s eligible, what “legally eligible” means, how victims’ voices factor in, and why this isn’t a free pass but a different form of accountability.

If you’re a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor, judge, law student, or just someone trying to understand how the system can respond better to people in crisis, this episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes view of mental health court in action.

👉 Full episode description, guest profiles, and transcript:
https://mightymerp.com/mental-health-...