Olathe municipal judges outline plan for wellness court, rising caseloads and new partnerships
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Summary
Judges Jill Kinney and Kate McElhenney reported rising criminal filings and outlined steps toward a municipal-level 'wellness court' model to coordinate mental-health, substance-use and reentry services with partner agencies.
Judges Jill Kinney and Kate McElhenney told the City Council on Oct. 21 that criminal case filings have risen through September and that the municipal court is pursuing a coordinated "wellness court" approach to address defendants with substance-use and behavioral-health needs.
The judges said filings through Sept. 30 have already matched or exceeded prior full-year totals for 2022 and 2023. Court services staff reported that community service performed by defendants accounted for about $22,342 in fines and fees worked off; the court recently increased the hourly credit rate to $10.
"When we as a court help one person to rise, the whole community rises," Kinney said, describing training staff attended on problem-solving courts and the multidisciplinary model used in larger jurisdictions. The judges said they are forming a multidisciplinary committee to define eligibility, agency partnerships and operating procedures for a wellness court, and to map program costs and case management.
The court is already expanding use of existing resources: more frequent referrals to the therapeutic community (a residential program), greater use of Johnson County Mental Health for competency and diversion evaluations, and more frequent use of reentry and work-release placements. The judges highlighted recent individual cases where reintegration planning and coordinated placement produced measurable improvements in defendants’ stability and family circumstances.
Court services staffing changes were also discussed: Ron Shaver moved into a court services role from the prosecutor's office, Brandy Fiedler is serving as court services program manager and Skyler Paige was hired as court administrator to replace a retiree. Judges and staff said added in-house capacity has improved day-to-day supervision and case follow-up.
Why it matters: the wellness court model aims to reduce recidivism by coordinating treatment, housing, employment and supervision for defendants with complex needs; the municipal court’s caseload trends and partnerships will determine program design and capacity.
What’s next: staff will continue multidisciplinary planning, pursue training, expand partnerships with Johnson County Mental Health and local treatment providers, and propose an operating model and budget when ready.
Ending: Judges said the work is time-intensive and relies on external partners and beds; they called the therapeutic community partnership a recent success and urged sustained agency cooperation.