Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE Court)

CARE Court is a state-mandated civil court program that helps people with serious mental illness connect to treatment, housing, and supportive services through a court-supervised process. 

Serious mental illness is defined as someone on the psychosis spectrum or diagnosed as Bipolar with psychotic features. The psychosis must not be due to a physical ailment such as traumatic brain injury, dementia, sexually transmitted disease, or substance-abuse induced.  

CARE Court is designed for people who are not currently engaged in care and who experience repeated mental health crises that may lead to hospitalization, homelessness, or involvement with the justice system. 

CARE Court focuses on treatment and stabilization, not punishment. 

What Is the Purpose of CARE Court? 

CARE Court was created to: 

  • Provide a structured entry point into the behavioral health system 
  • Reduce repeated mental health crises and emergency interventions 
  • Support stabilization through treatment, services, and housing 
  • Help people with serious mental illness make safer choices and stay out of trouble with the law 
  • Create individualized care plans based on a person’s needs 
  • Support transitions out of homelessness and crisis settings 

CARE Court represents the highest level of outpatient coordinated care available in the community. 

 

 

 

Get Help and Learn More 

If you have questions about CARE Court, contact Behavioral Health Services or visit the Court Self-Help Center for legal and petition information.

What CARE Court Is

CARE Court Is: 

  • A civil court process focused on treatment and recovery 

  • A way to connect people to mental health services and housing 

  • A coordinated effort between the court, the County, service providers, and participant 

What CARE Court Is Not

CARE Court Is Not: 

  • A criminal charge 
  • A jail sentence 
  • A program a potential participant can sign up for online 
  • A service provided directly by Sacramento County Department of Health Services 

Sacramento County coordinates the process and services but does not directly provide treatment. 

How CARE Court Works 

CARE Court follows a structured, court-supervised process designed to support engagement and stabilization. 

  1. A Petition Is Submitted to the Court

    CARE Court begins when an eligible person or entity submits a petition to the court requesting CARE Court review. 

    A person can ask to be put into the program on their own. They have to file paperwork with the civil court clerk. After that, a judge looks at the request and decides if the person meets the basic legal requirements. 

  2. Initial Court Review

    The court reviews the petition to determine whether it meets initial eligibility requirements under state law. 

    • If the criteria are not met, the case may be dismissed. 
    • If the criteria are met, the court may order the County to investigate further. 
  3. County Review and Investigation

    Sacramento County Behavioral Health Services conducts a clinical investigation, including outreach and assessment, and prepares a report for the court. 

    Engagement with the individual and voluntary services may begin at any point during this process. 

  4. Court Review and Determination

    The court reviews the County’s findings and determines whether CARE Court participation is appropriate. 

  5. CARE Plan or CARE Agreement 

    If eligible, an individualized CARE Plan or CARE Agreement may be developed to connect the participant to treatment, services, and housing supports. 

  6. Treatment Engagement and Court Oversight

    The court holds periodic review hearings to monitor progress, support engagement, and assess next steps. The service provider engages the client in outpatient treatment services. 

    CARE Court is time-limited and focused on helping individuals transition into ongoing, voluntary care whenever possible. 

      

Who Can Petition the Court?

A CARE Court petition may be submitted by: 

  • A family or household member who is 18 or older 
  • A hospital or treating facility 
  • A licensed behavioral health professional 
  • A public or charitable agency providing services 
  • A first responder 
  • A County behavioral health agency 
  • The individual themselves 

CARE Court cannot be accessed directly through this website. 

Visit the Court Self-Help Center

Eligibility Criteria 

Eligibility for CARE Court is defined by state law and determined through a formal review process. 

A potential participant must: 

  • Be 18 years or older 
  • Have a diagnosis of a serious mental illness is defined as someone on the psychosis spectrum or diagnosed as Bipolar with psychotic features. The psychosis must not be due to a physical ailment such as traumatic brain injury, dementia, sexually transmitted disease, or substance-abuse induced. 
  • Not be clinically stabilized in ongoing voluntary treatment 
  • Not be at risk of serious harm or deterioration without support 
  • Not currently be involved with the criminal justice system 

In addition, the individual must meet at least one of the following: 

  • Be unlikely to safely survive in the community without supervision and their condition is substantially deteriorating, or 
  • Need services and support to prevent relapse or deterioration that would likely result in grave disability or serious harm to themselves or others 

CARE Court must also be determined to be the least restrictive option to support recovery and stability. 

If Someone Does Not Meet CARE Court Criteria 

Not everyone will qualify for CARE Court. If a person does not meet eligibility criteria, the County may still: 

  • Provide referrals to voluntary mental health services 
  • Connect individuals to outreach, housing, or supportive programs 
  • Share information about other ways to access help 

CARE Court is one pathway, not the only way to receive support.

CARE Court and the Justice System 

CARE Court is part of a broader effort to: 

  • Reduce unnecessary incarceration 
  • Divert individuals away from jail when treatment is more appropriate 
  • Address underlying mental health needs rather than repeated arrests 

In some cases, CARE Court may be considered for individuals involved in hospitalizations or the justice system, when clinically appropriate. 

Data, Accountability, and Transparency 

CARE Court is implemented locally in compliance with State requirements. Sacramento County provides reporting and data to support transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. 

Data Dashboard - Year to Date 12/2/24-10/20/25