Chief Judge Kenneth L. Popejoy announced that the DuPage County Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP) conducted a graduation ceremony honoring twenty-two participants in the largest Problem-Solving Court graduation class in the history of the 18th Judicial Circuit. Judge Paul Marchese presided over the ceremony which was held live and simulcast via Zoom. Chief Judge Popejoy attended the ceremony along with DuPage County State’s Attorney, Bob Berlin, and DuPage County Public Defender, Jeff York. The audience included family, friends, prosecutors, defense attorneys and police officers, including the arresting officers of many of the participants. Chief Judge Popejoy commented “I commend the collaborative effort of everyone involved in the MICAP Program. Working together, we can improve participant’s lives and reduce recidivism.”

The DuPage County Mental Illness Court Alternative Program (MICAP) is designed to enhance the quality of life for participants by engaging in mental health and other treatment and community-based support systems. These support systems use a problem-solving court model to facilitate new skills leading to a reduction in recidivism and the stigma associated with mental illness.