Western Australia's mental health court liaison service.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the Western Australian mental health court liaison service. It examines the outcomes that can be measured to assess mental health court liaison services and considers Western Australia's service against criteria described in the literature.

METHOD

The Western Australian mental health court liaison service was reviewed against defined criteria.

RESULTS

Published criteria to measure effectiveness of mental health court liaison are helpful. Western Australia's service was developed to be as effective as it could be within the parameters in which it operates.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to review the efficacy of a service against criteria over which it has control. Outcomes that have specific utility for court liaison are discussed.