You are part of a citizen's watchdog committee on the circuit court in your region of the state. Recently, the state has started a mental health court, in which defendants may voluntarily enter into a treatment program instead of being prosecuted and sentenced to a prison term.

Mr. John Snodgrass was recently arrested at a local park playground while attempting to look up the skirts of little girls about 5 or 6 years old playing on the park's monkey bars. His lawyer explained that Snodgrass has a heterosexual pedophilia disorder, but it only results in him looking at little girls-he has never touched one. The judge allowed Snodgrass to voluntarily enter a diversion program for the new mental health court.

I need help responding to the following questions.

1. What is the intent of the mental health court in general?

2. Did the judge make an appropriate decision in this case, and why?

3. What other alternatives would have been more appropriate for this defendant?