A group of judges is getting ready to talk to Jacksonville city council members about expanding a mental health program that helps people who are continuously arrested for non-violent crimes.

Jacksonville University announced plans Monday to establish a law school in downtown Jacksonville.

The Northeast Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is calling for the Fourth Judicial Circuit to take action in the courts as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge.

COVID-19 precautions are being tightened at some courthouses across Northeast Florida because of the latest spike in cases.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” Pastor John Allen Newman offers his view of the anti-riot bill in Florida. Chief Judge Mark Mahon explains the Jacksonville Mental Health Offender Program. And Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters on the recent election success in Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mental Health Offender Program is designed to reduce the number of mentally ill people who end up in jail on misdemeanor charges. Mahon said jails have become the largest mental health facility in the community, despite a widespread belief that those with mental illness do not belong behind bars. Mahon said the Sheriff’s Office identified about 225 people who are chronically arrested for petty crimes. “It is not necessarily because they are criminals but because they have ongoing untreated mental health issues,” Mahon said. To hear more about the program, watch the video at the top of this article to see Mahon’s full interview.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This week, felony judges in Duval County sent out a new notice restricting the number of defendants coming into the courthouse. The goal is to prevent the coronavirus from spreading as jury trials continue. In November, three felony jury trials were delayed after court officials found out during jury selection that two defendants and a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office worker -- set to testify -- tested positive for COVID-19. “From our perspective, all of our safeguards were in place and they all worked.”PREVIOUS STORIES: Jury trials resume in Duval County with new safety measures in place | COVID-19 in courtrooms prompts Duval County to halt trials this weekOn Tuesday, Mahon said the court has spent around $150,000 on plexiglass for courtrooms and court officials continue to screen people coming into the Duval County Courthouse. Beginning Tuesday, the court will suspend previous protocols requiring out-of-custody defendants to come to the courthouse for hearings.

Between March and June, 1,180 jury trials were put on hold, according to the budget request. The state court system is seeking a total of $37.6 million in non-recurring funds over the next three years to address the trial courts' coronavirus-related workload. “We recognize it’s going to take a pretty decent period of time to dig out of this hole,” Mahon, vice-chairman of the Florida Trial Court Budget Commission, said. Myers said they will begin holding jury trials and resume grand jury proceedings this week, and start an in-person felony trial next week. The move to jury trials “can only happen because we find ourselves at a relatively low rate of positivity in our community,” the chief judge added.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the first time in months, hundreds of people will show up at the Duval County Courthouse this week for jury duty. Normally, 300 to 400 potential jurors would be summoned to appear Monday and then be separated into groups for trials. Instead, Chief Judge Mark Mahon said, smaller groups of potential jurors have been summoned to appear during a period of three days. Mahon said it is important to restart criminal trials since, for months, inmates at the Duval County jail charged with serious crimes have not been able to have their day in court. Defendants being held at the Duval County jail will be quarantined before being allowed inside the courtroom.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – To prevent the spread of COVID-19, orders were issued in March that suspended jury trials and other proceedings at courthouses across Florida. That process is beginning Monday when several hundred prospective jurors will come to the Duval County Courthouse to be considered for selection on the 4th Judicial Circuit’s grand jury. RELATED: Court eyes COVID-19 delays in criminal casesDistrict 4 Chief Judge Mark Mahon explained that first-degree murder charges must be brought through the grand jury process, so those cases can’t move forward without an impaneled grand jury. “Their seats will be assigned for the duration of the jury selection. If you did not receive a jury summons this week, hundreds more will be sent out in the coming days since jury trials are expected to resume the week of Oct. 12.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Much like the rest of the country, Jacksonville’s justice system has struggled to function during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Florida Supreme Court suspended jury trials– and inmates' constitutional rights to demand a speedy trial within five months was halted. But, others accused of more serious crimes, unable to afford bail and unable to present their case to a jury, were stuck until jury trials resume. Emails to Judge Mahon’s office were not immediately returned, but Cofer says the chief judge anticipates bringing in jurors and starting to have felony trials following the week of Oct. 5. The largest courtroom is expected to be used for jury selection to allow for social distancing.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All foreclosure sales and evictions in Jacksonville are on hold at least until early next month. On Thursday, Chief Judge Mark Mahon issued an order staying enforcement of those court proceedings in response to a Florida Supreme Court administrative order halting a range of non-emergency matters while the state deals with a public health emergency. As a result, any pending foreclosure sales and evictions that were scheduled to happen from March 19 through April 3 have been canceled. They will be reset at a later date following a proper motion and court order, according to the Duval County Clerk of Court. Mahon’s order cited the Supreme Court order along with Gov.