Criminals with a mental illness will be able to seek treatment to help eradicate or reduce future offending with an extension of WA's Mental Health Court Diversion Program.
The state government announced on Sunday it had allocated $13.1 million over three years for the program in the 2016/17 budget, which will be handed down in May.
Mental Health Minister Andrea Mitchell said the program identified people whose criminal offending was potentially the result of mental illness and offered them an alternative to prison through access to mental health treatment and support services.
"Unfortunately, we know people with a mental illness are often over-represented in the criminal justice system and this is often due to untreated symptoms," she said.
Ms Mitchell said it was a voluntary program and the courts had embraced it.
Attorney General Michael Mischin said since March 2013, about 934 adults and 898 children had been referred for treatment.
He said 80 per cent of adults who completed the program either stopped offending or committed less serious crimes.
"The program helps the courts to manage complex cases in a way that benefits the individuals and their families while maintaining community safety," Mr Mischin said.
