At 18, Keith Zapata's mind plunged into chaos. Suffering from schizophrenia and addicted to crack cocaine, he heard voices warning of impending doom and saw visions of Jesus in the sky.

Then he landed in jail, for punching out a car window near the Miami River last December.

But instead of awaiting trial behind bars or on streets teeming with trouble, Zapata, now 24, lives in a special residence for substance abusers. He's part of a pilot program sponsored by Miami-Dade courts that also assures he receives his disability benefits, takes his medicine and attends daily Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

If Zapata sticks with it, prosecutors will drop the charges against him by early next year. ``It's been a really good experience,'' he said. ``If it wasn't for the program, I'd still be in jail.''

The diversion program, modeled on Miami-Dade's lauded drug court, allows for felony charges to be dropped if defendants complete one year of aggressive treatment and monitoring and, in some cases, pay restitution.

The effort stems from County Judge Steve Leifman's bid to overhaul the way mentally ill defendants are treated by the criminal justice system. It's based on the belief that getting regimented treatment for offenders early on will make them less likely to break the law again.

EARLY TREATMENT

``The earlier someone is getting treatment, the more likely they'll succeed in treatment and not become one of these sad cases of chronically mentally ill people revolving in and out of jail,'' said prosecutor Joanna Sandstrom, who oversees the program for the state attorney's office.

There's also the financial benefit of reduced jail time. Mental health coordinator Tim Coffey estimated that in the program's first year, more than 100 participants might otherwise have spent an extra 2,180 days in jail, adding to county costs.

A similar program for misdemeanor defendants has resulted in 80 percent of participants completing the year without getting rearrested, Leifman said.

The first graduate of the felony program just completed his year-long stint.

Prosecutors dropped an aggravated assault charge against Alex Dumelle, 22, on Oct. 13.

With a slew of other participants slated to finish soon, officials are planning a ``recognition'' ceremony in December.

The program's success ultimately will be judged by how many graduates stay out of jail. So far, just five of 100-plus participants have been rearrested, and only two have been booted from the program.

ONGOING CHALLENGE

Dealing with mentally ill defendants is an ongoing challenge for Miami-Dade's courts and correctional systems.

The main jail houses 1,200 inmates taking prescribed drugs for mental illness, making it the largest psychiatric facility in Florida, Leifman says. The county spends about $50 million a year on mental health care for inmates, according to the court.

To enter the felony diversion program, defendants must be diagnosed with a mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Their criminal record must be short and not violent. They must be capable of understanding the basic legal process.

Also, the crimes they are accused of must be less-serious, usually a third-degree felony such as cocaine possession or battery on a law enforcement officer.

If prosecutors and the crime victim approve, the defendant is released from jail and put under strict supervision. Most are placed into a residential program with aggressive treatment and monitoring. Some live with family.