Mental Health and Criminal Justice Case Study: Harris County

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County Examples & SolutionsHarris County has one of the largest jails in Texas. About a quarter of inmates in the jail are on psychotropic medications, making it one of the largest mental health facilities in the state.Mental Health and Criminal Justice Case Study: Harris County
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Mental Health and Criminal Justice Case Study: Harris County
Harris County has one of the largest jails in Texas. About a quarter of inmates in the jail are on psychotropic medications, making it one of the largest mental health facilities in the state. In 2013, State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) sponsored Texas Senate Bill 1185 (SB 1185), which created a pilot program in Harris County to divert individuals with mental illnesses from the jail. The law appropriates $5 million annually to Harris County, which the county matches equally, to divert individuals from the jail with the goal of reducing arrests and incarceration and increasing access to housing and health and social services.
Harris County has one of the largest jails in Texas. About a quarter of inmates in the jail are on psychotropic medications, making it one of the largest mental health facilities in the state.2016-06-01County Examples & Solutions2019-02-20
Harris County has one of the largest jails in Texas. About a quarter of inmates in the jail are on psychotropic medications, making it one of the largest mental health facilities in the state. In 2013, State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) sponsored Texas Senate Bill 1185 (SB 1185), which created a pilot program in Harris County to divert individuals with mental illnesses from the jail. The law appropriates $5 million annually to Harris County, which the county matches equally, to divert individuals from the jail with the goal of reducing arrests and incarceration and increasing access to housing and health and social services.

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Nastassia Walsh is Director of Programs and Operations for the Counties Futures Lab at the National Association of Counties where she oversees the day-to-day management of NACo’s programs and networks that help counties across the country improve community outcomes on key local issues including criminal justice, health, behavioral health, economMore from Nastassia Walsh
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