For many years, the State of Texas has shamefully neglected its mentally ill citizens. The state allocates $45.23 annually per citizen for mental health services, ranking 46th among the states. Without access to services, the most severely impaired are forced into the criminal justice system for the protection of themselves and others. County jails are the largest mental health … [Read more...] about The Continuing Mental Health Disgrace
Jails
County Jail Telemental Health Care
Mental Health: The more services, the better. While mandates require us to provide mental health services, it is the right thing to do. The mental health population inside our jails is not going down anytime soon. It is something all jails and we administrators are experiencing. So my solution is, the more help and services I can provide these citizens, the better … [Read more...] about County Jail Telemental Health Care
TIDC Funds Public Defense Improvement
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) awarded more than $5 million in Improvement Grants to establish regional public defender offices serving nine counties, create specialized defender programs to help defendants with mental illness, and streamline attorney appointments. “This regional collaboration grant is a game-changer for our five Hill Country counties,” said … [Read more...] about TIDC Funds Public Defense Improvement
Jail Commission Update
Sandra Bland Deadlines, Paper-Ready Inmates
As we begin FY21, there are two items for county officials to be aware of. These two items are the last portions of the 85th Legislature’s Senate Bill 1849, commonly referred to as the Sandra Bland Act, and their effective dates. The first deals with how quickly a county must provide access to medical and mental health services. When first passed into law, the way the bill … [Read more...] about Jail Commission Update
Sandra Bland Act
Prisoner Safety Measures Address At-Risk Inmates
The Sandra Bland Act, passed by the 85th Texas Legislature, calls for a multitude of changes that are affecting and will affect Texas county jail operations and Minimum Jail Standards including education requirements, installation of specific equipment, and inmate access to health and mental health professionals. Throughout the last several years, the Texas Commission on … [Read more...] about Sandra Bland Act
