TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The most important psychological well being facility in Travis County isn’t a hospital. Based on County Decide Andy Brown, the most important psychological well being facility in our county is the jail.
“Which is unacceptable to me,” Brown mentioned. “So we’re attempting to comply with fashions across the nation which might be doing a greater job of figuring out folks that police herald that basically have a psychological well being want that’s unmet.”
The county is taking a look at constructing a psychological well being diversion middle to supply therapy to folks experiencing a psychological well being disaster as a substitute of reserving them into jail. Brown has been touring across the nation taking a look at current fashions in locations like Nashville, Miami-Dade and Harris County.
“My sense is it’s perhaps a mix of all of the one’s we’ve seen to make one thing that’s each outdoors of the felony justice system however efficient in giving folks the stabilization therapy they want after which serving to them get into supportive housing,” Brown mentioned.
The trouble couldn’t solely assist with the rising inhabitants on the native jail, however might assist with the lengthy waitlist on the state hospital that’s used to revive competency for people who find themselves concerned within the felony system.
Based on the Govt Director of the Texas Judicial Fee on Psychological Well being, there are roughly 2,500 folks on that waitlist proper now.
“I believe we will all agree that that’s not a sustainable quantity. It finally ends up wanting like two years of ready time for these with the extra severe offenses,” Kristi Taylor, the chief director of that fee mentioned.
Brown mentioned funding for the bodily constructing and the operation of it would doubtless be completely different, however the county is taking a look at federal grants, state funding and coordination with the Metropolis of Austin. The physique might additionally ask voters to assist fund the challenge.
The specifics of the price of the constructing and operation are usually not but determined.
The issue: By the numbers
Based on Brown, there are roughly 8,000 extra folks within the county’s jail now than there have been pre-pandemic. On any given day previous to COVID-19, there have been roughly 1,400 folks housed within the jail. At present, there are nearer to 2,200, he mentioned.
So as to add, the variety of folks with a psychological well being designation by the state’s measurements has greater than doubled: From 21% pre-pandemic to 45%, based on Brown.