“A diversion center provides options other than the emergency room or jail for law enforcement,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Travillion. However, in places like Nashville, Tenn., where diversion centers have been implemented, recidivism rates have fallen. “We can make our community safer and more stable when we help someone avoid the consequences of incarceration and instead connect them to needed services.”īefore the pandemic, around 21 percent of those jailed by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office had some kind of mental health issue, according to Brown, and it has nearly doubled since then. Just one day in jail can derail jobs and families and opportunities,” Brown said. “This facility will reduce the number of people entering the jail with mental health needs by offering the diversion center option and significantly reduce the number of people reentering jail.
“We chose compassion over conviction and mental health over mental anguish.”īrown thanked law enforcement partners, the Dell Medical School and the forensic mental health steering committee members for support in the development of the resolution. “Today the Commissioners Court affirmed our commitment to building a more equitable future where we provide mental health resources to the community,” said Travis County Judge Andy Brown. The Travis County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Tuesday to create both a diversion center for mental health and substance use disorders as well as fund construction for a new central booking and intake facility.ĭuring a press briefing on the matter, commissioners highlighted the role of the diversion center in reducing recidivism and detentions of those afflicted by mental health and substance use problems.
0 kommentar(er)
