Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 4

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This is the fourth in a series of eight articles about the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project.

The Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project delivered its recommendations to the Travis County Commissioners in March 2023. The goal of these recommendations is to provide solutions other than jail to address mental health and substance abuse disorders in the county.

Recommendation #3

The Project’s third recommendation is to establish a range of housing options.

“We know that individuals with stable housing are less likely to interact with the criminal legal system,” the recommendations document says.

The Sobering Center conducted an analysis of criminal-trespass data in Travis County and found roughly half the bookings with criminal trespass as the highest charge received mental health services at some point during their stay in jail in fiscal year 2020.

“Of that same population, 73 percent reported experiencing homelessness at the time of their booking,” the document says.

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