UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS REPORT ADDRESSES MENTAL HEALTH IN JAILS
A new University of Texas report calls for reform after finding that mental health services are lacking in Texas jails.
The report from the UT School of Law Civil Rights Clinic was initially inspired by the death of Sandra Bland, who committed suicide in the Waller County Jail in July of 2015. The report delves into 10 in-custody deaths, calling for reform on how jails in the state deal with people that have mental illnesses.
The report notes that in Texas, state health officials estimate that 30 percent of jail inmates have one or more serious mental illnesses. The report also states that it costs about $60 a day to care for those people in jail, while outpatient treatment costs $13.52 a day through state mental health services.
It’s a pressing issue that Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak says effects people locally. In October, the Washington County Sheriff’s report showed a spike in the daily population at the Washington County Jail. Captain Jerry Green said the jail is feeling the effects of the Austin State Hospital reducing down the number of mentally ill people it is able to keep at its facility. Austin State Hospital serves 36 counties but has only 150 beds.
The UT report acknowledges that county jails are often called upon to serve as mental health facilities. In early November, a coalition of civic activists brought together Central Texas law enforcement officials to discuss mental health issues in jails. Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton said his county has seen an uptick in mental-health related calls. Hamilton noted that “county jails are the largest mental-health institutes in the country, and something needs to be changed”.
To read the full University of Texas report, click here.
We have a problem here in Rural America that needs to be addressed to maybe slow down the influx of mentally ill people into the corrections system. Try finding a Psychiatrist here in Brenham….how about a Psychologist? If you are lucky enough for them to have an opening, they more than likely do not take your insurance. And if you want a Psychiatrist to monitor your meds and counsel you; well good luck with that too. It is a shame that we cannot get help for the more minor issues as depression here in our small town. Even Bryan/College Station has limited help. Plus if you have no insurance at all, you can just about kiss any counseling goodbye! It’s tough to deal with your depression on a daily basis and then not be able to get any kind of counseling only compounds the problem.