AUSTIN, Texas — Talks are underway to start a new mental health diversion center pilot program in Travis County.
The pilot program's goal is similar to that of the mental health diversion center: to divert those in crisis and accused of misdemeanor crimes from going to jail and, instead, get them the psychiatric help they need.
Travis County and City of Austin leaders want that pilot program up and running before the new facility is built.
"We need to have a diversion center so that law enforcement and family members have options to take folks so that they can avoid arrest," said Ann Howard, Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 3.
On Monday, commissioners hosted a meeting with stakeholders to try to get more community involvement in the pilot program.
The program would help inmates as well, since many are on a waitlist to get state psychiatric help. It's an issue the KVUE Defenders investigated in February.
"As this population keeps growing in this, you know, it's the staff; it's very difficult for them to take care of the amount of people with mental health designation," Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez said.
"For people who are already in jail, what this could do, at least in the pilot, in the short term, is some number of people help restore that competency," Travis County Judge Andy Brown said.
According to a study by Dell Medical School, in May 2022, 924 people in the Travis County Jail had a mental health identifier. This January, that number was at 873.
County and City leaders also discussed recommendations made by a group of mental health experts back in March. Those recommendations include modernizing the County's technology platform to make sharing data easier and providing housing solutions.