The harris county jail serves approximately 10,000 incarcerated individuals, 80% of whom identify as having a mental health disorder or CO-occurring mental health and substance use disorder

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $495,757 Project Grant under the Criminal and Juvenile Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (CFDA 16.745) to the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Houston, TX. The grant will fund the implementation of a Detention Crisis Response Unit co-responder team comprised of a mental health clinician and a mental health detention officer. This specialized team will provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive crisis intervention, de-escalation, case management, and support services for the approximately 10,000 incarcerated individuals in the Harris County Jail, 80% of whom have a mental health disorder or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder. The project aims to improve collaboration between law enforcement and mental health services, reduce the need for further security involvement, and ensure individuals' mental health needs are addressed within the legal system. The award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

The harris county sheriff's office proposes the implementation of a detention crisis response unit CO-responder team comprised of a mental health clinician and a mental health detention officer to provide a multi-disciplinary, specialized response to mental health individuals experiencing psychiatric crisis within the harris county jail. This specialized CO-responder team would provide timely crisis intervention that is trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and clinically appropriate for individuals who have mental health disorders, CO-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and intellectual or developmental disabilities. Project activities include crisis assessment and intervention, DE-escalation, case management and support services, and collaboration with community justice partners to ensure an individuals mental health is considered within the legal system. This specialized team will work collaboratively to DE-escalate crises and reduce the need for further security involvement. The detention crisis response unit CO-responder team will manage a caseload of individuals who are high utilizers of the jail's mental health and crisis services by building positive relationships between law enforcement and the justice-involved community, ensuring mental health and security needs are met. The detention crisis response unit CO-responder team qualifies for priority status consideration as the proposed project aligns with the office of justice programs mission for the connect and protect program by improving collaboration between law enforcement and mental health in order to improve responses and outcome for individuals with mental health disorders, CO-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and intellectual or developmental disabilities who come into contact with law enforcement. The harris county sheriff's office will be requesting priority consideration under priority 1A and 1B. There are no planned conference activities for the recommended award.