Travis County, Texas Pilots Jail Diversion For Mental Illness; Integral Care To Provide Services
Travis County, Texas is launching a three-year pilot jail diversion program for people with mental illness. The Crisis Care Diversion Pilot Program, estimated to cost $23 million, involves Integral Care, Central Health, Travis County, and the City of Austin. The goal is to divert justice-involved people with mental illness from arrest and incarceration to a treatment facility. Jail data indicates that 44% of people booked have a mental health condition. Between 2021 and 2023, the number of jail bookings increased by 31%, from 22,068 in 2021 to 28,828 in 2023.
The pilot is a collaborative diversion . . .