Press Conference: Youth Diversion Center & Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program Expansion

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones, along with Harris Center CEO Wayne Young and Chairperson Shaukat Zakaria were joined by Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Mike Lee to announce the expansion and development of two major initiatives that will impact adults and youth with severe mental illness involved in the justice system: the implementation of a Youth Diversion Center and the expansion of the Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program.
The Jail-Based Competency Restoration Program at The Harris Center helps restore competency to those deemed unfit to stand trial. People can wait for hundreds of days in jail before they are cleared to go to trial, which can exacerbate their mental health conditions, putting themselves and others in danger. Our program helps to speed up this process and get people the treatment they need; we have had a 93% success rate of getting competency restored since beginning this program in 2021.
The Youth Diversion Center will serve as a destination for youth with whom law enforcement has engaged due to low-level, non-violent crimes, but they temporarily need respite care due to a mental health crisis (often exemplified by family conflict and emotional escalation that cannot be readily de-escalated on the scene).
Thank you to Judge Hidalgo and the Commissioner's Court for approving this investment in Harris County which will help us to transform lives.

[@michaelhooper8951]

Wow, this is great news. These sound like two wonderful and much needed programs. Where can I go to find out more about them?

[@TheHarrisCenter]

Thanks for your kind words! You can find out more about our Justice System services on our website: www.theharriscenter.org/services/justice-system-services