In a bold move to prevent individuals with mental health crises from landing in jail for minor infractions, Travis County has stepped up with the launch of a pilot for a new diversion program dubbed the Crisis Care Diversion. The initiative, backed by a hefty $23.7 million price tag over three years, is a joint venture between Travis County, Integral Care, and Central Health aimed at providing round-the-clock mental health care instead of incarceration to those in need. This effort follows a concerning report from March 2023 with a high volume of arrests among individuals with mental illness for nonviolent offenses, leading to a repetitive pattern of jail sentences, as reported by Community Impact.

Travis County officials highlighted during a January 23 Commissioners Court meeting that 40% of all inmates in Travis County Jail are battling mental illness, with the percentage soaring to 70%-80% if substance abuse disorder is considered. Integral Care, the county’s mental health provider, plans to expand its Psychiatric Emergency Services to a 24-hour operation, providing access to anyone in crisis at any time, their ability to pay notwithstanding. “We need hope for those with mental illness and for our officers,” Sheriff Sally Hernandez said, as per Texas Tribune.

The funding for this ambitious plan includes $6 million apiece from Travis County and the city of Austin, $5.5 million from Central Health, $2.2 million from Integral Care, and an expected $4 million state grant. Public comment at the Commissioners Court meeting brought home the program’s gravitas. “He’s in prison for an incident that could have been addressed as a [mental] health issue and not a criminal issue. But it escalated to the point that he now faces legal ramifications,” Robert Lilly, a local criminal justice organizer, shared his personal story, reinforcing the urgent need for an alternative to incarceration for those dealing with mental health struggles, as per Community Impact.