2019 ANNUAL REPORT Mental Health & Jail Diversion
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“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME - Phil Jackson
CONTACT US: 7014 Broad Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008
+622 875 4479 inspirasign@gmail.com www.inspirasign.com
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Contents Quality of Life Teams Homeless Outreach Team
12
Graffiti Abatement
19
Nuisance Abatement
21
Crisis Intervention Response Team
24
Telehealth
28
Investigations
44
Jail Diversion Center
48
Sheriffs’ Conference
59
Project Lifesaver
63
Training
67
Harvard University Government Performance Lab Fellow
73
Behavioral Threat Management Unit
76
Re-entry Center
78
Awards
81
Mental Health Data
85
ON THE COVER: Deputy Jose Gomez was one of the CORE telehealth deputies in phases 1 & 2. He coordinated phase 3 with Deputy Megan Herrin. Jose was instrumental to the success of the program. (Photo by Sharon Steinmann, HCSO)
Acknowledgement Printing made possible with the generous support of the Tom and Carolyn Hamilton
Foundation and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation.
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Collaboration “Our innovative mental health and jail diversion programs are models for the state and the nation. They are the result of the strong collaboration that exists between the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the community. These programs are examples of community policing and what can be
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez
accomplished
when
we
work
together.”
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Dedication “I
am
very
proud
of
our
members working on our model mental health and jail diversion programs.
Their
dedication,
passion, and innovation are clearly
reflected
in
this
impressive and comprehensive
Chief Deputy Edison Toquica
annual report.”
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Inspiration “This past year has been one of great progress
and
accomplishment
on
many fronts. The following pages are examples. The Harris County Sheriff’s
Office is poised for continued success due to the dedicated and inspired members of our bureau and the partnerships
we have formed in our
community. I look forward to another year of providing a safe, humane, and professional response to individuals with
mental
illness,
cognitive
disabilities, and to the homeless.”
Major Mike Lee 7
A $300,000 grant from Arnold Ventures to evaluate our CORE telehealth program. We are one of a few law enforcement agencies in the nation with a telehealth program for patrol and
Development of the agency’s first ever Behavioral
Threat Management Unit, a specialized unit for the investigation
and
management
of
domestic
violence and stalking incidents.
the first of its type to be formally evaluated.
Selected to host the second annual Police Sheriffs’
The training of 417 detention personnel and 447
Conference. We were selected because of our
classified personnel in the 40-hour mental health
model mental health and jail diversion programs.
class.
Development of an Implementation Guide for law
Implementation of Project Lifesaver. This is a
enforcement agencies interested in starting a
program that provides law enforcement the ability
telehealth program for patrol. We believe this is
to
the first and only guide of its type in the nation.
disorders who are prone to wandering.
Executive
Research
Forum
(PERF)
Successful completion of the first year of the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center.
This is the only center of its type in the nation. Criminal justice, behavioral health, and political personnel from across the nation have visited.
quickly
locate
individuals
with
cognitive
The expansion, by 50%, of the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT). This expansion allows HOT to address homelessness in two additional patrol districts.
Social Media Major Lee started a Twitter account for his bureau early this year. Each of his captains have also started an account. A Mental Health and Jail Diversion account was started in December 2017. That was the first account in the agency other than Sheriff Gonzalez’s personal account and
the official agency account.
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The Team The annual report team consists of Sharon
Steinmann,
Multimedia
Specialist; Carlos Rangel, Digital
Graphics Coordinator; and Frank Webb, Project Manager. Sharon provides
photographs.
Carlos
provides photographic and graphic assistance. Frank provides writing,
Sharon Steinmann
Carlos Rangel
Frank Webb
layout, and design.
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About Us The Harris County Sheriff’s Office implemented a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) in November 2015 with two deputies. Under Sheriff Gonzalez, HOT has tripled to six deputies and one sergeant. Three twodeputy teams address homelessness in three patrol districts. The goal is to increase the team by four deputies so all five patrol districts will have a two-deputy team.
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Group Photo Previous Page (Front row left to right) Deputies Gregory Temple, Jason Dean and Tracey Thomas; (Middle row left to right) Deputies James Kelley and Ashley Schubert, Lieutenant Donald Wine; (Back row left to right) Deputy Timothy Craze and Sergeant John Whitley. .
Opioid Education HOT deputies and HCSO medical staff educating the homeless about opioid overdose. The staff also handed out lifesaving Narcan kits to be used on those overdosing on opioids.
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Code Enforcement The HCSO HOT collaborates with public and
private entities focusing on outreach programs to
locate,
engage,
and
assist
homeless
persons with housing, health care, and nutrition needs. HOT also responds to the concerns of the citizens of Harris County. These citizen concerns soliciting
include in
the
trespassing, roadways,
and
loitering, illegal
encampments by homeless persons.
Many homeless suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse. All efforts are made to divert these individuals who have committed low-level, non-violent crimes from jail into mental health treatment.
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New Pickup Truck Donation of a fully equipped Ford F250 made possible with the continuing generous support of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation.
New Office HOT moved into a new office in the Hope Center in November 2019.
HOT Performance
Contacts
HOT had 1453 contacts with homeless individuals in 2019
Veterans
Phone
Housed
HOT found housing for 125 individuals
HOT responded to 47 veterans in 2019
Personnel
HOT had phone consultations with 216 homeless individuals
HOT had a 50% increase in personnel in 2019, from three deputies to six
Aid Items
HOT provided 1051 aid items (blankets, coats, food, water, sanitary items, etc.)
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Graffiti Abatement About The Graffiti Abatement Program is a free service for citizens and businesses in the unincorporated areas of Harris County. The
program removes unwanted graffiti which is often perpetrated by gang members who want
Deputy Rick Medina
to mark their territory or send a message to another gang. The program is coordinated by Deputy Rick Medina.
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Graffiti Abatement Before Before
After
After
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Nuisance Abatement About Us The Nuisance Abatement Unit responds to all nuisance complaints and takes appropriate action, including referring to Harris County Public Health & Environmental Services or the Harris
County
District
Attorney’s
Office.
Abandoned vehicles, junked vehicles in private property, and abandoned structures are the most common complaints.
Deputies Kimberly Snyder & Brian Raven
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Nuisance Abatement These pictures are of a mechanic shop in District 2 (Aldine area) that was storing junked vehicles in the county right-of-way. These pictures are typical of common complaints received by the unit.
Before
Before
Before
After
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Nuisance Abatement These pictures are of a another mechanic/body shop in District 2 that was storing junked vehicles in the county right-of-way. All vehicles were stickered and the owner removed them.
Before
Before
Before
After
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Crisis INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAM 24
About Us • Implemented in September 2011 • Co-responder program • Respond to the most serious calls involving individuals in serious mental health crisis • Perform proactive investigations
and
follow-up
• Assist other local law enforcement agencies
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CIRT TRAINING
Project Name
Project Name
Client name
Client name
CIRT personnel attending a quarterly training with members of the
CIRT personnel addressing patrol roll calls discussing issues regarding
Houston Police Department Mental Health Division.
responding to individuals with mental illness.
GROUP PHOTO PREVIOUS PAGE: (Front row left to right) Sergeant Kelly Hudson, Lieutenant Donald Wine, Sergeant Willie Hodge; (Middle row left to right) Deputies Amber Lewis, Lakiska Cheatham, Robert Hood, Aaron Brown, and Raymundo Mora; (Back row left to right) Deputies Donald Hess, Fred Lerma, Lorenzo Negrete, and Robert Ellis.
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CIRT Activity 2019
Calls for Service
Evaluations
4430
1209 emergency detentions
Jail Diversions
242 27
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Deputy Rigoberto Cortez A person in mental health crisis is talking with a clinician via an iPad in the back seat of Deputy Cortez’s patrol car
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The Pilot The HCSO completed the third and final phase of its
telehealth pilot in December 2019. The program, titled Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE), connects a patrol deputy, via an iPad, with a masterslevel clinician from The Harris Center for Mental Health on calls involving individuals in mental health crisis.
During phase three, 20 patrol deputies were equipped with an iPad. The HCSO also started work on a pilot telehealth program for the jail.
Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy dedicated to tackling
some of the most pressing problems in the United States, awarded a $300,000 grant to the University of Houston Downtown to evaluate phase three.
Pictured: A person who recently moved to Houston from Louisiana
was experiencing mental health
problems. Deputy Jose Gomez responded. The person is talking with a clinician via the iPad.
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The Team Deputies Megan Herrin and Jose Gomez coordinated the day-to-day activities of the CORE pilot. The program would not be possible
without
them.
They
provided
training to the deputies regarding the iPads and connecting to clinicians via our video conferencing software, developed the form used to collect data, compiled statistics, responded to deputy inquiries 24/7, liaised with the computer/technical people from The Harris Center, liaised with the supervisors of the clinicians
with The
Harris
Center,
maintained in constant contact with the 20 deputies on the program, and worked with the University of Houston Downtown to
Megan Herrin
Jose Gomez
Frank Webb
evaluate the program. They worked under the supervision of Frank Webb, project manager of the pilot.
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The Volunteers Thank You! To the deputies who made CORE an overwhelming success Anthony Bernabeo
Aaron Herrera
Perry Burkeen
Donald Hess
Christopher Cano
Lisa Hurrington
Mark Champagne
Daniel Jaquez
Vernon Charles
James LaSalle
Mark Clarke
Fred Lerma
Christopher Cooper
Isaac Lewis
Rigoberto Cortez
Noe Mejia
Moses DeArcos
Augustin Mendoza
Antonio Doucet
James Mondy
Nakeitha Dussette
Hiep Nguyen
Jose Gomez
Joseph Ramirez
Shamanda Harris
Fabiola Rodriguez
Ronald Hawn
Jonathan Tirk Shaun Waters
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Telehealth Road Map Evaluation
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The University of Houston Downtown conducts a midterm evaluation as part of a grant from Arnold Ventures. Final evaluation to be completed May 2020. Implementation Guide developed and distributed across the nation.
Nov 2019
Phase Three Launched 03
20 patrol deputies provided with iPads. The HCSO continues to collaborate with The Harris Center for Mental Health on this final year-long phase.
Dec 2018
Phase Two Launched HCSO collaborates with its local mental health authority, The Harris Center for Mental Health (THC), on an 11-week phase connecting three deputies with masters level clinicians. The program is referred to as telehealth. Although completely satisfied with JSA, the change to THC was due to cost.
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July 2018
Telepsychiatry is Launched The HCSO collaborated with JSA Telehealth, Cloud 9, Verizon Wireless, and the University of Texas on a three-week pilot program connecting three patrol deputies with psychiatrists via iPads. The idea was that of Dr. Avrim Fishkind, CEO of JSA Telehealth.
Dec 2017
01
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Benefits of Telehealth
Access
Safety
Quick and affordable access to behavioral health professionals
The number one goal of law enforcement is citizen and officer safety
Our Goals
Transports
Jail Diversion
Helps eliminate unnecessary transports to hospital emergency departments
Helps divert individuals with mental illness from jail into treatment
Triage Better assessment and triage of calls
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Telehealth is a force multiplier The cost for 9 full time masters-level clinicians from The Harris Center for the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) co-responder program is $900,000 annually.
The cost to equip 100 patrol deputies with an iPad with which they can connect to a masters-level clinician from The Harris Center is $905,000 annually. Having a clinician physically on a scene is valuable. However, the average number of CIRT coresponder units on duty at any one time is two. This is not adequate to cover the county, with over 1,700 square miles. We do not have the funds to add additional CIRT clinicians. Telehealth provides quick and affordable access to clinicians via technology and allows CIRT to respond to the most serious mental health calls utilizing the clinician on scenes where they are most needed.
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Localities requesting Implementation Guide or starting a program based on CORE
San Diego, CA
Grand Traverse County, MI
Upstate, NY
El Paso, TX
Toledo, OH
Austin, TX Plano, TX Houston, TX 36
The Evaluation The University of Houston Downtown (UHD) was selected to evaluate our CORE pilot program through the Arnold Ventures grant. A mid-term evaluation was conducted in November 2019. The results are on the following pages. The final evaluation is scheduled to be completed in May 2020.
Pictured is Dr. Lori Brusman-Lovins of the UHD evaluation team. Dr. Lovins is interviewing CIRT Deputy Fred Lerma and observing other deputies utilizing the iPad.
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Study Design UHD researchers used a process evaluation framework to assess key elements of the intervention in terms of (a) how the innovative tele-health program and related technology
are
implemented;
(b)
fidelity
of
the
implementation; (c) acceptability to stakeholders; and (d) effectiveness as measured by proximal outcomes.
The research team used a mixed-methods approach to concurrently collect qualitative and quantitative data evaluating implementation of the intervention and fidelity to the model. Data was collected from multiple levels of stakeholders and sources: patrol deputies, dispatch, and persons in key administrative roles in HCSO and The Harris Center (THC). Focus groups were conducted with select THC Masters-level mental health clinicians who participated in the intervention. Information was also obtained from telehealth patrol deputies who submitted case reports on all calls, including an additional form with questions related to the effectiveness of the use of
telehealth when responding to calls involving individuals in mental health crisis.
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The Team
Ashley Blackburn
Dana Smith
Lori Brusman-Lovins
Heather Goltz
Dr. Ashley Blackburn is a Professor of Criminal Justice and currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work. Her areas of expertise include conducting research among vulnerable populations, victimization, and incarcerated women. Dr. Dana Smith, Assistant Professor of Social Work, serves as Director of Field Education and instructor. She enjoys teaching policy, ethics, field seminar, and community practice courses. Dr. Brusman-Lovins, an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, is an expert in evidence-based correctional programming, program implementation, and how the criminal justice system treats specialized populations, including offenders with mental illness.
Dr. Heather Goltz, Associate Professor of Social Work, is a highly experienced health services and mixed-methods researcher. She is a licensed mental health professional with nearly a decade of experience in treating individuals with a range of mental and behavioral health conditions commonly resulting in arrest or hospitalization.
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Mid-Term Evaluation
Number of records/calls = 126 Time period: December 2018 – Mid May 2019
Call Disposition
Resolved on Scene
60%
Number of deputies on pilot = 20
40%
Emergency Detention
Calls by Day of the Week 25 21
24
17
20 11
8
MON TUES WED THUR FRI
SAT
SUN
40
81%
63%
77%
Percentage of deputies who said they would have called a CIRT unit if they did not have the iPad
Percentage of deputies who would have transported the consumer to the ER or MH facility if not for the iPad
Percentage of deputies who stated the clinician helped them Identify resources
Calls by District Downtown
15
District 5
18
District 4
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District 3 A goal of the program is to eliminate unnecessary transports of consumers to hospital emergency departments and other mental health facilities
District 2 District 1
12 1 26
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The number one goal of the program is to help keep deputies and consumers safe
73%
83%
71%
Percentage who stated the clinician helped de-escalate the consumer
Percentage who stated the clinician helped them decide on the course of action to take
Percentage who stated the clinician helped them handle the call in a shorter period of time
Calls by Time of Day 34 8
42 31 9
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Jail diversion is a third goal of the program
It is our opinion that the best option for
individuals with mental illness is to divert them from jail if possible. Major County Sheriffs of America. 2019. Sheriffs Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in The Community and in the Jails.
Charges Diverted 6 5 4 2 1 Terroristic Threat
Assault
Criminal Trespass
Aggravated Assault
Indecent Exposure
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About • Collaborates with the Senior Justice Assessment Center (SJAC) • Firearms Investigations • Investigations resulting from referrals from Children’s Protective Services (CPS)
Deputy Megan Herrin
• Incident report review
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Deputy Herrin …
Reviews an average of 500 Mental Health Investigation reports each month
Received 102 referrals from CPS since June 2018
Set up six patrol Twitter accounts
Helps coordinate the CORE telehealth program
2019 Investigations 171
65 35
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Firearms
SJAC *
CPS **
Follow-Ups
• Senior Justice Assessment Center ** Children’s Protective Services
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10 seconds
3.6 million
A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds
Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies
Investigations Assigned – ITD*
Source: www.childhelp.org
322
68
71
Firearms
SJAC
102
CPS
Follow-Ups
* ITD is Inception to Date (5/7/18 to 12/3/19)
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48
Model Pre-Charge Jail Diversion
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ABOUT US
“ Again, I would like to say the staff you have here are amazing. ” - Anonymous Client
The Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center (The Jail Diversion Center) opened in September 2018.
This 29-bed facility is an integral part of Harris County’s pre-charge jail diversion program. Offenders committing low-level, non-violent offenses when it is believed mental illness and/or psychosocial issues were a factor in the commission of the crime are diverted from jail to The Jail Diversion Center.
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Collaborating Partners
• The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD • Harris County Judge’s Office
• Harris County Sheriff’s Office • Harris County District Attorney’s Office • Houston Police Department • Harris Health • Harris County Housing Authority • Harris County Commissioners Court • Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
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Intake Flow
Evaluation Medical Assessment
Mental health evaluation conducted by a psychiatrist.
Assessment and triage by RN.
Peer Support The goal is for this to be the first connection for the patient.
Evaluation Medical evaluation by an internal medicine physician.
Evaluation Evaluation by a masters level clinician.
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On Site Services
Psychosocial Programming
Medication Management
Peer Support
Substance Use Disorder Interventions
Respite Beds
Discharge Planning
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DATA FY19 Jail Bookings
53%
Percentage with no new jail bookings after first diversion.
Longest Stay
80
The longest stay was 80 days.
After Care
53%
Percentage of individuals receiving mental health services after leaving the Diversion Center.
Jail Bookings
8.5
Average number of bookings for those brought to Diversion Center with prior jail bookings.
Processing Time
11 mins
Average time it took a law enforcement officer to process the person into the Diversion Center.
Savings
9.2M
Projected year one savings.
Days in Jail
275
Average number of days in jail for those brought to Diversion Center with prior jail bookings.
Diversions
1,795
Number of individuals taken to the Diversion Center in FY19.
Transitional Housing
136
Number receiving transitional housing, residential SUD treatment, personal care home, etc.
Days in Jail
220,679
Total number of days in jail for cohort of those brought to the Diversion Center with prior jail bookings.
Length of Stay
53.8 hours
The average length of stay.
One Admission
76.5%
Percentage having only one admission to the Diversion Center.
Source: The Harris Center
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DATA FY19 Gender
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone
Homelessness
calls. Suitable for all categories business and personal presentation.
21%
20%
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone calls. Suitable for all categories business and personal presentation.
79%
15%
65%
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone calls. Suitable for all categories business and personal presentation. Male
Female
Homeless
Housed
Housing Instability
Source: The Harris Center
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DATA FY19 Directed By
Race
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone calls. Suitable for all categories business and personal presentation.
1%
4%
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone
12%
12%
calls. Suitable for all categories business and personal presentation.
59%
86%
23%
For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone calls. Suitable for all categories business and
2%
personal presentation.
Police
DA Intake
Self
Asian American Caucasan African American
Hispanic Unknown
Source: The Harris Center
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TOTAL MISDEMEANOR TRESPASS CHARGES FILED 600 511
499
472
500
445
500
489 446
411
400
300
291 285 213
207
200
187
171 143
160
154
172
190
177
100
0
* Diversion Center Opens September 2018
Source: Harris County Sheriff’s Office
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New Beginnings At the age of 10, Stephen’s mother took him to the local mental health authority because of problems with anger. Much of his anger was the result of an abusive stepfather who hit his mother, sister, and Stephen. Stephen was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At 11, Stephen started to steal his stepfather’s marijuana to escape the pain. At 13, he started stealing his grandfather’s pain medication. At 14, he was arrested for a home invasion and spent four years in a juvenile detention facility. At 18, upon release from the detention facility, he got high on Xanax and almost killed his stepfather in a fist fight. At 21, he met his wife. They had two children. Stephen was working offshore but lost his job and started taking pills. He was caught with a pistol in his car and put on probation. At 23, He was incarcerated for aggravated robbery and spent six years in a Texas prison. While in prison his wife divorced him and his grandmother died of cancer. At 29, Stephen was paroled. He hooked up with an old friend who got him addicted to Kush, and he started stealing to support his habit. For most of the next six years Stephen was homeless and smoking Kush. At 34, he was arrested for trespassing. Stephen was taken to the Diversion Center instead of jail. He credits staff there with planting the seed for treatment and voluntarily enrolled in a recovery program at Open Door Mission. Today, Stephen is working as a Peer Counselor at the Houston Center for Sobriety.
Stephen Douglass
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Sheriffs’ Conference
About The Police Executive
Research Forum
(PERF) asked the HCSO to host its second annual sheriffs’ conference because of Harris County’s model mental health and jail
diversion programs. Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit organization, PERF is a police research and policy organization and a provider of management services, technical assistance, and executive-level education to
support law enforcement agencies. PERF helps to improve the delivery of police services through the exercise of strong national leadership; public debate of police and criminal justice issues; and research
and policy development. The conference was held on May 10, 2019.
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Presenters
Ed Gonzalez
Frank Webb
Daron Hall
Sheriff
Project Manager
Sheriff
Sheriff Gonzalez is the Sheriff of the Harris County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.
Frank is a Project Manager for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Hall is the Sheriff of the Davidson County (TN) Sheriff’s Office. He is also the President of the National Sheriff’s Association.
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Presenters
Chuck Wexler
Kim Ogg
Mike Lee
CEO
District Attorney
Major
Chuck Wexler is CEO of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
Kim Ogg is the District Attorney of Harris County, Texas.
Mike Lee is the Major over the Patrol Bureau of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
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Sergeant Brian Brawner
Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small transmitter on the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized frequency signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project
Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. The first responders will then use the client’s individualized frequency to locate the position of the individual.
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About The average time to locate a person wandering Project Lifesaver is a 501 (C)(3) community based, public
with Project Lifesaver is 30 minutes. This is 95%
safety, non-profit organization that provides law enforcement,
less time than standard operations without Project
fire/rescue, and caregivers with a program designed to protect,
Lifesaver.
and when necessary, quickly locate individuals with cognitive
disorders who are prone to the life threatening behavior of wandering.
The
organization
was
founded
in
1999
in
Chesapeake, Virginia. The necessity of this program was determined through the correlation between cognitive conditions and the act of wandering.
With the dramatic increase of
cognitive conditions since the inception of the organization, the
The average number of people with cognitive
impairments reported missing in Harris County a day is four.
program has grown from a localized program to a program recognized internationally as a proven and effective method of “bringing loved ones home.”
In May 2019, Sergeant Brian Brawner, Patrol Bureau Special
The number of U. S. adults who suffer from
Projects, was assigned to research Project Lifesaver. A letter of
Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia is
intent was submitted to Project Lifesaver International (PLI) in
5 million.
June. The HCSO was accepted as a member in July. Sergeant Brawner was named Project Lifesaver Project Manager. Seven patrol deputies were trained by Project Lifesaver instructors in
August. Deployment is scheduled for February 2020.
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01 May 2019 Sergeant Brian Brawner is assigned to research Project Lifesaver.
03
August 2019 October 2019
Seven patrol deputies were trained by Project Lifesaver instructors. The HCSO received a Start-Up kit and became the first agency in the nation to receive Project Lifesaver’s new system.
The HCSO applied for a $150,000 federal grant for the purchase of additional Equipment and to train additional personnel.
05
Finish 06
February 2020 When the program is projected to be deployed in the Field.
04
02
July 2019 The HCSO submitted a letter of intent to be a member of Project Lifesaver. The letter was accepted later that month.
September 2019 Sergeant Brawner wrote the policies and procedures for the program.
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Computer SIMULATION TRAINING 68
The Team Sheriff Gonzalez initiated the largest mental health training initiative in the agency’s history. Starting in June 2017, all detention personnel and peace officers receive a 40-hour mental health class in the academy. The supervisor of the Mental Health Training Unit is Sergeant Raymond Lomelo. In addition to training, Sergeant Lomelo supervises the deputies assigned to the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center and oversees the Mental Health Diversion Desk at the Joint Processing Center. Deputy Jose Gomez is the senior trainer. Jose has 12 Years on the agency. Deputy Gomez has done a stellar job bringing community presenters into our mental health training, including The Menninger Clinic, Alzheimer’s Association, Elite ABA Therapy, Peace of Mind, National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Harris Center for Mental Health, and the Veterans Administration Hospital. In addition to training, Jose coordinates the daily activities of our CORE telehealth pilot with Deputy Megan Herrin. Deputy Carson McMath is the newest team member. He was selected to join the training team in October 2019. Carson has 6 years on the agency. Carson replaces Detention Officer Eric Uriegas. Eric was assigned to the training team from its inception and was an excellent instructor. Eric left to enroll in the HCSO academy to become a classified deputy.
Raymond Lomelo
Jose Gomez
Carson McMath
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MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
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40-Hour Mental Health Training Sheriff Gonzalez’s Historic Mental Health Training Initiative Agency Personnel Receiving the 40-Hour Mental Health Class 2000
1887
1800 1600 1400 1139
1200 1000
875 748
800
647
600 400 200
443
365 275
454 421
204
90
Sheriff Gonzalez initiated the largest mental health training initiative in the agency’s history. Starting in June 2017, all detention personnel and peace officers receive a 40-hour state Mental Health Officer class in the academy. A very impressive 1,884 personnel have received this training! When the training started in June 2017, the state mandate for mental health training in the academy was four hours for detention personnel and 16 hours for peace officers. Effective January 1, 2018, the state mandate for mental health training in the academy for detention officers increased to eight hours. Effective April 1, 2018, the state mandate for peace officers was increased to 40 hours.
0
2017
2018
Peace Officers
2019
Detention Officers
Grand Total
Total
Responding to individuals with mental illness in the jail and on the streets is one of the most important criminal justice issues today. Under Sheriff Gonzalez’s leadership, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office has become a model for mental health training.
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Did you know … Refresher Training Community Presenters Number of community presenters, including The Menninger Clinic, Veterans Administration Hospital, The Harris Center, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Instructors The number of mental health instructors for the agency.
2
Number of hours of new annual refresher class that is mandatory for all deputies who have taken the 40-hour class. This refresher class was developed and piloted in December 2019.
Classes Taught
Classroom Hours
The average number of 40hour classes taught per month.
Number of classroom hours for the 40-hour class in 2019.
3
7
34,880
8 72
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About The Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) Technical
Assistance Program
is
designed to
overcome common government barriers to the successful implementation of programs. Full-time GPL employees are embedded with governors’, mayors’, or agency heads’ executive teams for 12-36 months to drive key initiatives forward.
Typical
technical
assistance
includes
project
management, data analysis, financial modeling, procurement, provider management support, and capacity building. The areas of work include criminal justice, child welfare, homelessness
and
behavioral
health,
workforce
development, and procurement systems. Gabriela Solis (pictured) is a GPL Fellow assigned to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Gabriela is working with Major Mike Lee and Project Manager Frank Webb to promote and strengthen pre-charge jail diversion.
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“Our nation needs to make more
rapid progress addressing difficult social problems. Given our level of affluence and technological sophistication, there is no excuse for our inadequate responses to homelessness, the opioid crisis, child poverty, youth joblessness,
criminal recidivism, and many other issues.” - GPL The GPL currently has 40 team members working on 91 projects in 67 jurisdictions (31 states).
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The Team The Harris County Sheriff’s Office started a Behavioral Threat Management Unit (BTMU) in April 2019. The unit, managed by Mr. Brad Rudolph, focuses on domestic violence and stalking cases that have a mental health nexus and/or cases that have an identified risk for escalation and violence. The BTMU is predicated on reacting to situations as they occur in order to prevent greater harm from occurring in the future.
Mr. Rudolph retired after 36 years of honorable service with the Houston Police Department (HPD). During his tenure with HPD, Brad created the department’s first Threat Management Unit. Brad also supervised the Criminal Intelligence Division’s Dignitary Protection Unit, where he served as the primary liaison with the U.S. Secret Service. Deputy Jacob Walker is the unit investigator. He is a four year veteran of the HCSO and a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Brad Rudolph
Jacob Walker
Anthony Bush
Anthony Bush is the unit’s analyst. Anthony works as an Intelligence Analyst with the Air National Guard. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
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About Re-entry Center The Re-entry Center opened in the Joint Processing Center in 2019. This is the last stop for inmates being released from the Harris County Jail. Several community agencies have offices in the Re-entry Center, including the following: The Beacon, Mental Health America of Greater Houston, City of Houston, SERJobs, and The Harris Center. The Re-entry Center provides assistance with employment, mental health treatment, housing, voter registration, veteran services, health care, legal assistance, identification, and clothing.
Clothing
Identification
Employment
Mental Health
720 articles of
Identification was
Referrals for
Referrals for
clothing were
provided to 2,260
employment
mental health
given out.
individuals.
assistance were
services were
provided to 972
provided to 459
individuals.
individuals.
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RE-ENTRY CENTER
Two individuals just released from jail via the Joint Processing Center stop by the Re-entry Center for assistance.
Offices of the community partners working with staff of the Reentry Center.
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Awards
Deputy Megan Herrin
Deputy Jose Gomez
Deputy Aaron Brown
NAMI CIT Deputy of the Quarter Award
NAMI CIT Deputy of the Quarter Award
NAMI CIT Deputy of the Quarter Award
Deputy Robert Ellis HCSO Lifesaving Award
Frank Webb NAMI Lifetime Achievement Award
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Awards
Crisis Intervention Response Team Unit Citation
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Awards
Homeless Outreach Team Unit Citation
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Data Road Map
Feb 2019 The customized CIT Data Collection Form is available countywide in the incident reporting system.
Aug 2019 Harris County Technology Committee approves two check boxes on call slip to identify all calls involving mental illness and the homeless countywide; sent to Superion for contract. To be implemented May 2020.
Jan 2017 Major Lee identified the need to collect data on individuals with mental illness and the homeless countywide.
Report to extract data from CIT form in incident reporting system developed
Oct 2017 Meetings were held to discuss the importance of collecting data throughout 2017. A meeting was held in October to discuss a CIT Data Collection Form in the new Superion reporting system.
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Data Analysis
Incidents by HCSO District
Other About This Data Responding to individuals in mental health crisis
District 5
and to the homeless are among the most important criminal justice issues today. Data is essential in
District 4
making
decisions
on
appropriate
and
safe
response strategies. Data on individuals with
District 3
mental illness and the homeless are available for the first time for the sheriff’s and constables’ offices. The following data is gleaned from incident
District 2
reports collected between August 21, 2018 and December 31, 2019. The number of reports =
District 1
5102. Not all calls result in an incident report.
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Incidents by Agency
HCC8
29
46
HCC7
Law Enforcement in Harris County
HCC6
16
There are nine law enforcement agencies under Harris County government: The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and
eight constable offices. These are the agencies reflected in
HCC5
this data. There are several other law enforcement agencies in Harris County but they are not under the jurisdiction of
HCC4
Harris County government and thus are not included in this data.
HCC3
HCC2
27
10
HCC1 HCSO
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Suicide Attempt Method
Suicides in Harris County There were 161 completed suicides investigated by the
Other
Harris County Sheriff’s Office in 2018. That number increased to 181 in 2019.
Jumper
Suicides Nationally 45,390 American adults died from suicide in 2017. Among U.S. adults, the average number of suicides per day rose
Hanging
from 86.6 in 2005 to 124.4 in 2017.
Suicides Among U.S. Veterans
Firearm
The number of Veteran suicides exceeded 6,000 each year from 2008 to 2017. There were 15.9 Veteran suicides per day in 2005 and 16.8 in 2017. Firearms were the
Overdose
method of suicide in 70.7% of male Veteran suicide deaths and 43.2% of female Veteran suicide deaths in 2017.
Edged Weapon - 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Data Analysis
CIT Deputies
62%
Percentage of calls with a CIT trained deputy on the scene.
Gender
56%
13%
86%
Injury to Consumer
Homelessness Percentage of the incidents involving a homeless person.
Percentage of the incidents involving a male.
Adults
91%
Percentage of the calls where there was NO injury to the consumer.
Percentage of the calls involving an adult.
Injury to Deputy
99%
Percentage of the calls where there was NO injury to the deputy.
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Data Analysis
Med Compliance
17%
Percentage of individuals compliant on their medications.
Prescription Meds
48%
16%
25%
Weapons
Violence Percentage of individuals who were violent.
Percentage of individuals taking prescription meds.
Non-Prescription Meds
9%
Percentage of the calls where an individual had a weapon.
Percentage of individuals taking non-prescription meds.
Attempted Suicide
39%
Percentage of the calls where an individual attempted suicide.
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Data Analysis
Jail Diversion
Veterans
8%
Percentage of incidents involving a veteran.
17%
Percentage of incidents where a person was diverted from jail and taken for mental health treatment.
Use of Force
97%
Percentage of incidents where NO force was used.
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Collaboration
Personnel assigned to the collaborative law enforcement mental health programs of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Houston Police Department (HPD), and The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (The Harris Center). The HCSO started collaborating with The Harris Center (formerly the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County) in 1978 on programs for treating inmates with mental illness. The HPD started collaborating with The
Harris Center in 1991 on training for police officers, the streamlining of the process of obtaining an emergency detention, and increasing bed capacity for those brought in on emergency detention by law enforcement. The HCSO, HPD, and The Harris Center collaborated on the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) program in 2011. Members of the three agencies who work on the CIRT and Homeless Outreach Teams attend quarterly training together, consult with each other, and occasionally respond to incidents together. (Photo courtesy of Senior Police Officer Matt Fowler, Houston Police Department)
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CHALLENGE COIN
ABOUT THE COIN: It was designed by Carlos Rangel, Digital Graphics Coordinator for the HCSO. The hexagonal shape represents harmony and balance found in nature. The circular layout of the text communicates balance and stability. The light blue represents tranquility. The orange is a complimentary color of light blue and shows warmth, vitality and energy.
@HCSO_MHU
HARRISCOUNTYCIT.ORG
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