Government
BY MARK FADDEN
County renews jail mental health services amid controversy over deaths
Detention staff made over 44,000 referrals to MHMR last year. So far in 2024, jail staff intervened and prevented 350 suicide attempts.
Of 64 TCC jail deaths since 2017, 45 were from natural causes. The remainder stemmed from suicide, accidents, drugs/alcohol or homicide, with one case pending as of Nov. 12.
Tarrant County commissioners voted Oct. 15 to renew a contract with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County to provide behavioral health and intellectual disability services to inmates in jail. The big picture Commissioners voted 4-0 on the extension, with Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez absent. The extension of the contract with MHMR comes amid controversy of the recent deaths of inmates with mental health issues and deaths associated with inmates at the Tarrant County Jail who have intellectual disabilities, including the death of Anthony Johnson Jr., who died in April after an altercation with detention officers. Sheriff Bill Waybourn said during the Nov. 12 commissioners court meeting that 64 inmates have died while in Tarrant County Jail custody
since 2017. Of those deaths, 19 stemmed from suicide, accidents, drugs/alcohol, homicide and one case is pending as of that date. County documents state MHMR services per- formed in the Tarrant County jail system include: • Addiction services • Court liaison/aftercare services • Adult mental health peer support • Children’s services • Intellectual and development disabilities outpatient treatment • Employment services and day rehabilitation programs • Behavioral health crisis services The term of this contract, which is budgeted at $1.6 million, is from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2025.
SOURCE: TARRANT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
A closer look MHMR CEO Susan Garnett said when inmates are processed, the state of Texas has a screening form jailers use to assess that person’s mental health. Garnett said inmates with positive answers are sent to MHMR staff for an assessment, where the inmate is asked about their mental health history. This is used to determine ongoing needs, includ- ing if the inmate needs specialized housing.
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