2019 ANNUAL REPORT
Mental Health & Jail
Diversion 1 “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each THANKmember is the team.” YOU FOR YOUR- Phil Jackson TIME
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2 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.
4 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 accomplished when we work Sheriff Ed Gonzalez together.”
5 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.”
6 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 Development of the agency’s first ever Behavioral evaluate our CORE telehealth program. We are Threat Management Unit, a specialized unit for the one of a few law enforcement agencies in the investigation and management of domestic nation with a telehealth program for patrol and violence and stalking incidents. the first of its type to be formally evaluated.
Selected to host the second annual Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) 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 quickly locate individuals with cognitive the first and only guide of its type in the nation. disorders who are prone to wandering.
Successful completion of the first year of the The expansion, by 50%, of the Homeless Outreach Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center. Team (HOT). This expansion allows HOT to This is the only center of its type in the nation. address homelessness in two additional patrol Criminal justice, behavioral health, and political districts. personnel from across the nation have visited. 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.
9 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.
10 11 12 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 two- deputy 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. 13 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.
15 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 include trespassing, loitering, soliciting in the roadways, and 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.
16 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 Phone HOT had 1453 contacts HOT had phone with homeless individuals consultations with 216 in 2019 homeless individuals
Veterans Housed HOT responded to 47 HOT found housing for veterans in 2019 125 individuals
Personnel HOT had a 50% Aid Items HOT provided 1051 aid increase in personnel in items (blankets, coats, 2019, from three deputies food, water, sanitary to six items, etc.)
18 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 to mark their territory or send a message to Deputy Rick Medina another gang. The program is coordinated by Deputy Rick Medina.
19 Graffiti Abatement
Before Before After
After
20 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
21 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
22 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
23 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 and follow-up investigations
• Assist other local law enforcement agencies
25 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.
26 CIRT Activity 2019
Jail Calls for Evaluations Diversions Service 1209 4430 emergency 242 detentions
27 28 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
29 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 masters- level 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.
30 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 Megan Herrin Jose Gomez Frank Webb the University of Houston Downtown to evaluate the program. They worked under the supervision of Frank Webb, project manager of the pilot.
31 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
32 Telehealth Road Map
Evaluation 04 The University of Houston Downtown conducts a mid- term evaluation as part of a grant from Arnold Ventures. Final evaluation to be completed May Nov 2019 2020. Implementation Guide developed and distributed across the nation.
Phase Three Launched 20 patrol deputies provided with iPads. The HCSO 03 continues to collaborate with The Harris Center for Dec 2018 Mental Health on this final year-long phase.
Phase Two Launched HCSO collaborates with its local mental health authority, The Harris Center for Mental Health (THC), on an 11-week 02 phase connecting three deputies with masters level July 2018 clinicians. The program is referred to as telehealth. Although completely satisfied with JSA, the change to THC was due to cost.
Telepsychiatry is Launched The HCSO collaborated with JSA Telehealth, Cloud 9, Verizon Wireless, and 01 the University of Texas on a three-week Dec 2017 pilot program connecting three patrol deputies with psychiatrists via iPads. The idea was that of Dr. Avrim Fishkind, CEO of JSA Telehealth.
33 Benefits of Telehealth
Access Safety Quick and affordable access to The number one goal of law behavioral health professionals enforcement is citizen and officer safety
Our Goals Transports Jail Diversion Helps eliminate unnecessary Helps divert individuals with transports to hospital emergency mental illness from jail into departments treatment
Triage Better assessment and triage of calls
34 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 co- responder 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.
35 Localities requesting Implementation Guide or starting a program based on CORE
Grand Traverse San Diego, County, MI CA 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.
37 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.
38 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. 39 Mid-Term Evaluation Number of records/calls = 126 Time period: December 2018 – Mid May 2019
Call Disposition Number of deputies on pilot = 20
40% Resolved on Scene Emergency Detention 60% Calls by Day of the Week
25 24 21 20 17 11 8
MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT SUN
40 81% 63% 77%
Percentage of Percentage of Percentage of deputies who said deputies who deputies who they would have called would have stated the clinician a CIRT unit if they transported the helped them did not have the consumer to the ER Identify resources iPad or MH facility if not for the iPad Calls by District
Downtown 15
District 5 18
District 4 54
District 3 12
A goal of the program is to eliminate District 2 1 unnecessary transports of consumers to hospital emergency District 1 26 departments and other mental health facilities 41 The number one goal of the program is to help keep deputies and consumers safe
73% 83% 71%
Percentage who Percentage who Percentage who stated the clinician stated the clinician stated the clinician helped de-escalate helped them helped them the consumer decide on the course handle the call in of action to take a shorter period of time
Calls by Time of Day 42 34 31
8 9
42 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 Assault Criminal Aggravated Indecent Threat Trespass Assault Exposure
43 44 About
• Collaborates with the Senior Justice Assessment Center (SJAC)
• Firearms Investigations
• Investigations resulting from referrals from Children’s Protective Services Deputy Megan Herrin (CPS)
• Incident report review
45 Deputy Herrin …
Reviews an average Received 102 referrals Set up six patrol Helps coordinate of 500 Mental Health from CPS since Twitter accounts the CORE Investigation reports June 2018 telehealth program each month
2019 Investigations
171
65 35 30
Firearms SJAC * CPS ** Follow-Ups
• Senior Justice Assessment Center ** Children’s Protective Services
46 10 3.6 seconds million
A report of child abuse is Every year more made every 10 seconds than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies Source: www.childhelp.org Investigations Assigned – ITD* 322
102 68 71
Firearms SJAC CPS Follow-Ups
* ITD is Inception to Date (5/7/18 to 12/3/19)
47 48 Model Pre-Charge Jail Diversion
49 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.
50 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
51 Intake Flow
Evaluation Mental health evaluation Medical Assessment 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 Evaluation Evaluation by a masters Medical evaluation by an level clinician. internal medicine physician.
52 On Site Services
Psychosocial Programming
Medication Management
Peer Support
Substance Use Disorder Interventions
Respite Beds
Discharge Planning
53 DATA FY19
Jail Bookings Jail Bookings Days in Jail Days in Jail 53% 8.5 275 220,679 Percentage with no Average number of Average number of Total number of new jail bookings bookings for those days in jail for those days in jail for cohort after first diversion. brought to Diversion brought to Diversion of those brought to Center with prior jail Center with prior jail the Diversion Center bookings. bookings. with prior jail bookings.
Longest Stay Processing Time Diversions Length of Stay 80 11 mins 1,795 53.8 hours The longest stay Average time it took Number of The average length was 80 days. a law enforcement individuals taken to of stay. officer to process the the Diversion Center person into the in FY19. Diversion Center.
After Care Savings Transitional Housing One Admission 53% 9.2M 136 76.5% Percentage of Projected year one Number receiving Percentage having individuals receiving savings. transitional housing, only one admission mental health residential SUD to the Diversion services after treatment, personal Center. leaving the Diversion care home, etc. Center.
Source: The Harris Center 54 DATA FY19
Gender Homelessness For every 6 emails received, we get 3 Phone 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 15% personal presentation. 79% 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 55 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 12%get 3 Phone calls. Suitable for all categories business and 12% personal presentation. 23% 86% 59%
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 Hispanic Caucasan Unknown African American
Source: The Harris Center 56 TOTAL MISDEMEANOR TRESPASS CHARGES FILED 600
511 499 500 489 500 472 445 446 411 400
291 285 300
213 207 190 187 177 200 171 160 172 143 154
100
0
* Diversion Center Opens September 2018
Source: Harris County Sheriff’s Office
57 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. Stephen Douglass
Today, Stephen is working as a Peer Counselor at the Houston Center for Sobriety. 59 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.
60 Presenters
Ed Gonzalez Frank Webb Daron Hall Sheriff Project Manager Sheriff
Sheriff Gonzalez is the Sheriff of the Frank is a Project Manager for the Sheriff Hall is the Sheriff of the Harris County (TX) Sheriff’s Office. Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Davidson County (TN) Sheriff’s Office. He is also the President of the National Sheriff’s Association.
61 Presenters
Chuck Wexler Kim Ogg Mike Lee CEO District Attorney Major
Chuck Wexler is CEO of the Police Kim Ogg is the District Attorney of Mike Lee is the Major over the Patrol Executive Research Forum (PERF) Harris County, Texas. Bureau of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
62 63 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. 64 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 The average number of people with cognitive determined through the correlation between cognitive conditions impairments reported missing in Harris County a and the act of wandering. With the dramatic increase of day is four. cognitive conditions since the inception of the organization, the 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. 65 01 May 2019 Sergeant Brian Brawner is assigned to August 2019 research October 2019 Project Lifesaver. Seven patrol deputies Finish were trained by Project The HCSO applied for 06 Lifesaver instructors. a $150,000 federal The HCSO received a grant for the purchase 03 Start-Up kit and of additional became the first Equipment and to train agency in the nation to additional personnel. receive Project Lifesaver’s new system. 05 February 2020 When the program is projected to be deployed in the Field. 04
July 2019 September 2019 02 Sergeant Brawner The HCSO submitted a wrote letter of intent to be a the policies and member of Project procedures Lifesaver. for the program. The letter was accepted later that month.
66 67 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. Raymond Lomelo Jose Gomez Carson McMath 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.
69 MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING
70 40-Hour Mental Health Training
Sheriff Gonzalez’s Historic Mental Health Training Initiative
Agency Personnel Receiving the 40-Hour Mental Health Class Sheriff Gonzalez initiated the largest mental health training initiative in the agency’s history. 2000 1887 Starting in June 2017, all detention personnel 1800 and peace officers receive a 40-hour state Mental Health Officer class in the academy. A 1600 very impressive 1,884 personnel have received 1400 this training! 1139 1200 When the training started in June 2017, the state 1000 mandate for mental health training in the 875 academy was four hours for detention personnel 800 748 647 and 16 hours for peace officers. Effective January 1, 2018, the state mandate for mental 600 443 454 421 health training in the academy for detention 365 400 275 officers increased to eight hours. Effective April 204 1, 2018, the state mandate for peace officers 200 90 was increased to 40 hours. 0 2017 2018 2019 Grand Total Responding to individuals with mental illness in the jail and on the streets is one of the most Peace Officers Detention Officers Total important criminal justice issues today. Under Sheriff Gonzalez’s leadership, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office has become a model for mental health training.
71 Did you know …
Refresher Training Community Presenters Number of hours of new annual refresher class that Number of community is mandatory for all presenters, including The Instructors deputies who have taken Menninger Clinic, Veterans the 40-hour class. This The number of mental Administration Hospital, refresher class was health instructors for the The Harris Center, and the developed and piloted in agency. Alzheimer’s Association. December 2019.
Classes Taught Classroom Hours The average number of 40- Number of classroom hour classes taught per hours for the 40-hour class month. in 2019.
2 3 7 34,880 8
72 73 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.
74 “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).
75 76 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.
77 78 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.
79 RE-ENTRY CENTER
Two individuals just released from jail via the Joint Processing Offices of the community partners working with staff of the Re- Center stop by the Re-entry Center for assistance. entry Center.
80 81 Awards
Deputy Megan Herrin Deputy Jose Gomez Deputy Aaron Brown Deputy Robert Ellis Frank Webb
NAMI CIT Deputy of the NAMI CIT Deputy of the NAMI CIT Deputy of the HCSO Lifesaving Award NAMI Lifetime Quarter Award Quarter Award Quarter Award Achievement Award
82 Awards
Crisis Intervention Response Team Unit Citation
83 Awards
Homeless Outreach Team Unit Citation
84 85 Data Road Map
Feb 2019 The customized CIT Data Aug 2019 Collection Form is available countywide in the Harris County Technology incident reporting system. Committee approves two check boxes on call slip to identify all calls involving mental illness and the homeless countywide; Jan 2017 sent to Superion for contract. To be Major Lee identified the need implemented May 2020. to collect data on individuals with mental illness and the Report to extract data homeless countywide. 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. 86 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 mental illness and the homeless are available for District 3 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.
87 Incidents by Agency
HCC8 29
HCC7 46
Law Enforcement in Harris County HCC6 16 There are nine law enforcement agencies under Harris County government: The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and HCC5 eight constable offices. These are the agencies reflected in 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 27
HCC2 10
HCC1
HCSO
88 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
89 Data Analysis
CIT Deputies Gender Adults Percentage of calls Percentage of the Percentage of the calls 62% with a CIT trained 56% incidents involving a 86% involving an adult. deputy on the scene. male.
Homelessness Injury to Consumer Injury to Deputy Percentage of the Percentage of the calls Percentage of the calls 13% incidents involving a 91% where there was NO 99% where there was NO homeless person. injury to the consumer. injury to the deputy.
90 Data Analysis
Med Compliance Prescription Meds Non-Prescription Meds Percentage of Percentage of Percentage of 17% individuals compliant 48% individuals taking 25% individuals taking on their medications. prescription meds. non-prescription meds.
Violence Weapons Attempted Suicide Percentage of Percentage of the calls Percentage of the calls 16% individuals who were 9% where an individual had 39% where an individual violent. a weapon. attempted suicide.
91 Data Analysis
Veterans Jail Diversion Use of Force Percentage of incidents Percentage of incidents Percentage of incidents 8% involving a veteran. 17% where a person was 97% where NO force was diverted from jail and used. taken for mental health treatment.
92 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)
93 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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