SRC-JJJ S.R. 392 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.R. 392 By: Moncrief Criminal Justice 4/12/1999 As Filed DIGEST The number of persons with mental illnesses being arrested and detained in local jails has dramatically increased during the past decade. For the most part these persons are charged with misdemeanant offenses, and cycle in and out of jail on a routine basis. Most jails are not equipped to provide the type and level of mental health treatment required by these individuals. This legislation would allow the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments to conduct a study on strategies for reducing the use of jails as mental health providers, and examine alternatives to incarceration. PURPOSE As proposed, S.R. 392 submits the following resolutions: That a study be conducted by the Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments on strategies to reduce the use of jails as a mental health treatment provider, that the study examine current incarceration practices and arrest rates of persons with mental illnesses, as well as the feasibility of establishing a regional mental health detention facility as a pilot, and that are study include information on utilizing existing facilities, funding strategies, and other operational issues required to implement such a facility.