Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on a Resolution authorizing the Williamson County District Courts to submit an application for the Felony Mental Health Court to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office (PSO) for a Specialty Court Grant Program, FY2022 Project, designating the County Judge as the official authorized to apply for the grant, and designating the Williamson County Judge, with approval of the Williamson County Commissioner’s Court, as the official authorized to accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant, and providing assurance that, in the event of loss or misuse of grant funds Williamson County will return all funds to the Office of the Governor.

This agenda item seeks the Court's approval of Williamson County District Courts' grant application to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, to help support the implementation of a Felony Mental Health Court.  This grant does not require a match.  The Court will recall that we sought this grant in 2020.  Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Governor did not award any grant funding in this category.  The need for this program is greater than ever, and so we are again submitting this request. 

The Felony Mental Health Court, which will be presided over by the Honorable Donna King, seeks to:

1. reduce recidivism,
2. enhance public safety,
3. improve the quality of life of individuals with a mental illness involved in the criminal justice system, and
4. more effectively utilize government allocated funding to reduce future costs.

This court will help address the cyclical issue of mentally ill individuals that face felony charges, an issue that has only been exacerbated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.   While the courts in Williamson County have remained open and conduct many proceedings via virtual platforms, operating in a pandemic with the current level of staffing has hampered the courts' ability to pursue meaningful alternatives for this target population. As a result, the need for the resources to support this court is significant and immediate. The court will utilize a swift identification process for qualifying participants and match them with mental health and substance abuse programs and services. Each participant will receive an individualized treatment plan utilizing risk assessments, historical data and other available tools and information to determine the risks and needs of participants. Participants will have regular contacts with case manager, providers and court/judge to ensure program compliance and promote behavioral changes that will reduce future criminal activity and incarceration. The program will use best practices, the research-based recovery model, monitoring and supervision to promote successful outcomes. Data will be collected and monitored to prove program effectiveness.