House Joint Interim Committee on Criminal
Justice and People with Mental Disabilities
Charge
Study the special problems of individuals with mental disabilities
in the criminal justice system. Consider such information as
the number of people in the system with mental disabilities, the
quality of assessment measures to determine competence, the adequacy
of representation, the availability of services, and treatment
and barriers to reintegration into the community.
Recommendations
Amend Chapter 614 of the Health
and Safety Code to direct the Texas Council on Offenders with
Mental Impairments (TCOMI) to conduct a pre- and post- evaluation
of the jail screening instrument's effectiveness in identifying
persons with mental impairments.
Direct TCOMI to conduct a
study on how the confidentiality statutes are being interpreted
and implemented statewide. As a followup, TCOMI should conduct
a fiscal analysis of duplication and inefficiencies in the clinical
assessment process.
Conduct a cost analysis of
the specialized Mental Health Deputy program to determine the
feasibility of expanded development across the state.
Amend Chapter 614 of the Health
and Safety Code to include Community Supervision and Corrections
Departments (CSCDs) and local law enforcement in the memorandum
of understanding process.
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