Williamson County is preparing to start a jail-based competency restoration program this spring, according to a presentation to Commissioners Court on Jan. 16.

Jail-based competency restoration programs provide people in jail who have been deemed incompetent to stand trial with mental health services, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

These programs allow inmates to proceed to the next step in their judicial process, Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey said.

Covey said the state is supposed to provide such competency restoration services; however, there is a backlog to receive this treatment, often delaying the judicial process by many years.

“As Williamson County has done on multiple other issues—including transportation and other things—we’re trying to problem solve,” Covey said.

Williamson County’s program will be a partnership between the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and mental health provider Bluebonnet Trails Community Services.

BTCS Executive Director Andrea Richardson said the local competency restoration program will start with a handpicked group of five individuals who will receive mental health care provided by existing staff as well as an additional psychologist. Added services also include psychiatry, care coordination and wrap-around services.

“These are going to be persons that are actively receiving mental health treatment while in the jail in a specialized pod that are working together for competency,” Richardson said. “The goal is to move them quickly to restore competency and get them to trail more quickly.”

Richardson said the county has been awarded $500,000 from the HHSC to start the program with a match from Williamson County. Additionally, the county will ask the Texas Legislature to continue providing funding for this program for the coming biennium.