The big picture
Tarrant County commissioners voted 4-0 on the contract extension. Precinct 4 Commissioner Manny Ramirez was not present for the vote.
County documents state MHMR services performed in the Tarrant County jail system include:
- Addiction services
- Court liaison/aftercare services
- Adult mental health peer support
- Children’s services
- Intellectual and development disabilities outpatient treatment
- Employment services and day rehabilitation programs
- Behavioral health crisis services
A closer look
MHMR CEO Susan Garnett said when inmates are initially processed, the state of Texas has a screening form jailers use to assess that person’s mental health.
“[The form’s] intention is to screen,” Garnett said. “Is it possible this person may need some more [mental health] attention?”
Garnett added that if an inmate has any positive answers to the questions on the form, they are sent to see a member of the MHMR staff—which is funded by this contract—for an assessment. As part of that assessment, Garnett said the inmate is asked about their mental health history, including medication history, and if they’ve ever seen a psychiatrist.
MHMR staff will also check to see if the inmate has ever been institutionalized in a public mental health facility.
Garnett said the assessment will then be used to determine the ongoing needs of the inmate, including if they need to be placed in specialized mental health housing.
Put in perspective
The extension of the contract with MHMR comes amid controversy of the recent deaths of inmates with mental health issues and deaths associated with inmates who have intellectual disabilities.
