Castillo says she wants to divert people with mental health needs away from jail, and toward treatment, recovery, and stability.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio City Councilwoman wants to help inmates in the Bexar County Jail with mental health issues.
Councilwoman Teri Castillo wants to create a committee with the county for a diversion and recovery center.
237 people who are detained at the Bexar County Jail are waiting for hospital beds and were found incompetent, that’s according to a recent study done by the detention mental health team.
Castillo says she wants to divert people with mental health needs away from jail, and toward treatment, recovery, and stability.
What she wants is similar to what’s happening in Harris County, a diversion center that’s moved more than 10,000 detainees since 2018 from jail, to 24/7 services that gives them care, like medication, peer support, and post-release case management.
In her proposal, Castillo wants the District Attorney’s office, the sheriff, the San Antonio Police Department, Centro, and others involved.
Castillo has signatures of support from councilmembers in District 10, District 4, District 6, and District 3. Her proposal will next go to the Governance Committee to see if Castillo’s proposal is actually viable.