Today, 80% of inmates in the Harris County jail report a symptom of a mental health disorder, and a third are on psychotropic medications. Since taking office in January, the Teare Administration has prioritized breaking the cycle of crime by surging resources towards programs that work to prevent and treat the root causes of criminal behavior. Early efforts are paying off with a 9.5% drop in the jail population.

Key Accomplishments since January 1st:

• On April 10th, Harris County Commissioners Court approved an emergency surge of funding for the Harris County District Attorney’s office. The $7.6 million is now being used to invest in a growing team of prosecutors and support new mental health and domestic violence initiatives. That includes hiring 15 new positions for the new Mental Health Bureau alone.
• More than 342 people with mental health disorders have been diverted into treatment instead of jail.
• Starting in April, Teare reintegrated a full-time prosecutor to staff the Diversion Desk at the Jail to enhance diversion prior to incarceration, when appropriate.
• The DA’s Office is increasing the tempo of trials, with more than 230 cases tried this year so far. This includes 145 felony cases and 74 trials in our Special Victims Trial Bureau – some of the toughest cases:
• The Harris County jail population has decreased by 9.5%. As of May 15th, the number of inmates is 8,961. This is a major drop since the high point on February 2nd when the population was at 9,905.