Travis County to launch $23 million project to keep mentally ill from jail

Tamara Needles, Travis County District Court Judge, moderates a panel including Travis County Judge Andy Brown, Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez to discuss in detail a plan to build a mental health diversion center for those arrested who are in crisis – starting first with a pilot program to begin in March. (Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune)

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For years, veteran Texas sheriffs like Travis County’s Sally Hernandez have watched how countless tax dollars are spent to break the endless cycle of taking mentally ill or intoxicated individuals who commit minor crimes to treatment or the jail, only to see them released within hours.