Dallas, TX
Dallas County’s mental health transfer waitlist costing taxpayers $13 million, commissioner says
Dallas County’s psychological well being switch waitlist costing taxpayers $13 million, commissioner says
Commissioner Value says it’s costing the county $13 million to handle 400 individuals who ought to be at a state hospital, however they are not as a result of there are not any accessible beds. He desires Dallas lawmakers in Austin to place strain on the state to discover a method and a spot to deal with its inmates who should not nonetheless be right here.
DALLAS – There are 400 inmates deemed incompetent who ought to be in a state facility sitting within the Dallas County jail. Some have been there for longer than two years.
The inmates are ready to be transferred to a state psychological well being facility. The load of it falls on the county’s tax {dollars}.
Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Value says it’s costing the county $13 million to handle 400 individuals who ought to be at both the Vernon State Hospital or the Rusk State Hospital, however they are not as a result of there are not any accessible beds.
“We have people which were in custody for over 800 days. That’s two-and-a-half years now,” Value stated. “They’re imagined to be in state custody.”
In 2017, Dallas County had 130 inmates awaiting switch to a state psychological well being hospital. Two 12 months later, that quantity grew to 203. Now in 2022 following COVID-19, that quantity stands at 400, which is a rise of greater than 200%.
Dallas County has extra individuals ready to be transferred than the most important county in Texas.
“We’ve got 2.6 million individuals,” Value stated. “Harris County has 4.8 million individuals, they usually have much less individuals ready to go to those services than does Dallas County.”
The psychological well being wait checklist of 400 and one other 400 ready for switch to Texas prisons retains urgent the jail inhabitants. Proper now, it stands at about 5,900.
“We simply wish to know why,” Value stated. “Why are we being handled this manner? It isn’t as if we’re being reimbursed. Dallas taxpayers are choosing up the tab. And on the finish of the day, you are requiring us to swim purchase. You have put our arms behind us.”
The commissioner says he is alerting the Dallas delegation to the state legislature in addition to state workplaces that they want some assist getting these people out of the Dallas County jail.
Value plans to current the Dallas County psychological well being switch waitlist at Tuesday’s commissioners courtroom. He desires Dallas lawmakers in Austin to place strain on the state to discover a method and a spot to deal with its inmates who shouldn’t be within the Dallas County jail.