Toolkits

This resource is prepared by the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health Data Committee to assist mental health court programs in collecting and use of data. The Guide is intended as an introductory reference for best practices rather than an exhaustive report on all related issues, and feedback is encouraged for improvement to future versions. Specific areas which would benefit from a more specialized document include launching a mental health court program, appropriately handling IDD and juvenile issues in specialty court programs, and specific technology or tracking methods.

The laws relating to persons with mental illness or intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) are complex and span several different codes affecting multiple stakeholders. For this reason, the JCMH created the County Mental Health Law Plan (CMHLP) program. The CMHLP is a JCMH pilot program that offers technical assistance, tools, and resources including a checklist and template to support eight counties in their work to create a County Mental Health Law Plan over a six-month period. The goals of the pilot are to determine if creating such a plan encourages discussions that add collaboration, efficiency, cost-savings, and accountability to county mental health law systems.

Like other states across the U.S., Texas faces a growing crisis in the number of people who are waiting in county jails for inpatient competency restoration services after being declared incompetent to stand trial. Not only has this increased costs and overburdened state agencies and county jails, but it also is taking a significant toll on the health and well-being of people waiting in Texas jails for inpatient competency restoration services. 

This toolkit includes a set of strategies that stakeholders can implement to help eliminate the wait for inpatient competency restoration services in Texas.

Mental Health Courts are a type of specialty court treatment program that connects defendants with long-term community-based treatment. The courts use assessments, individualized treatment plans, and judicial monitoring to address both the mental health needs of individuals and public safety concerns of the local community. JCMH assists counties with creating, expanding, and improving local mental health courts and dockets. Assistance includes guidance, training, grant opportunities and connections with mentor courts.

No matter your county's budget, you can utilize diversion techniques. This toolkit highlights creative solutions to the inpatient competency restoration crisis including ideas specifically for rural communities. This toolkit will show you both formal and informal diversion programs. 

This toolkit was created to teach mental health advocates, legal professionals, and community leaders about the process of getting funding to start or expand a specialty court. This toolkit serves as a guide for the 2024 grant cycle, but can be referenced for future grants as well.

Article 16.22 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure prescribes the procedures for early identification of individuals suspected of having a mental illness or intellectual disability who are involved in the criminal justice system. This document offers guidance on completing a 16.22 report.