The Court Liaison Program assists courts in addressing the mental health, substance use, and intellectual delay and disability issues of those brought into the justice system. The liaison connects the court to service providers to form better community partnerships, saving valuable state and local resources that might otherwise be expended on unnecessary jail, prison, and hospital stays. They are also known as court navigators because they reduce the failure in the law enforcement, court, hospitals, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment systems.
In 2022, the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health created a four-year pilot program to fund a Court Liaison in Denton, Grayson, and Smith counties. The pilot aimed to efficiently address the needs of defendants with mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities charged with nonviolent misdemeanor offenses by connecting them with treatment opportunities. Due to extended wait times for inpatient competency restoration, a particular goal of the program was to help identify quicker options to prevent decompensation of individuals awaiting restoration.
In 2025, the National Center for State Courts created an Implementation Guide. This Implementation Guide uses the tremendous work of the three counties selected as pilot sites to assist other Texas jurisdictions in replicating this program.
JCMH Court Liaison Pilot Program Goals and Results
What Problems are Addressed by the Court Liaison Pilot Program?
What do Court Liaisons Do Day-to-Day?
What Results Have the Pilot Counties Seen?