HOUSTON -- Local 2 Investigates showed how the Harris County Jail and courts are clogged with people suffering from mental illness. Local 2 investigative reporter Robert Arnold shows how one group may have found a solution to this problem, while at the same time saving taxpayers millions of dollars a year.

"Just this last time I said, 'You know what? I surrender. I can't do this on my own,'" said Sonya Heller. "I don't want to keep getting locked up for the rest of my life, and I don't want to sleep under the bridge."

Heller suffers from bi-polar disorder, depression and alcoholism. She has spent the last 17 years either in jail or prison.

Heller was released from jail last October and since then has found a place to live, a job, and is off drugs and getting regular treatment for her mental illness.

"I've tried to do it 10 or 12 times without a program and each time I fall," said Heller.

What changed for Heller this time was a jail in-reach program from Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston.

"I would not survive on the streets and being mentally ill," said Dr. David Buck, director of in-reach program.

Buck says the program targets critical flaws in the way homeless, mentally ill jail inmates are released. Instead of being released from jail at midnight to wander the streets alone, those in the program are met outside the jail by an advocate at 8 a.m. The advocate immediately helps the person get prescriptions filled, signs them up for mental health services and tries to find them a home. Without this type of a program …

"They end up going through garbage cans. They end up doing minor petty crimes, breaking and entering just to survive," said Chief Deputy Mike Smith of the Harris County Sheriff's Office. "The next thing you know, they're in jail."

"We're really not helping them in the long run and you could make the argument that, in a sense, we're torturing them," said Buck.

This program has only been running for a year, but led to a 35 percent decrease in the re-arrest rate of the mentally ill, homeless inmates who participated. Buck says expanding the program could save taxpayers $7 million a year in jail fees. But despite this success, Buck's program is struggling to find the funds to keep going.

Harris County is also running a similar program with mentally ill probationers, called New Starts.

More Information:

Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County
Anyone in a psychiatric emergency or in need of information can call 713-970-7000 or 866-970-4770.
If the person voluntarily seeks treatment, he or she may call or go to the Neuro-Psychiatric Center (MHMRA), located at 1502 Taub Loop, 713-970-7070, or Ben Taub General Hospital (HCHD), located at 1504 Taub Loop, 713-793-2000. Both of these facilities are in the Texas Medical Center.
The University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center
If you or someone you love needs help with mental illness or general counseling, please call our facility for a confidential assessment. We want to help you or assist you in locating the right source. We can be reached at 713-500-8800.