Hutchinson County OKs MOU to divert low-level offenders to Texas Panhandle Center reset program

Hutchinson County Commissioners on a unanimous voice vote approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and accompanying business-associate agreement with Texas Panhandle Center (TPC) to let law enforcement divert certain low-level offenders with behavioral-health needs to TPC’s voluntary reset center in Amarillo.

The MOU, approved after a presentation from county stakeholders and TPC staff, designates Judge Irwin as the county’s official designee to receive signed releases for protected health information and authorizes coordination between law enforcement and TPC under the terms of the agreement.

Craig Jones, who presented the county’s rationale to commissioners, said the county has long struggled with people entering the jail for low-level offenses whose primary need is behavioral-health care. “Do we get some personnel in…