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Commissioners approve jail‑based competency restoration program to reduce state hospital waits
Summary
The court authorized an interlocal agreement with Hill Country MHDD and partners to provide competency restoration services inside the Hays County Jail, a state‑grant‑funded program county officials say will shorten wait times and reduce local jail days for people awaiting competency treatment.
Hays County Commissioners voted to authorize an interlocal agreement to create a jail‑based competency restoration (JBCR) program that will allow the local mental‑health authority to provide competency services inside the county jail.
Landon Campbell, division chief in the District Attorney's office, told the court the county faces a backlog for state forensic beds and that local services can "short circuit" a roughly 300‑day wait for state hospital placement. Campbell and Captain Julissa Villapano said the program was a multi‑agency effort involving the DA's office, the sheriff, Hill Country (the local mental health authority) and the county's jail medical contractor.
Michelle Zammier, director of forensic services for Hill Country, said Comal County's JBCR program has a roughly 75% success rate restoring competency within 60 days and that Hays County currently has about 24 people on the forensic wait list. County civil counsel and staff told commissioners the program itself is state grant‑funded and that the county's expected near‑term costs would be limited to medications and additional jail staffing for safety during groups and appointments.
Commissioners spoke broadly in favor, noting potential taxpayer savings from shorter confinements and the program's role within broader criminal‑justice and behavioral‑health efforts. The court called the roll and approved the interlocal agreement.
