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Commissioners discuss diversion, 'go bonds' and central intake options to keep low‑level cases out of jail
Summary
The court discussed diversion models (including Houston's 'go bonds'), central intake/diversion center planning, and the prospect of police officers routing eligible people to services rather than booking them into jail.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether Travis County can expand diversion and pre‑charge alternatives so low‑level offenders avoid formal booking and criminal records. Commissioner‑level questions referenced Houston's use of general order 'go bonds' as a model and asked whether similar pathways could be implemented locally.
Jeff Burkhart and other staff described existing conversations with local partners about diversion and central intake design. They noted potential health‑care and behavioral health pathways and suggested integrating magistrate presence into future diversion intake facilities to allow officers an on‑site triage choice: diversion services or booking into central intake.
Staff noted both opportunities and tradeoffs with such a design and suggested continued interdepartmental planning; no formal policy change or vote was proposed during the work session.
