Hays County judge outlines mental health court’s results, says program saves county money

Judge Elaine Brown, who oversees Hays County Court at Law No. 3(mental health court), told the Buda City Council that the court aims to divert people with mental-health diagnoses out of jail and into community-based treatment.

"Right now, we have 100 percent success rate," Judge Brown said, noting the court has had 11 graduates and five more expected to graduate next week. She framed the court as a team-based program that provides frequent court contact, psychiatry, case management and counseling to help participants stabilize and avoid reoffending.

Brown laid out local cost comparisons to illustrate potential savings: she said incarceration in Hays County averages about $130 per day with an average stay of roughly 54 days, while inpatient hospital care costs far more. "For a whole year, it's $46,998 that we're spending to house that person in our county jail," she said, and the court has spent approximately $84,000 serving 35 participants, which she said translates to substantial savings compared with incarceration.

Court administrator Cammie Mattila described how participants are evaluated and tracked. "So for program evaluation, we look at a variety of things," Mattila said, citing clinical scales, self-reported resiliency and attainment of goals such as employment, housing and education. She explained the program’s three phases and the referral and staffing process that includes the judge, caseworker, treatment providers, probation and attorneys.

Both presenters told council they are seeking more resources to address two recurring barriers for participants: transportation and transitional housing. Councilmembers asked how the city could help, and Brown and Mattila said reliable transportation to court and appointments and more housing options remain key limits on participants’ ability to engage in treatment.