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Tag Archives: Travis County jail

Travis County tests out program to provide lawyers for low-income defendants at its downtown jail

After years of back and forth, Travis County is taking a small step to provide lawyers for low-income people accused of crimes. A program known as “counsel at first appearance” started in a limited capacity Tuesday, with the county providing…

Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 24, 2024

Travis County Diversion Center moves forward

The Travis County jail system is the single largest mental health care provider in the county area, and arrests across all categories have been rising since 2021. Since 2023, the Travis County Commissioners Court – in an effort spearheaded by…

Public Safety • By Nick Erichson • Apr 17, 2024

Incarcerated Travis County residents at drastically higher risk of accidental overdose death

People who have been incarcerated in Travis County die of accidental overdoses at drastically higher rates than the overall population, according to new data. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court held a news conference in conjunction with the Travis…

Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 28, 2023

City and county join forces for mental health diversion center plan

The words of Travis County Judge Andy Brown reflect the disturbing reality that, right now, the county jail is the largest mental health facility in the county for people who have needs that would be better addressed with other resources,…

Public Safety • By Ava Garderet • Apr 27, 2023

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Travis County's program to provide lawyers at its downtown jail is (still) on hold

The first court hearing is often the most crucial for people accused of a crime in Travis County. When defendants are booked downtown, they’re charged and given options on how to get out of jail. In some cases, the first…

Public Safety • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 24, 2022

Growing jail populace in Travis County, review finds

The Travis County jail population is increasing, according to a recent report from Justice Planning. The uptick is largely due to increases in the number of first- and second-degree felony charges and the average length of stay for those bookings. The jail…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • May 9, 2022

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Travis County launched a program to provide lawyers at the county jail. It lasted nine days.

A pilot program to provide legal representation to people in custody at the Travis County Jail had to be put on hold after just nine days because of staffing shortages. The grant-funded program was part of a Texas A&M study to…

Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 27, 2022

County seeks to expand mental health care for those facing incarceration

Nearly 20 percent of inmates booked into Travis County jails in September 2021 needed mental health treatment, but a month after their incarceration, only a third of them were receiving the needed treatment. That was the conclusion reached by Dr. Steve Strakowski,…

Public Health • By Seth Smalley • Jan 11, 2022

County looks to Sobering Center to house jail-diversion program

On Thursday, the Travis County Commissioners Court convened a working group meeting to receive the findings of a feasibility study regarding the potential combination of a criminal justice/mental health diversion program with the Austin-Travis County Sobering Center. The county commissioned…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Dec 17, 2021

County staffers update commissioners on the jail plan resolution

Last Tuesday’s Commissioners Court session focused on the future of the women’s jail. The Planning and Budget Office reported on the June 15 resolution, which asked county staff for strategies to reduce the number of incarcerated women and enhance jail…

Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Oct 25, 2021

County votes to decommission 48 jail beds

Travis County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on Oct. 12 to decommission and remove 48 beds from Building 250 in the Travis County Correctional Complex in Del Valle. The building will continue to exist and be operated by the Travis County Sheriff’s…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Oct 19, 2021

Discussion continues on RFID tracking systems in county jails

During Tuesday’s meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, commissioners deliberated on a potential $4.3 million investment in a radio-frequency identification wristband tracking system for the county jails. While County Judge Andy Brown raised questions about whether the hefty price tag…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Sep 1, 2021

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