HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY EXPANDED JAIL DIVERSION FOR LOW-LEVEL MISDEMEANOR OFFENDERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2019HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY Prosecutor's Discretion Manual Chapter 10 of the Operations Manual Section 10.9 (H) (4) (g) ‘Mental Health Diversion Program ‘The Mental Health Diversion Program allows for low-level misdemeanor offenders with identified mental health needs to be referred to the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center, The goal of this diversion opportunity is to ensure that: @) the limited resources of this Office, local law enforcement, and the Harris County Jail are used responsibly to increase public safety; and (2) individuals who commit low-level non-violent ‘misdemeanors because of identified mental health needs receive treatment and social services in a more effective setting Pursuant to this policy, prosecutors will use their prosecutorial discretion to divert offenders with ‘identified mental health needs accused of low-level misdemeanors pre-charge. Police and prosecutors ‘will consider the totality of the circumstances to determine whether an offender is a threat to public safety or whether diversion to mental health treatment is the proper response to the offending behavior.suoureyop 10 syueirem uado oN « pasruorduroo aq pmnco Ayayes anand oxym asuayo Auy © AWE © yeory, ONSHOLID], O (op10 amo101d JO WOHE|OLA “requis Aqpuret uo Jeary NysOLay, “Jaquiey Arurey-y7nessy *8"1) sosuagjo aous[ory onSoUI0g © ynessy 0 Qonpuog ATpeog ‘ureomy Suisreyosiq ‘MON sosuayo suodeayy © umd ° suorsz9Atp stseq ose0-Kq-osvo & UO UOIsZ0AIp Joy SIopuayo mozaes TTeYS syomoasoad pure }tSUISOIOFUD Ae] {sxomo 40 Flas uLTeY 03 Aj9xAN] OU) 9PI0 uonuajeq AousBrourg 105 B13; you JOU sep pup sistio wyTeay TequeUT ¥ UF oq 0) readde Jou seoq (81) apy year ores oyqnd v osod jou sop 19puayo yonpuoo Surpuayo 03 1019e] BupMqruoo w st yTesY TEU, ssouq[! fequou! Jo £10981 payuaumoop vB oaeq, Jo ssouf! Tequaur B oaey 0} readdy sour quojora-tuou ‘(zouesuspstut) JO} HIGIOTTA LON sesuayo « ‘SmOneomTENSIG Teaa|-mo] JTUTUIOD OM SIOPUETO BHSIHO ANGINA saassi HLTVdH TVLINAW HLIM SASNZIIO AONVAWACSIN TIGAGT-MOT YOU NOISUAAIC Tivle CGAGNVdxa