Special Victims & Mental Health Bureau
The Special Victims and Mental Health Bureau includes the Mental Health Division, Crimes Against Children Division, Adult Sex Crimes and Trafficking Division, Victim Services Division and Domestic Violence Division. Also included are Child Fatality, Child Exploitation, Elder Abuse, Animal Cruelty, Protective Orders, Domestic Violence Social Services, Translation Services.
The staff consists of prosecutors, investigators, victim assistance coordinators, translators, social workers, paralegals, interns, and administrative assistant personnel who serve under the supervision of the Executive Bureau Chief of the Bureau.
Mental Health Diversion Program
In 2018, District Attorney Kim Ogg and other leaders worked together to fund the Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center to address the needs of mentally ill individuals arrested for non-violent misdemeanor crimes.
The Mental Health Diversion Program has successfully reduced the number of mentally ill people languishing in our county jail for low-level offenses by several thousand, saving taxpayers millions of dollars in the process. More importantly, 86 law enforcement agencies now take those offenders to the Mental Health Diversion Center instead of jail. While at the center, they are assessed and connected with treatment providers. Stabilization of these mentally ill individuals has proved far more successful then jailing them, as evidenced by the significant reduction in recidivism.
Resources
- Judge Ed Emmett Mental Health Diversion Center -
24/7 CRISIS/ACCESS LINE: 713-970-7000 - Call 211 Texas - For help with local mental health care services 24/7
- Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call 988
- 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727)
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