Texas psychiatric hospital staffing gaps keep over 2,500 defendants waiting in jail
The Texas Tribune reported waits up to 831 days for men in Dallas County, even after about $1 billion in state spending on facilities and 434 added beds since 2012. A Denton County defendant spent over a year in jail unable to face trial.
Two House bills would require usable forensic beds by August 2024 or admission within 45 days, with the state compensating counties if it misses the deadline. A former state health official suggested restoring people outside hospitals and diverting some from jail altogether.
The story ties the competency waitlist directly to hospital workforce shortages.
Source: Workforce shortages in the state’s psychiatric hospitals prolong jail time — The Texas Tribune, by Stephen Simpson
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