CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office has reached an agreement with Planned Behavioral Center to make mental health treatment more accessible to inmates.
The agreement aims to provide treatment to inmates with unresolved mental health issues, keeping them out of correctional facilities.
Many inmates are homeless and unable to access mental health treatment and often rely on the county jail as their primary source of care.
Treatment is provided in prison, but the environment is not conducive to effective treatment due to high recidivism and release rates. The short periods of incarceration also do not allow medication and treatment to take full effect.
The Raymondville facility will offer individualized treatment plans, counseling, housing, assistance in obtaining benefits and provide vocational and educational training to eligible residents.
Nursing service providers will work closely with the justice system to facilitate transfers to this facility.
Upon arrival, the PBC will provide clothing if needed, assist residents in finding a primary care physician, and maintain constant contact with attorneys for any legal proceedings.
This agreement aims to help the county in two important ways: providing individuals with the necessary treatment they desperately need and reducing recidivism rates for this population.
This collaborative effort will provide a much-needed alternative to incarceration by addressing the root causes of mental health issues among prisoners.
By providing ongoing support and structured treatment plans, the agreement aims to promote long-term recovery and reintegration into society, ultimately benefiting individuals and the wider community.
This agreement does not entail any cost to the county or taxpayers.
