Harris County, Texas Non-Punitive Alternatives to Criminal Justice Responses

In 2021, PFM was engaged by Harris County’s Office of Justice Services to provide in-depth analysis of its criminal justice system’s response to individuals with mental illness, with substance use disorder, who are homeless, and who contend with poverty, and make recommendations for effective non-justice system alternatives that are known to reduce involvement with the system for these populations.

PFM identified the statutes, policies, and practices that criminalize these populations and those that seek to provide an alternative path (e.g., diversion). After identifying the relevant statutes, policies, and practices, PFM calculated the total cost of these responses, from the point of arrest through sentencing and local incarceration.

At the same time, PFM identified best and promising practices related to non-criminal justice responses to the challenges that these individuals face. These practices were identified through a detailed literature review, roundtable conversations with more than 35 local stakeholders, and interviews with more than 15 national experts from government agencies, academia, philanthropy, service providers, and technical assistance providers.

PFM provided to Harris County a series of community-based services, programs, and strategies for investment in non-punitive approaches outside the criminal justice system that are known or anticipated to reduce criminal justice involvement for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder and individuals who are homeless and/or in poverty. The recommendations made by PFM focused on programs and guidelines related to the allocation of funding to alternative approaches, including grants to community-based organizations and municipalities.