Texas’ two highest courts begin addressing mental health challenges

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Two of the highest courts in Texas say mental health challenges are taking a toll on the judicial system.
Numbers from the Meadows Mental Health Public Policy Institute show the state spends around $1.4 billion in emergency room costs and $650 million in local judicial expenses to deal with mental illnesses.
Reasons like that motivated the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to collaborate and form the Judicial Commission Mental Health. Both courts h