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Hardin County courthouse
At the Oct. 11 meeting of the Hardin County Commissioners Court, members voted to approve measures aimed at ensuring mental health options for constituents under county care.
In one move, a psychological counseling program will be available for jurors and grand jurors serving the public in Hardin County courts. District Attorney Rebecca Walton requested the program under a statute prescribed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The program would be administered through the District Attorney’s victim assistance coordinator, and will be paid for by funds made available through the Hardin County Crime Victims Assistance Center.
The program will offer up to 10 hours of post-investigation or post-trial psychological counseling for any person who serves as a grand juror, alternate grand juror, juror or alternate juror investigating or criminal trial involving graphic evidence or testimony. The counseling must be requested no more than 180 days after the date which the jury or grand jury is dismissed.
The crime victim liaison and victims assistance coordinator may provide the counseling using a provider that assists local criminal justice agencies in providing similar services to victims.
The program would be a solution-focused treatment and would consist of four visits, including an initial two-hour evaluation, followed up by three one-hour sessions. The expenses covered for the session would be up to $175 for the initial evaluation, as well as up to $95 for each additional one-hour session. Invoices would be submitted to the DA’s victim assistance coordinator.
County Judge Wayne McDaniel said that, if a person needs more counseling sessions, they would have to pay for them; if they couldn’t afford it, the county would take it up on a case-by-case basis.
Walton noted only one juror has requested counseling, after serving during a capital murder trial.
At the same meeting, Hardin County Commissioners Court approved three interlocal cooperation agreements with Spindletop Center.
Under a contact for Jail-Based Competency Restoration Services with Spindletop, the agency will provide complete mental health screening interviews and reports of any inmate on the Master Forensic State Hospital Waitlist. A qualified mental health professional experienced and trained in crisis intervention and jail services would conduct the screening. The one-year contact ends Sept. 30, 2023.
The county also approved the interlocal cooperation agreement for jail services, which funds mental health screening assessments for jail inmates suspected to have a mental health condition. Fees are for qualified mental health professional assessment ($50 per event), psychiatric ($125 to $250) and counseling services ($55 and $75).
The contract expires Aug. 31, 2023.
Both parties also approved renewing the contract for the Mental Health Liaison Program.
Dannie Oliveaux is the Hardin County Editor of The Examiner. He can be reached at (409) 832-1400, Ext. 227, or dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com.