HoustonRecoveryCenterLGCFromConcepttoimplementationPresenters:•  LeonardKincaid•  SheriffEdGonzalez•  MajorMikeLee

October20191

SoberingCenter’sRibbonCuttingCeremonywithMayorAnniseParker

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OverviewoftheProblemJurisdictionsofallsizesshareacommonsetofproblemsassociatedwithindividualswhoareintoxicatedinpublicplaces.Inparticular,publiclyintoxicatedpersonscreateproblemsbecausetheycan:Disruptbusinesses;Interferewithshoppers;Deterusersofpublicparksandotherpublicspaces;andPresentarealorperceivedpublicsafetythreattoresidents.Publiclyintoxicatedpersons,andespeciallychronicpublicinebriates,oftensufferfromillnessesorinjuriesthatneedmedicalassistance.Duetotheirincapacitatedstate,highlyintoxicatedpersonsarealsovulnerabletobecomingvictimsofcrimesthemselves

ReasonsforEstablishingaSoberingCenterThechartbelowlistsfivedifferentpublicpolicygoalscommonlycitedasreasonsforestablishingasoberingcenter.Althoughthegoalsarenotmutuallyexclusive,thepotentialforgoalconflictexists.Forexample,astrategyofarrestingmorepubliclyintoxicatedpersonsforcommittingminorcrimesmightsuccessfullyclearthepublicspacesofintoxicatedpersons,butincreasetheworkloadinthecriminaljusticesystem.

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1.Toclearpublicspacesofintoxicatedpersons.

Theprimaryresultsoughtistheremovalofpersonsinvariousstagesofintoxicationfrompublicplaces,e.g.,sidewalks,busstops,parks.Clearingthestreetsofintoxicatedpersonsisalsocitedasacrimepreventionstrategy,baseduponthelogicthatpromptinterventionmaypreventcriminalconductbyoragainstpublicinebriates.

2.Tomaintainthesafetyofpubliclyintoxicatedpersons.

Ifpubliclyintoxicatedpeopleareleftontheirown,theyareindangerofbeinghurt.Forexample,duetotheirincapacitatedstate,anintoxicatedpersoncanfalldown,walkintotraffic,orberobbedorassaulted.Anemphasisonthisgoalplacespriorityonprovidingemergencycaretopublicinebriatesmostacutelyneedingservicessuchasfood,shelter,andmedicalcare.

3.Toreferpubliclyintoxicatedpersonsintotreatment.

Theconductofmostpubliclyintoxicatedpeopleisamanifestationofanunderlyingillnessorsetofillnesses.Pickinguppublicinebriatesisthefirstphaseinacontinuumofcarethatresultsinlonger-termsubstanceabusetreatmentandrehabilitationoftheseindividuals.

4.   Todivertpubliclyintoxicatedpersonswhocommitminoroffenses(e.g.,drinkingalcoholonpublicproperty,possessionofopencontainerofalcohol)outofthecriminaljusticesystem.

Theremovalof“inappropriate”subjectmatterfromthecriminaljusticesystemfreesupthelimitedtimeofpoliceofficers,prosecutors,publicdefenders,courts,andotherresourcesforwhatareconsideredhigherprioritylawenforcementtasks.

5.Toreducetheexpenditureoflimitedemergencymedicalresourcesonpubliclyintoxicatedpersonswhoarenotinneedofemergencymedicalassistance.

Reducingresourceutilizationofemergencymedicalservicestotransportandplaceinhospitalemergencyroomspubliclyintoxicatedpersonswhoarenotinneedoftheseservicesmustoccur.

ThischartreflectsthetotalnumberofPublicIntoxicationarrestsbytheHoustonPoliceDepartmentfor2009-2010.

ProposedSoberingCenterConceptA10-yearleasewiththeStarofHope(SOH)withtwo5-yearoptionstoextend:

Ø Estimatedcostsforlease,utilitiesandstaffof$1.5m/annuallytobeintheFY13budgetØ SOHwillbuildoutexistingfacilityutilizing$3mofavailablePublicSafetyBondfundsbasedonCityapprovalofdesignØ CitywillmonitorconstructionprocessandexpendituresØ HPD’sMentalHealthUnitwillco-locateonsecondflooroffacilityØ LeasewillbeassignedtoaPublic/PrivatePartnership

CenterwillbeoperatedasasecularPublic/PrivatePartnershipunderaservicecontract:

Ø ServicecontractwillbesignedbythePublic/PrivatePartnershipandtheCityofHoustonØ HPD,HealthandHumanServicesandHFDwillprovidecityservicesatthesite

Public/PrivatePartnership

CityCouncilauthorizesthecreationofaPublic/PrivatePartnershipintheformofa“LocalGovernmentCorporation”(LGC)fortheSoberingCenter

Ø ThemissionoftheLGCasaPublic/PrivatePartnershipwillfocusonshorttermtreatmentandinterventionopportunitiesprofessionallydelivered

TheLGCBoardwillbecomprisedof5members,including4directorsandaChair

Ø 2CityofHoustonappointeesØ 2SOHappointeesØ Chair–tobeselectedby4BoardMembers

All5appointeeswillbenominatedbytheMayorandconfirmedbyCityCouncilA501(c)(3)foundationwillalsobecreatedtoaidinfuturefundraisingforoperationsandpossiblefutureexpansion

DesiredCharacteristicsofaSoberingCenter

Front-linelawenforcementofficersinHoustonwereaskedthefollowingopen-endedquestion:“Whatcharacteristicswouldasoberingcenterneedtohaveinordertomakeyoumoreeffectiveatyourjob?”Themajorityoftheofficersinterviewedagreedthatasoberingfacilitywasasensiblewayofhandlingpublicinebriates.Someoftheofficersexpressedconcernaboutthe“voluntary”aspectofthesoberingcenterandfeltthatthepersonshouldbetransportedtherewithorwithouttheirconsentiftheymeetcriteriaforadmission.Intermsoflogisticsforasoberingcenter,officersconsistentlyidentifiedthreeitems,convenience,certainty,andefficiency:ConvenientLocation-thesoberingcenterneedstobelocatedsuchthananofficercantransportapersonthereandbebackinservicewithinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.CertaintyofAdmittance-officersneedtobeabletocountontheintoxicatedpersonbeingacceptedatthesoberingcenter.MinimalPaperwork-officersneedtobeabletocomplywithanypaperworkrequirementsquicklyandeasily.

SoberingCenterAProactiveSolutionforActiveSubstanceMisuse

June2019

Chapter1

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Sobering Center

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PublicIntoxication:ASeriousIssueforManyCommunities

In2012,theCityofHoustoncreatedtheHoustonRecoveryCenter(HRC)LocalGovernmentCorporation(LGC)to:

§  Divertindividualsfromjail

§  Reducethejailpopulation

§  PreservelawenforcementResources

§  PreserveMedicalResources

§  Provideachanceformanytoescapetherevolvingdoorofsubstanceabuseandincarceration

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Gated Entry into the Sobering Center

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La Sobering Center Sally Port

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S Sobering Center Entry

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Sobering Center Men’s Dorm

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Sobering Center Women’s Dorm

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PublicIntoxication:WhatWe’veAccomplishedHoustonRecoveryCenter

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PublicIntoxicationAdmissionstoJail2010-2019

PublicIntoxication:ASeriousIssueforHouston

Month

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total Total

20,508 16,365 15,357 6,345 2,093 1,544 1,187 835 785 260

Jan 1578 1418 1253 953 166 142 91 74 44 55Feb 1737 1321 1318 1104 192 147 133 87 72 64

Mar 1966 1489 1432 1174 223 94 134 97 57 49

Apr 1946 1514 1321 1060 203 97 109 73 59 38

May 1962 1522 1324 674 206 148 125 90 85 54

Jun 1785 1321 1262 254 138 130 81 89 43 34Jul 1614 1324 1310 186 157 134 94 68 61 46Aug 1688 1206 1223 191 169 129 87 45 49 55Sep 1690 1404 1287 212 156 144 94 27 82

Oct 1786 1417 1302 212 172 128 93 86 76

Nov 1392 1209 1163 159 159 121 69 44 74

Dec 1364 1220 1162 166 152 130 77 55 83

Totals 20,508 16,365 15,357 6,345 2,093 1,544 1,187 835 785 260

PIJailAdmissionsDeclined94.88%From

2012to2018

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0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

PublicIntoxicationJailAdmissions

PublicIntoxication:ASeriousIssueforHouston

HoustonRecoveryCenter:ClientsServed

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HoustonRecoveryCenterasofMay2019

SnapshotTotalencounters:37,945Totaluniqueclients:23,964

PublicIntoxication:WhoareourLawEnforcementpartners?HoustonRecoveryCenter

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HoustonRecoveryCenter:ClientSources

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HoustonRecoveryCenterdataApril2013–May2019

Intake staffed Paramedics, EMT’s and LVN’s

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Sobering area staffed by Peer Recovery Support

Specialist’s

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QuestionsabouttheSoberingCenterinHouston1.Whatpaperworkwillanofficerhavetocomplete?Itisimperativethepaperworkbekepttoaminimumandtheturnaroundtimeisextremelyfast.InSanAntonio,officersonlyhavetowritetheirnameandunitnumberononeformandtheyarefreetogo.TheaveragetimespentbyanofficeratthefacilityinSanAntoniois3-5minutes.WewillusethesameformatinHouston.2.Willtheintoxicatedpersonbeforcedtogotothesoberingcenter?No.Theintoxicatedindividualwillbegivenachoicetoeithergotothesoberingcenterorgotojail.Experienceinotherlocationsindicatesthatthevastmajorityofinebriateschoosethesoberingcenteroverjail.3.Cantheintoxicatedpersonleavethefacilityatanytime?Intheory,yes.However,iftheintoxicatedindividualchangeshis/hermindandindicatesthattheywanttoleavethefacilitywhiletheyarestillintoxicated,thestaffwillnotifytheon-dutypoliceofficeratthefacilitywhowillcallforaunittocomepicktheintoxicatedindividualupandplacetheminjail.InterviewswereheldwiththestaffandofficersattheSanAntoniofacilityandthisisaveryrareoccurrence.4.HowdoofficersfeelaboutthesoberingcenterinSanAntonio?TheofficersinterviewedinSanAntoniospokeveryhighlyofthesoberingcenterandcommentedonhowquicktheturnaroundisandhowlittlepaperworkisinvolved.Theyalsostatedthattheybelievethistypeofapproachisabetterutilizationofcityresources.5.Istherealimitonthenumberoftimesachronicinebriatecanbebroughttothesoberingfacility?Mostfacilitiesdonotlimitthenumberoftimesachronicinebriatecanbebroughttothesoberingfacility.SanJose,Californiahadapolicythatlimitedthenumberofvisitstotheirsoberingfacilitytosix.Afterthesixthvisit,officerswererequiredtotransporttheintoxicanttojail.ItisrecommendedthatHoustonnotplacealimitonthenumberoftimesanintoxicantcanbebroughttothesoberingfacilityandinstead,developinitiativestoaddressindividualcasesastheyarise.

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6.Whathappensiftheintoxicatedindividualbecomesoverlycombativeandassaultivetowardsfacilitystaff?Theofficerassignedtothefacilitywillattempttode-escalatethesituation.Whenthisisunsuccessful,theintoxicantwillberemovedandtransportedtothejail.7.DoescurrentTexaslawallowforpeaceofficerstotakeanintoxicatedindividualtoasoberingfacilityinsteadofjail?Yes.TexasCodeofCriminalProcedureArticle14.031allowsofficerstheoptionofreleasingapublicinebriatetoanadultwhoagreestoassumeresponsibilityfortheindividualortoalicensedtreatmentfacilityiftheindividualverballyconsentstovoluntarytreatment.8.WillthecityofHoustonortheHoustonPoliceDepartmentbeliablefortheactionsofanintoxicatedindividualiftheywalkawayfromthefacility?No.TexasCodeofCriminalProcedureArticle14.031statesthat“apeaceofficerandtheagencyorpoliticalsubdivisionthatemploysthepeaceofficermaynotbeheldliablefordamagetopersonsorpropertythatresultsfromtheactionsofanindividualreleasedunderSubsection(a)or(b)ofthisarticle.Subsection(a)referstotheadultwhoacceptedcustodyand(b)referstothelicensedfacility.InadditiontothislegalcoverageaffordedbyCCP14.031,theHoustonsoberingfacilitypolicywillrequirethatlawenforcementtakecustodyofanyintoxicatedindividualwhoistryingtoleavethefacilityandisbelievedtobeadangertoselforothersbecauseoftheirintoxication.

9.Whathappensiftheintoxicatedindividualbeingtakentothesoberingfacilityisdeterminedtohaveoutstandingmunicipalwarrants?ProcedureswillbesetupwiththeHoustonMunicipalCourtstohavethecourtdatesresetontheoutstandingwarrants.Officerswillbeallowedtonotethearrestsandchargesontheirdailyactivityworkcard.ThisonlyappliestooutstandingClassCmisdemeanorwarrants(AppendixO).10.Whatifthepersonhasnoidentification?Individualswhocannotbeidentifiedwillbeplacedinthecityjail.OfficerswillusetheportableAFISmachinesasneededtoidentifypersonswithoutidentification.11.Howarepersonsadmittedtothesoberingfacility?Admissionstosoberingfacilitycanonlybeinitiatedbylawenforcement.12.Whathappensifthefacilityisfull?Theofficeralwayshastheoptionoftryingtofindanadultwhowilltakeresponsibilityfortheinebriateormaybeabletolocatealocalshelterthatmayaccepttheperson.Ifnooptioncanbefound,theofficerwillplacetheintoxicatedindividualinthecityjail.

WhatWe’veLearned

§ SoberingCentersareaneffectiveinterventioninactiveaddiction

§ Costlypopulationsrecoverwithaccesstoservicesandpropersupport

§ Clientcarecoordinationisimportantforhighutilizerswhooftendostabilizegiventime

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