As the Caldwell/Hays Examiner releases our February print edition, which will contain a remarkable essay by Elle Cross, who has spent the last three years researching the intersection of mental illness & the legal system, we are partnering with Latino Justice to hold a community dialogue to discuss the criminalization of mental illness in Hays County. This conversation also comes as Hays County Commissioners begin moving forward with a Jail Based Competency Restoration Program, which advocates across the state have been fighting back against for years.
How does local law enforcement respond to mental health-related calls in our community? How does our county jail treat these individuals? What resources do & don’t exist to support our neighbors before they come into contact with the legal system? What is our county doing to address the gaps in these systems? What can we, as community members, do to make an impact? These are just a handful of the questions we will explore in conversation with community members who have helped individuals with mental health issues navigate the legal system as well as individuals acutely familiar with the neglect & harmful conditions in the Hays County Jail .Please join us on Saturday, February 1st for this impactful conversation in community.
Event Information: https://www.facebook.com/events/586946324260427
San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 