Criminal Justice and Public Safety Models

People with disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, brain injuries, dementia, autism, and other communication-related disabilities may face increased risk of misunderstanding, escalation, or unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system.

Across Texas, some communities have developed programs to improve safety, support diversion from incarceration when appropriate, and connect people to treatment or community-based services. These efforts may occur before arrest, during court involvement, or through law enforcement and first responder planning tools.

This page highlights examples of programs and models that may help Texas communities improve public safety outcomes for people with disabilities.  

How These Programs Work

Public safety and diversion programs vary by community, but they generally aim to improve outcomes by helping law enforcement, courts, and service providers respond more effectively to disability-related needs.
Common goals of these programs include:

•    increasing access to treatment and support reducing unnecessary arrest or incarceration,
•    improving communication and de-escalation,
•    increasing access to treatment and support,
•    promoting safer encounters with first responders, and
•    helping people remain connected to their communities when appropriate.

Programs may occur at different points, including:

•    Pre-Arrest Diversion or Crisis Response Models, such as law enforcement diversion efforts or crisis response models,
•    Court-Based Diversion Programs, such as specialty court programs, and
•    Identification and Safety Registry Programs, such as voluntary registries that help first responders identify and assist someone who may have difficulty communicating or returning home safely.

Court-Based Diversion Programs

Court-based diversion programs generally seek to address underlying needs through treatment, supervision, and coordinated services rather than traditional criminal case processing alone.

Texas Specialty Diversion Courts

Texas recognizes multiple types of specialty courts as alternatives to traditional criminal case processing. These courts typically combine judicial oversight, treatment, supervision, and coordinated services to support better outcomes for eligible participants. Texas courts describe specialty courts as alternatives to incarceration that often include treatment, regular court review, and accountability requirements. Mental health and other specialty courts operate in many Texas counties, including many urban and rural jurisdictions across the state.
Examples of specialty court models in Texas may include:

•    Mental Health Treatment Courts
•    Veterans Treatment Courts
•    Drug Courts
•    DWI Courts
•    Family Treatment Courts
•    Juvenile specialty court models

The Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health and the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA) maintain information and resources regarding these programs. Many counties have one or more programs.

Statewide Specialty Court Resources

•    Mental Health Courts | Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health
•    Texas Office of Court Administration – Specialty Courts
•    Office of Court Administration Specialty Court Registry
•    Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health
•    Specialty Court Best Practice Standards
•    Specialty Court Funding and Technical Assistance Resource

Pre-Arrest Diversion and Crisis Response Models

Some Texas communities are working to reduce justice system involvement by improving early response and creating pathways to services before a situation escalates into arrest or jail involvement.

Crisis Intervention Teams

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs are one of the most common public safety response models used to improve officer response to behavioral health crises. These programs generally emphasize de-escalation, recognition of crisis indicators, and connection to appropriate services. Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health materials and local Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) reports identify CIT as a key strategy used in many Texas communities.

Court Liaison Programs and Community Diversion Planning

Some communities also use court liaison pilots, community diversion planning, and SIM mapping to identify where people with disabilities or behavioral health needs are entering the justice system and where diversion options may be strengthened. Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health materials and county mapping reports highlight these models as planning tools to improve coordination across law enforcement, courts, jails, and service systems.

Alternative Response and Co-Response Models

Some Texas jurisdictions have also developed or explored alternative response and behavioral health co-response models that pair law enforcement with clinicians or specially trained responders. The Texas Police Chiefs Association’s behavioral health emergency alternative response snapshot notes that multidisciplinary response teams and clinician partnerships are growing in Texas and that CIT often serves as a foundational training component.

Examples include:
•    Court Liaison Pilot Programs (Denton, Grayson, and others) that connect courts with treatment providers and streamline diversion efforts. 
•    Pre-Arrest Diversion Learning Collaborative – training local teams on designing diversion programs with local police and behavioral health authorities. 

Identification & Safety Registry Programs

Other Texas communities operate voluntary programs that allow families, caregivers, or individuals to share important information with first responders in advance. These programs are often designed for people who may have difficulty communicating, become disoriented, wander, or need additional assistance during a law enforcement or emergency response interaction.

How Registry Programs Typically Work

These programs generally operate as voluntary registries that help first responders recognize and assist people with disabilities.
Across many Texas communities, these programs generally function in similar ways:
•    Families, caregivers, or individuals voluntarily submit information through a secure registration process. 
•    Registrations may include a photo, physical description, emergency contacts, communication preferences, diagnosis-related considerations, or behavioral supports. 
•    Information is typically intended to help first responders identify and assist a person more safely. 
•    Programs may serve people with autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, traumatic brain injury, or other conditions that may affect communication, orientation, or response to stress.

Texas Driving with Disability Program

The Texas Driving with Disability Program is a voluntary statewide program that allows individuals with certain disabilities or medical conditions to request a communication-related designation on their Texas driver license, identification card, or vehicle registration. The program is designed to support communication between drivers and law enforcement officers during traffic stops and other roadway interactions.

Depending on eligibility and the option selected, participants may request a "Communication Impediment" or “Deaf or Hard of hearing” designation on a driver license or identification card or a related designation through vehicle registration. The program is intended to promote safer and more effective communication during encounters with law enforcement and may be particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions that affect communication or social interaction.

Texas Identification and Safety Registry Program Examples

Below are examples of local Texas programs that reflect this model. This list may not be exhaustive. Program names, eligibility requirements, and procedures vary by jurisdiction.

Bring Me Home

Cedar Park 

Provides a voluntary safety registry intended to help first responders identify and assist individuals who may have difficulty communicating or safely returning home. The City of Cedar Park states the program is intended for individuals such as those with autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, and dementia.  

Take Me Home Programs

These programs generally operate under the same basic concept, though local procedures may vary.

Celina

Provides a local registration program intended to help officers better respond to individuals with support needs. 

Kerrville

Provides a program intended to assist officers in safely identifying and supporting individuals who may need additional assistance.

McKinney

Provides a voluntary registry model for residents who may need assistance in emergency or law enforcement encounters. 

McLennan County/Waco

Provides a voluntary registry model to help first responders identify and support people who may need communication or safety assistance.

Montgomery

Provides a local registry model for children and adults who may have difficulty communicating or identifying themselves during an emergency encounter. 

Richardson

Helps officers identify and assist individuals who may have communication challenges or need specialized support during a law enforcement interaction. 

Roanoke

Provides a community safety registry intended to support safe identification and response.

Rosenberg/Fort Bend County

Provides a registry-based support model for individuals with cognitive or communication-related support needs.

Sachse

Provides a registry-based safety support program for local residents.

Law Enforcement Training Programs

Many public safety improvements are supported by training for law enforcement officers, dispatchers, jail staff, and other first responders. For a complete list of required law enforcement training, check with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. 

•    IDD Training for Peace Officers (TCOLE)
•    Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training
•    De-escalation and trauma-informed policing
•    Cross-system training (SIM/JCMH efforts)

Communities may choose different approaches based on local needs, available resources, and existing partnerships. Many jurisdictions use a combination of diversion programs, crisis response models, safety registries, and training initiatives to improve public safety outcomes for people with disabilities.