Lubbock, Texas— The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office told everythinglubbock.com nearly 50% of inmates in the Lubbock County Detention Center have a history of mental illness. That is why LCSO is launching a mental health response team to improve law enforcement’s response to individuals battling mental health issues.
Lubbock county Sheriff Kelly Rowe told everythinglubbock.com approximately 17.8% of adults in Lubbock County have reported experiencing frequent mental distress and according to the national institute of mental health that is slightly higher than the national average of 17.1%.
Rowe said they are trying to lessen the people who are going to jail with the Mental Health Response Team. Rowe said, “this is going to be the key because really right now, mental health is driving our jail populations above all other considerations. we really got to do everything we possibly can try to do on the front end to minimize that on the back end.”…