AUSTIN (KXAN) – On Dec. 2, the Hays County Mental Health Court (MHC) received a $10,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to support expungement services.
Grant Details
The Texas Bar Foundation’s contribution will allow MHC attorneys to help eligible program graduates remove their criminal records, according to MHC Administrator Kamimi Mattila. In Texas, expunction is a legal process that can erase an adult criminal history record, the Texas Law Help website explains.
Expungement Support
“This grant allows our graduates to move forward with their lives after completing the program, without their criminal background creating barriers to housing and employment,” said Mattila. The funds will also cover specialized expungement training, ensuring attorneys are well-prepared and fairly compensated.
“It is a significant step forward,” Matillia said in the release, “as the court previously lacked the resources to train and compensate attorneys for expungement services, even though many graduates qualify.”
MHC Program Overview
The Hays County MHC focuses on early identification of individuals with mental health, substance use, and/or intellectual or development challenges. The program also aims to reduce criminal justice involvement and support long-term recovery for participants.
When a criminal record is expunged or sealed, it’s removed from public view,” Mattila said. “This reduces the long-term consequences of past charges, opening doors to better job opportunities, stable housing, educational access and professional licensure.”
Comprehensive Services
The program offers extensive services tailored to a participant’s needs, including:
- Sober living arrangements
- Transitional and group housing
- Transportation assistance
- Benefits navigation
- Peer support
- Substance use treatment
- Family support
- Specialized therapies
These services are designed to address the complex challenges that can impede a participant’s progress toward recovery and reintegration.
Program Duration
The duration of the program is typically one year for individuals with misdemeanor charges and 18 months for those with felony charges. A possible three-month extension may be granted at a judge’s discretion.
Participants also engage in personalized treatment plans, attend regular court hearings, and work closely with providers to meet their recovery goals.
Current Impact
Currently, the program services 35 participants, the release revealed, and touts a 93% success rate. MHC has graduated 36 individuals, including 10 who were honored during a commencement ceremony on Dec. 8.
The expansion of expungement services is expected to increase the number of graduates who can move forward without the stigma of a criminal record, thereby enhancing their prospects for housing, employment, and education.
Key Takeaways
- The Texas Bar Foundation awarded $10,000 to the Hays County MHC for expungement services.
- Grants will fund attorney assistance and specialized training for expungement.
- The MHC program serves 35 participants with a 93% success rate and has graduated 36 individuals.
The grant marks a significant milestone for the court, enabling it to provide vital legal support to its graduates and strengthen the overall effectiveness of its mental health-focused criminal justice approach.
