Mental Health Arrests on the Rise as Amarillo Waits for a New Mental Hospital

By Zackary Mossbrooks, zmossbro@ttu.edu

Mental health-related arrests are becoming more common in Amarillo. 

Officials working in the system say that’s because the community doesn’t have enough places for people in crisis to turn to.

At the Potter County Detention Center, it’s estimated that nearly 40% of inmates are living with a mental illness. While some programs try to keep those individuals out of jail, many still end up behind bars simply because there are no better options at the moment.

One program attempting to prevent that outcome is the Intercept Program, a partnership between Texas Panhandle Centers and local law enforcement. Through the program, trained mental health professionals are dispatched alongside officers during crisis calls. Their goal is to de-escalate the situation and connect individuals with proper care and follow-up services.

Libby Moore, chief clinical officer at Texas Panhandle Centers, said one of the biggest challenges is that there often isn’t a facility available when someone needs help most.

“When someone is in crisis, officers need somewhere to take them,” Moore said. “But if there are no open beds or available services, the only remaining option is jail, and that’s not where they belong.”

Moore said the Intercept Program is designed to keep the justice system from being the default response. But with crisis calls increasing and resources staying the same, that’s easier said than done.

The Texas Panhandle Centers, which assist with crisis response efforts, said the gap between need and access is growing. They explained that even when someone is open to getting help, outpatient clinics are often at capacity and inpatient centers are limited. A coordinator said the team frequently runs into situations where no appointments, transport options, or facilities are available that day.

In those cases, officers may have no choice but to take someone to jail, not because it’s appropriate, but because it’s the only place that can accept them at that time.

A 2022 report by the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health identified Amarillo as lacking a crisis stabilization unit, and it recommended improvements across several areas. The report called for expanded jail-based mental health services, increased dispatcher training, and more coordination between mental health providers and emergency responders throughout the region.

Local leaders are hoping relief is on the way. 

In late 2023, state lawmakers approved $159 million to build a new state-run mental health hospital in Amarillo. The facility, once complete, is expected to add more inpatient beds and expand treatment options across the Panhandle.

Until that happens, programs like the Intercept Program are left trying to stretch their limited resources. Moore said that while the team is committed to doing as much as it can, the lack of treatment infrastructure continues to make long-term progress difficult and frustrating for everyone involved.

As mental health-related arrests continue to rise, the consequences of having more people in crisis than services available are becoming clearer. Without more support on the front end, the jail remains the last stop for many who simply need help and not a cell.