Getting Rid of an Eyesore–1301

Court buildings are not usually my cup of tea, but Harris County boasts some nice towers for our courts that actually do grace the skyline.  Coming down Commerce Street, though, in front of those nice towers is an eyesore–the old 1301 Jail building.  The Harris County Commissioner’s Court seems to have made a good decision to demolish it.

Sheriff Garcia and other County officials had eyed 1301 for fixing and renovation, but a recommendation from consultants would have made its conversion to a mental health and offender reintegration center an expensive one at $36 million.

The discussion of the proposed center occurred as Commissioners Court accepted a consultant’s recommendation to demolish the old county jail at 1301 Franklin.

“There was a commitment by the Commissioners Court not only to explore, but to — in effect — establish such a center. It was absolutely all positive,” said Houston defense lawyer George Parnham. “It’s exciting, and it’s the right thing to do.”

Parnham, who chairs a mental health task force established by Sheriff Adrian Garcia, told the court that approximately 25 percent of the county jail population have mental health issues. In 2008, 92 percent of the inmates with mental problems had been in the jail before, the attorney said.

Parnham said the task force would come up with a proposal for the court to review in a few weeks, outlining services for the estimated 75 to 87 inmates with mental problems who are released from the jail each day. He said the proposed center would provide three to five days of temporary housing, include a small clinic to provide short-term medical care, and offer housing assistance and employ caseworkers to help former inmates re-apply for public benefits.

All I can say is:  It’s about time!  Reintegration of offenders, as well as mental health services for those who get arrested for crimes, are integral programs to ensuring a safer community.  Whether leaving from within the walls of TDCJ or the walls of our county facilities, Texas and Harris County could do a better job of combating recidivism, and I believe that this is a positive step toward that goal.  And to think that some on the court might actually be thinking outside of the box, while eerie, is definitely welcome–but still, we should remain watchful to ensure follow-thru.

From a aesthetic standpoint, that building is just plain ugly and could hardly provide a positive service-providing experience that doesn’t seem institutional.