Public Intoxication: Sobering Centers as an Alternative to Incarceration, Houston, 2010–2017.

In 2010, the Houston police department admitted 20 508 publicly intoxicated individuals into its jail. To address jail overcrowding, the city created a jail diversion policy that allowed law enforcement to admit publicly intoxicated individuals into a new sobering center. By 2017, public intoxicatio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	American Journal of Public Health Vol. 109; no. 4; pp. 597 - 600
Main Authors:	Jarvis, Suzanne V., Kincaid, Leonard, Weltge, Arlo F., Lee, Mike, Basinger, Scott F.
Format:	Article
Published:	American Public Health Association Apr2019
Subjects:	Texas Substance abuse laws Substance abuse Correctional institutions Crowds Police Government policy Hospital emergency services
Online Access:	View this record in EBSCOhost

Description
Summary:	In 2010, the Houston police department admitted 20 508 publicly intoxicated individuals into its jail. To address jail overcrowding, the city created a jail diversion policy that allowed law enforcement to admit publicly intoxicated individuals into a new sobering center. By 2017, public intoxication jail admissions had decreased by 95%, freeing valuable resources. A promising public health intervention, sobering centers offer an alternative to incarceration and relieve overuse of emergency services while assisting individuals with substance use issues.