Harris County Sequential Intercept Model

Intercept 2

Initial Detention/Court Hearings

Representation by Public Defender’s Office

To provide accurate assessments and representation, The Mental Health Division of the District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office can access the health information of an individual who has been booked into the jail. To become eligible for representation by a public defender at a hearing before the magistrate, the individuals charged must:

  • Be charged with a misdemeanor offense
  • Have a serious mental condition
  • Be indigent