HOUSTON – With the recent arrest of a man accused of vandalizing a local Baptist church for the 6th time, many may wonder what resources a court can provide for repeat offenders.
The suspect, Timothy James Anderson, 42, was booked into the Harris County jail for criminal mischief and injury to an elder after he broke several windows at The Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
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The pastor of the church, Dr. David Punch said Anderson attacked the church’s 70-year-old caregiver after he tried to stop him from breaking the stained windows glass.
Pastor Punch also said the man has stolen from the church’s food bank in the past.
According to court records, Anderson has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2005.
Some of the charges include trespassing, burglary of a building, and possession of marijuana.
So, what can be done to curb the revolving door for some repeat offenders?
According to the Harris County Community Supervision & Corrections Department, there are Specialty Courts that provide treatment for those dealing with substance abuse or mental health issues.
These programs aim to change the suspect’s behavior while addressing the root causes of such.
It is designed as a sentencing alternative to incarceration.
But who qualifies for such programs?
To qualify as a potential prospect for the Mental Health Court programs, a client needs to meet such criteria:
- Serious mental health issue (Psychotic, Bipolar, Major Depressive Disorders)
- Significant barriers that kept them from getting help with issues including recent suicide attempts, hospitalizations, or non-compliance with treatment/medication.
- Minimum of 2 years on supervision
For Drug Court:
- Moderate to high risk
- Significant substance abuse/dependency history
- Significant barriers to being successful at less intensive interventions.
A&A Drug and Alcohol Education Administrator, Millie Samarripa, founded A&A along with her husband Andrew Samarripa.
He died in 2017.
In honor of him, Samarripa continues to oversee programs offered by A&A and now has over 27 years of experience. Samarripa believes diversion programs allow the client to discover the source of their issues while creating a safe space to heal.
“These programs allow you to make better decisions, to love yourself, and to reach out to others,” she said.
However, Samarripa does say diversion programs only work if the client puts effort into changing.
“We try to plant a seed but if that person doesn’t want to change, there’s nothing we can do,” she said.
Samarripa was critical of the courts, saying she believes they are more interested in money than the well-being of clients.
“The courts try to do their job, but they don’t take it as serious,” she said. “It’s all about money. All they want is the money.”
KPRC reached out to the court presiding over this case but has not heard back.
For more information on Specialty Courts or A&A, you can visit https://cscd.harriscountytx.gov/Programs/Specialty-Courts or https://www.aadrug.com/.