County commissioners approve new sobering center

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — El Paso County Commissioners Court approved the expansion of Emergence Health Network’s (EHN) services on Tuesday, Oct. 7 to add a sobering center as an option where law enforcement can drop off intoxicated people.

Joel Bishop, executive director of justice and community support services for El Paso County, said that adding this service would close a major gap.

“Law enforcement will often take somebody to the emergency room, which can cost thousands of dollars and often doesn’t get reimbursed, or they may bring them to the jail and where they have to charge them with a crime, where they may not have done that because it’s their only option. And so, this will offer them that option to where they can get them with the help they need, even as far as detox goes,” Bishop said.

County officials approved the use of federal funding to add this sobering center. Bishop said this agreement could provide service to hundreds of people per year, providing safe sobering, treatment resources, and detox referrals if needed.

The goal is not only to provide help to those who need it but to keep law enforcement on the streets.

“It gets officers back on the street more quickly. Oftentimes if you book somebody in the jail, it can take the officer hours of their time. Where maybe if they had a better option, they can get back on the street and focus on more significant issues that they need to deal with,” Bishop added.

The sobering center will operate through December 2026 but officials say the goal is to get more funding in the future to keep it open longer.

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