City offers new alternative to jail if arrested for public into - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

City offers new alternative to jail if arrested for public intoxication

The City of Houston is taking a much different approach to handling those who have had too much to drink.

A new 4 million dollar sobering center is now open.

The 84-bed facility allows people arrested for public intoxication to sober-up in a safe environment.

Before the center, anyone picked up by a Houston Police Officer was sent to jail.

Ann MacLeod is Program Director of Crisis Intervention Response Team and Ed Gonzales is Houston's Mayor Pro Tempore.  Both came on FOX 26 This morning to explain the city's need for such a center.