The Texas Council on Offenders with Mental Impairments, created in 1987, has evolved into a centralized agency that responds to an increasing variety of special needs offenders. The council is comprised of nine appointed members with expertise in managing special needs offenders, as well as representatives from various State agencies. The council identifies offenders with mental health and developmental disabilities and determines what services these offenders need. Further, the council develops community-based alternatives to incarceration and service provision and develops plans to meet the treatment, rehabilitative, and educational needs of offenders with mental health disabilities. The results of projects established by the council indicate that a centralized approach to managing special needs offenders allows the correctional system to make existing programs more accessible and relevant to special needs offenders. 4 footnotes