Social and Mental Health - Tarrant County

Tarrant County Community Health Report 2003 

Domain VI. Social & Mental Health 

Social and Mental Health - Definitions and Data Sources 

Suicide Rate 

o Numerator - Number of deaths due to suicide: ICD-10 codes X60 - X84, Y87.0 

o Denominator - Census 2000 and 2001 population estimates 

o Rates - per 100,000 (not age adjusted) 

o Source - TDH Bureau of Vital Statistics 

Mental Health 

o 

o 

o 

Number of clients who received mental health services from Mental Health and Mental 

Retardation (MHMR) of Tarrant County 

Source – MHMR of Tarrant County 

More Information - http://www.mhmrtc.org/ 

Substance Abuse 

‣ Substance abuse–related death rate 

o Numerator - Total alcohol and drug-related deaths 


o Rates - per 100,000 (not age adjusted) 

o Data Source - Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) 

o More Information - http://www.tcada.state.tx.us/ 

‣ Substance use and abuse 

o 

o 

o 

Substance use and abuse in secondary school students 

Data Source – Challenge Inc., TCADA 

More Information - http://www.tcchallenge.org/;http://www.tcada.state.tx.us/ 

‣ Access to substance abuse treatment 

o 

o 

o 

Number of clients who received treatment for substance abuse from TCADA 

Data Source –TCADA 

More Information - http://www.tcada.state.tx.us/ 

Child Abuse Rate 

o Numerator - Number of confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect 

o Denominator - Census 2000 and 2001 population estimates of children 17 years and younger 

o Rate - per 1,000 

o Data Source - Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 

o More Information - http://www.tdprs.state.tx.us/ 

Monitoring & Assessment Project 129



Social and Mental Health - Definitions and Data Sources 

Crime Arrest Rate 

o Numerator - Number of arrests 


o Rates - per 1,000 

o Data Source – Texas Department of Public Safety 

o More Information - http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/crimereports/ 

Divorce Rate 

o Numerator - Number of divorces 


o Rates - per 1,000 

o Data Source - TDH Bureau of Vital Statistics 




Indicator VI-1. 

Suicide 

Suicide is a major indicator of mental 

health in individuals and the 

community. Suicide is the 9 th leading 

cause of death among adults 25 and 

older and the 3 rd leading cause of 

death among age 24 and younger in 

Tarrant County (1) . 

Overall, 278 suicides were reported in 

Tarrant County during the years 2000 

and 2001 (Table 1). The suicide rate 

in Tarrant County in 2001 was 

comparable to that of the previous 

year. 

The overall incidence rate of suicide 

in males is more than four times that 

of females in both years (Table 1). 

The incidence rate of suicide in 

Whites is more than twice that of 

Blacks or Hispanics (Table 2), and 

about 15 percent of suicide deaths 

were among 21 and under (Table 3). 

Firearms were the primary mode for 

committing suicide followed by 

hanging (Table 4). 

Table 1: Tarrant County Suicide by Gender 

2000 2001 

Case Rate Case Rate 

Male 115 17.3 114 16.6 

Female 20 2.8 29 4.0 

*Total 135 9.6 143 10.0 

Rates per 100,000 population 

p>0.05 

Table 2: Tarrant County Suicide by Race/Ethnicity 

2000 2001 


White 109 11.9 116 12.4 

Black 10 5.3 9 4.6 

Hispanic 13 4.6 11 3.6 

Other < 5 @.@ 7 10.1 


@.@ numerator too small for rate calculation 

Table 3: Tarrant County Suicide by Age Group 

2000 2001 

Case Rate Case Rate* 

10-17 8 4.5 6 3.4 

18-21 15 18.4 12 14.7 

22-24 11 17.6 9 14.4 

25-34 25 10.6 26 11.0 

35-44 26 10.5 31 12.4 

45-54 26 14.0 30 16.1 

55-64 10 9.5 15 14.3 

65 + 14 11.6 14 11.6 


* 2001 rates were calculated by using 2000 population 

Table 4: Tarrant County Suicide by Modes of Death 

2000 2001 

Case Percent Case Percent 

Drugs 10 7.4 % 12 8.4 % 

Gases 8 5.9 % 6 4.2 % 

Firearms 72 53.5 % 97 67.8 % 

Hanging 35 25.9 % 24 16.8 % 

Self-poisoning by other than drugs 8 5.9 % 3 2.1 % 

Other 2 1.5% 1 0.7 % 

Data Source: TDH Bureau of Vital Statistics 




Geographical Distribution of Suicide 

Fig 1: Tarrant County Suicide Rates, 2000 

There is no consistent pattern or 

clustering shown in the ZIP Code 

distribution of suicide cases for both 

years. ZIP Codes 76114, 76053 and 

76034 had the highest suicide rates in 

2000, while 76052 and 76018 had the 

highest rates in 2001. 

Although the overall incidence rate 

remained stable, the cases in 2000 

were distributed more evenly 

throughout the county; consequently, 

the rates in each quartile were lower 

in 2000 compared to 2001 (see 

legend below). 

Fig 2: Tarrant County Suicide Rates, 2001 

Legend 

Crude Rate (per 100,000) 

2000 2001 

Highest Quartile > 18.45 > 25.73 

2 nd Quartile 12.31 – 18.45 17.16 – 25.73 

3 rd Quartile 6.16 – 12.30 8.58 – 17.15 

Lowest Quartile < 6.16 < 8.58 

No Case or no Data 

These rates are not age-adjusted 




Comparison with Texas and United States 

In the year 2000 and 2001, the overall incidence rates of suicide in Tarrant County were 

marginally lower than those of Texas and the nation. The differences were not significant. 

Table 5: Suicide per 100,000 population 

Tarrant Texas U.S. 

2000 9.6 10.4 10.7 

2001 10.0 10.9 10.3 

Data Source: TDH Bureau of Vital Statistics, CDC National Statistics Report 

p>0.05 

Comparison with Health People 2010 Objective 

Table 6: Mental Health and Mental Illness 

Tarrant County 

18-1. Reduce suicide rate to 5 per 100,000 population. 

(Baseline: 11.3 per 100,000 in 1998 -- age adjusted to year 

2000 standard population) 

• Current Status: 

 

9.6 per 100,000 

 

10.0 per 100,000 


As of 2001, the overall suicide rate did not meet the Healthy People 2010 objective. There is a 

need for continuing efforts in Tarrant County to reduce the suicide rate, in part by assuring 

mental health services. 





Mental Illness 

Mental health is not only the absence of mental illness but a state of successful mental functioning, 

resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships and the ability to adapt to change and cope 

with adversity. Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal 

relationships, and one’s contribution to society. 1 

According to the CDC, approximately 20 percent of the United States population is affected by 

mental illness. Of all mental illnesses, depression is the most common disorder. More than 19 

million adults in the United States suffer from depression, and major depression is the leading 

cause of disability and is the cause of more than two-thirds of suicides each year. Only about 20 

percent of adults diagnosed with depression actually receive treatment. 

The magnitude of mental illness in Tarrant County is not known because there is no 

comprehensive surveillance system for mental illness. Currently, mental illness is not a reportable 

disease, therefore clients who receive treatment from private mental health practitioners are hard to 

capture. 

The data presented in this report is for clients served by mental health services of Mental Health 

and Mental Retardation (MHMR) of Tarrant County. MHMR receives referrals from psychiatrists 

and other health practitioners in Tarrant County. A total of 13,698 county residents received 

treatment for mental illness during the year 2000, and 14,071 in 2001(Table 7). This translates to 

9.5 per 1,000 residents receiving treatment for mental illness in Tarrant County for both years. 

Slightly less than 10 percent of MHMR clientele were children and adolescents (Table 7). Among 

adult clients receiving treatment, there was no noticeable difference between genders; however, a 

higher number of male than female children and adolescents received treatment for mental illness 

at MHMR in both years (Table 7). Among different racial/ethnic groups, Whites accounted for the 

highest percentage of those receiving mental health services (Table 8). The majority (70 percent) 

of MHMR clients resided in the City of Fort Worth (Table 9). 

1. http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/html/uih/uih_bw/uih_4.htm#mentalhealth 

Table 7: Tarrant County Clients in Mental Health Services by Gender 

Adult 

Children and Adolescents 

2000 2001 2000 2001 

Case Percent Case Percent* Case Percent Case Percent 

Male 5,709 46.2 % 5,936 45.6% 964 72.3 % 735 70.7 % 

Female 5,829 47.1 % 6,075 46.6% 363 27.2 % 305 29.3 % 

Not-reported 826 6.7 % 1,020 7.8% 7 0.5 % 0 0.0 % 

Total 12,364 100% 13,031 100% 1,334 100% 1,040 100% 

Data Source: MHMR of Tarrant County 




Table 8: Tarrant County Clients in Mental Health Services by Race/Ethnicity 

Adult 

Children and Adolescents 

2000 2001 2000 2001 

Case Percent Case Percent Case Percent Case Percent 

White 7,830 63.3 % 8,131 62.4 % 784 58.8 % 550 52.9 % 

Black 2,879 23.3 % 3,074 23.6 % 372 3.0 % 340 2.7 % 

Hispanic 697 5.6 % 783 6.0 % 153 11.5 % 131 12.6 % 

Other 184 1.5 % 182 1.4 % 18 1.3 % 8 0.8 % 

Not-reported 774 6.3 % 861 6.6 % 7 0.5 % 11 1.1 % 

Total 12,364 100% 13,031 100.0 % 1,334 100% 1,040 100% 

Table 9: Tarrant County Clients in Mental Health Services by Geographic Distribution 

Adult 

2000 2001 


Fort Worth 8,680 70.2 % 9,090 69.8 % 

Arlington 1,713 13.9 % 1,854 14.2 % 

North East Tarrant County 1,025 8.3 % 1,113 8.5 % 

Other 373 3.0 % 550 4.2 % 

Unknown 573 4.6 % 424 3.3 % 

Child and Adolescent 

2000 2001 


Fort Worth 842 63.1 % 687 66.1 % 

Arlington 290 21.7 % 200 19.2 % 

North East Tarrant County 110 8.2 % 84 8.1 % 

Other 94 5.4 % 47 3.5 % 

Unknown 20 1.5 % 33 3.2 % 

Data Source: MHMR of Tarrant County 

HP 2010 chapter 18 is dedicated to mental health issues. Objectives 18-6 through 18-11 

are designed to encourage an increase in mental health services and treatment. These 

are developmental objectives that do not have specific stated goals. Consequently, the 

data for Tarrant County is not comparable to any specific HP2010 objective at this time. 





Substance Abuse Deaths 

Total Alcohol-related Deaths 

Direct Alcohol-related Deaths 

Indirect Alcohol-related Deaths 

Total Drug-related Deaths 

Direct Drug-related Deaths 

Indirect Drug-related Deaths 


Table 10: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Deaths 

2000 2001 

Case Rate* Case Rate* 

619 

106 

513 

181 

135 

46 

59.5 

10.2 

49.3 

17.4 

13.0 

4.4 

646 

101 

545 

208 

167 

41 

62.1 

9.7 

52.4 

20.0 

16.1 

3.9 

* crude death rates per 100,000 population 

Substance abuse deaths are comprised 

of deaths involving alcohol or drug 

use, or both. The Texas Commission 

on Alcohol and Drug Abuse reports 

more than 800 deaths per year directly 

or indirectly related to substance abuse. 

In 2000 and 2001, alcohol-related 

deaths were about three times higher 

than drug-related deaths (Table 10). 

The rates for both increased from 2000 

to 2001. 

More males than females experience 

substance abuse deaths (Table 11). 

Blacks had the highest rates of 

substance abuse deaths in both years, 

followed closely by Whites (Table 12). 

Hispanics and those of other races had 

rates that are too low to report. 

Substance abuse deaths increase with 

age, the highest rate being in people 65 

years and older (Table 13). For people 

65 and older, substance abuse deaths 

include alcohol-related deaths only. 

Drug-related deaths are usually 

excluded because of the high rate of 

prescription drug overdose among the 

elderly. From 2000 to 2001, substance 

abuse death rates increased in all age 

categories except those younger than 

15 years. 

Table 11: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Deaths by Gender 

2000 2001 

Case *Rate Case *Rate 

Male 489 96.2 534 105.1 

Female 311 58.5 319 60.0 

*Crude death rates per 100,000 population 

Table 12: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Deaths by 

Race/Ethnicity 

2000 2001 


White 656 95.1 707 101.4 

Black 127 102.1 135 104.2 

Hispanic < 5 @.@ < 5 @.@ 

Other 0 0.0 < 5 @.@ 


Table 13: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Deaths by Age 

2000 2001 


< 15 14 4.1 7 2.10 

15-24 76 36.5 77 37.0 

25-34 71 30.1 235 100.0 

35-44 104 41.9 120 48.3 

45-54 127 68.3 152 81.8 

55-64 107 101.9 128 121.9 

**65 + 302 250.5 304 252.1 


**Drug-related deaths not included 

Data Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 




The following data is the blood alcohol level and toxicology results of all the victims of accidental 

deaths in Tarrant County as reported by the Medical Examiner’s office in 2001. According to 

Texas Penal Code § 49.01, a person with a blood alcohol level more than 0.08 is determined to be 

legally intoxicated. Among the 355 accidental deaths reported by the Medical Examiner’s office, 

23 percent had a blood alcohol level of 0.06 or above and 20 percent were more than 0.11 (Table 

14). Accidental deaths with no detectable alcohol level are not included in the table below. There 

is no identifiable pattern between the number of deaths and the blood alcohol level. 

Toxicology tests performed by the Medical Examiner’s office on accidental death victims include 

ABN, Cannabinoid such as Marijuana, Opiates (Heroin or Morphine), and BZD (Benzodiazepine). 

ABN is a general test that stands for acid, base and neutral media of extractions for various drugs. 

It is always positive when any illegal drug is present in the blood of victims tested. A follow-up 

test is then done to identify which specific drug is involved. In some situations, the specific drug 

may not be identifiable. Toxicology tests performed in 2001 identified a detectable blood drug 

level in 52 percent of accidental death victims (Table 15). Cocaine and opiates were most 

frequently detected in victims of accidental deaths. Those under ABN category are victims whose 

blood is known to have illegal drugs present, but the specific drug was not identified (Table 15). 

Table 14: Tarrant County Accidental Deaths by Age and Blood Alcohol, 2001 

0.01 - 0.05 0.06 - 0.10 0.11 – 0.20 0.21 – 0.30 > 0.30 

< 10 0 0 0 0 0 

11 – 20 2 1 5 5 0 

21 – 30 2 3 7 12 2 

31 – 40 2 1 6 8 3 

41 – 50 3 2 6 5 4 

51- 60 1 1 3 2 0 

61 + 0 1 3 0 0 

Total 10 9 30 32 9 

Table 15: Tarrant County Accidental Deaths by Age and Toxicology, 2001 

ABN Cocaine Cannabinoid Opiates BZD 

< 10 4 0 0 0 0 

11 – 20 5 2 6 6 3 

21 – 30 21 16 10 10 7 

31 – 40 23 21 3 20 14 

41 – 50 22 5 16 8 19 

51- 60 12 6 1 6 3 

61 + 3 2 0 2 0 

Total 90 52 36 52 46 

Data Source: Medical Examiner’s office in Tarrant County 




Geographic Distribution of Substance Abuse-Related Deaths 

Fig 3: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Deaths, 

2000 - 2001 

In this map, substance abuse deaths 

for years 2000 and 2001 were 

combined because of low numbers 

reported. 

The reported substance abuse deaths 

were distributed throughout the 

county. ZIP Codes in central and 

south Tarrant County reported 

relatively higher crude death rates 

than other areas. ZIP Codes with the 

highest substance abuse deaths are 

76102, 76104 and 76105 in central 

Tarrant County, 76135 in northwest 

Tarrant County and 76060 in south 

Tarrant County. 

Legend 

Crude Rate (per 100,000) 

2000 - 2001 

Highest Quartile ≥ 15.0 

2 nd Quartile 10.0 – 14.9 

3 rd Quartile 5.0 – 9.9 

Lowest Quartile < 5.0 


Rates are not age-adjusted 





In 2000 and 2001, the substance abuse death rates in Tarrant County were lower than those of 

Texas. The rates for the United States were not available. In the year 2000, Tarrant County had a 

lower Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) death rate than Texas and the United States. 

Table 16: Substance Abuse Deaths* per 100,000 population 

Tarrant Texas U.S.** 

2000 55.3 64.8 NA 

2001 59.1 67.1 NA 

* Substance abuse deaths include alcohol and drug-related deaths 

** Available United States data includes only drug induced deaths 

Table 17: Driving While Intoxicated Motor Vehicle Fatalities per 100,000 population 


2000 2.70 4.94 5.92 

2001 NA NA 5.92 

NA: Not available 

Data Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, CDC National Health Statistics 

Comparison with Healthy People 2010 Objective 

Table 18: Substance Abuse Deaths 


26-1. Reduce deaths caused by alcohol-related motor vehicle 

crashes to 4 per 100,000 population. (Baseline: 5.9 per 

100,000 in 1998) 

26-3. Reduce drug-induced deaths to 1 per 100,000 population. 

(Baseline: 6.3 per 100,000 in 1998 -- preliminary data age 

adjusted to year 2000 standard population) 


 

2.70 per 100,000 

 

17.4 per 100,000 

 

20.0 per 100,000 

Data Source: Texas Accident Record Bureau, Bureau of Vital Statistics 

As of 2000, the rate of death for alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in Tarrant County is 

below the corresponding Healthy People 2010 objective. In both years, the overall substance 

abuse death rates in Tarrant County were much higher than the Healthy People 2010 objective. 






Substance use and abuse 

An important goal of the United States policy for reducing substance abuse is to increase the 

percentage of young people who reach adulthood without using illicit drugs or alcohol. 

Strengthening the ability of children and teenagers to reject all such substances is an important and 

critical element in substance abuse prevention because the acquired skills and attitudes can carry 

over into adulthood, long after family constraints and other influences have lost their 

effectiveness. 1 

The 2000 Texas school survey of substance use among secondary school students revealed that the 

average age of first use of alcohol in Tarrant County was about two years younger than the average 

age for Texas (Table 19). The number of students from the school districts that agreed to 

participate in the 2001 survey was not sufficient to show a trend in alcohol usage by young people. 

Table 19: Average age of first use of alcohol 


2000 11.6 13.8 NA 

NA: Data not available 

Data Source: Challenge Inc., Tarrant County, Texas School Survey of Drug and Alcohol Use, 2000 

1. http://www.healthypeople.gov/Document/HTML/Volume2/26Substance.htm 





According to the Texas 2000 school survey of substance use among secondary school students, 29 

percent of Tarrant County’s high school seniors reported that they had never used alcohol, and 73 

percent reported that they had never used marijuana. The use of alcohol and marijuana among 

adolescents 12 -17 in the past month was 38 percent and 12 percent, respectively. 

The perception of risk of harm from illegal drugs is an important factor in decreasing usage. Lower 

levels of perception of harm are associated with increased use. In 2000, the percentages of Tarrant 

County adolescents in grades 7-12 who perceived a great risk associated with alcohol and 

marijuana use were 51 percent and 63 percent, respectively. 

Table 20: Substance Abuse 


(2000) 

26-9. Increase the age and proportion of adolescents who remain 

alcohol and drug free (Increase adolescents never using 

substances) 

Objective: Increase average age of first use of substance in 

adolescents aged 12 to 17 years 

26-9a. Alcohol : 16.1 years 

26-9b. Marijuana: 17.4 years 

Objective: Increase in high school seniors never using substances 

26-9c. Alcohol: 29% 

26-9d. Illicit drugs: 56% 

26-10. Reduce past-month use of illicit substances. 

26-10a. Increase the proportion of adolescents not using alcohol 

or any illicit drugs during the past 30 days to 89%. 

26-10b. Reduce the proportion of adolescents reporting use of 

marijuana during the past 30 days to 0.7 percent. 

 

26-9a. 11.6 years 

26-9c. 38 % never used 

 

26-9b.. NA 

26-9d. 73 % 

(data for all illicit drugs 

– not available) 

26-10a 

< Alcohol> 62 % 

 

NA 

26-10b 

< Marijuana> 12 % 

26-17. Increase the proportion of adolescents who perceive great < Alcohol> 51 % 

risk associated with substance abuse to 80%. (Baseline: 31- 

54% in 1998) < Marijuana> 63 % 

Data Source: Challenge Inc., Tarrant County, Texas School Survey of Drug and Alcohol Use 


As of 2000, Tarrant County did not meet any of the corresponding Healthy People 2010 

objectives for substance abuse, except for the proportion of high school seniors who never used 

alcohol or marijuana. 






Treatment for substance abuse 

The number of Tarrant County 

residents receiving treatment from 

TCADA for substance abuse increased 

by 7 percent in 2001 from the 2000 

baseline (Table 21). 

In both years, more males than females 

received substance abuse treatment in 

Tarrant County (Table 22). 

More than half of those who received 

substance abuse treatment were 

Whites, followed by Blacks and 

Hispanics (Table 23). Close to onethird 

of people receiving substance 

abuse treatment are 30-39 years old 

(Table 24). 

Cocaine was the most common 

substance for which received treatment 

in both years (Table 25). 

There are no corresponding 

objectives for substance abuse 

treatment in Healthy People 

2010; however there are several 

developmental objectives. 

Table 22: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Treatment 

by Gender 

2000 2001 


Male 1,502 56.0% 1,573 54.8 % 

Female 1,181 44.0% 1,299 45.2% 


by Race/Ethnicity 

2000 2001 


White 1,547 57.7 % 1,651 57.5% 

Black 751 28.0% 754 26.3% 

Hispanic 346 12.9% 423 14.7% 

Other 39 1.5% 44 1.5% 


by Age 

2000 2001 


10-19 517 19.3% 574 20.0% 

20-29 619 23.1% 646 22.5% 

30-39 881 32.8% 872 30.4% 

40 + 666 24.8% 780 27.2% 

Table 25: Tarrant County Substance Abuse Treatment by 

Substance 

Substance 

Table 21: Tarrant County Substance Abuse 

Treatment* 

2000 2001 

Total 2,683 2872 

* Substance abuse treatment provided by TCADA-Funded Programs 

2000 2001 


Amphetamines 240 9.05 % 286 10.0 % 

Cocaine 719 26.8 % 689 24.0 % 

Hallucinogens 10 0.4 % 12 0.4 % 

Heroin 417 15.5 % 490 17.1 % 

Other Opiates/Narcotics 77 2.9 % 98 3.4 % 

*Other Substances 1220 45.5% 1297 45.2 % 

* Other substances include antidepressants, aromatic analgesics, barbiturates, 

salicylate and propionic acid derivates 

Data Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse 





There were more than 2,000 

confirmed child abuse and neglect 

cases in Tarrant County reported 

to the Texas Department of 

Protective and Regulatory 

Services in each year for 2000 

and 2001 (Table 26). In 2001, the 

overall rate of confirmed child 

abuse and neglect in Tarrant 

County declined by 14 percent 

from 2000 baseline (Table 26). 

Females experienced a higher rate 

of child abuse and neglect than 

males in both years (Table 27). 

Child Abuse and Neglect 

Table 26: Tarrant County Child Abuse and Neglect 

2000 2001 

Case s Rate Case s Rate 

Total 2,613 6.4 2,309 5.5 

Rates per 1,000 children age 0-17 

Table 27: Tarrant County Child Abuse and Neglect by Gender 

2000 2001 


Male 1,215 5.8 1,060 5.0 

Female 1,385 7.0 1,239 6.1 

Not-reported 13 - 10 - 


The rate of child abuse and 

neglect in Whites was more than 

twice that of Blacks and 

Hispanics in both years (Table 

28). 

Confirmed child abuse and 

neglect was highest for infants 

under 1 year (Table 29). The rate 

of child abuse and neglect in 

infants under 1 year was more 

than twice that of children in 

other age groups (Table 29). 

Table 28: Tarrant County Child Abuse and Neglect by 

Race/Ethnicity 

2000 2001 


White 798 12.5 651 10.2 

Black 1,210 5.5 1,018 4.7 

Hispanic 493 4.6 555 4.9 

Other 41 2.2 43 2.2 

Not-reported 71 - 42 - 


Table 29: Tarrant County Child Abuse and Neglect by Age 

2000 2001 


< 1 401 17.1 341 13.7 

1 – 3 482 7.0 427 6.1 

4 – 6 560 8.2 456 6.6 

7 – 9 482 6.9 409 5.8 

10 – 12 344 5.0 316 4.5 

13 – 17 343 3.2 358 3.2 


* 

Data Source: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services 




Geographic Distribution of Child Abuse and Neglect 

Fig 4: Tarrant County Confirmed Child Abuse and 

Neglect, 2000 

In 2000, child abuse and neglect 

incidences were reported throughout 

Tarrant County. Higher rates were 

reported predominantly in central 

Tarrant County. This trend was more 

noticeable in 2001. 

ZIP Codes 76102 and 76104 reported 

the highest rates in both 2000 and 

2001. 

Tarrant County experienced a decline 

in reported child abuse and neglect in 

2001 and the rates in each quartile 

were lower in 2001 compared to 2000 

(see legend below). 

Fig 5: Tarrant County Confirmed Child Abuse and 

Neglect, 2001 

Legend 

Rate (per 1,000 children) 

2000 2001 

Highest Quartile > 23.36 > 13.59 

2 nd Quartile 15.59 – 23.36 9.06 – 13.58 

3 rd Quartile 7.80 – 15.58 4.54 – 9.05 

Lowest Quartile < 7.79 < 4.53 






Tarrant County rates of child abuse and neglect were lower than that of Texas and the United 

States in 2000 and 2001. 

Table 30: Rate of Confirmed Victims of Child Abuse/Neglect (per 1,000 children) 


2000 6.4 8.3 12.2 

2001 5.5 7.2 12.4 

Data Source: Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, U.S. Department of Human and Health Services 


Table 31: Child Abuse and Neglect 


15-33a. Reduce child maltreatment to 11.1 per 1,000 population of 6.4 per 1,000 

children younger than 18 years of age (20% improvement). 

(Baseline: 13.9 per 1,000 population in 1997). 5.5 per 1,000 


As of 2000 and 2001, the confirmed child abuse and neglect rate in Tarrant County had met and 

substantially surpassed the Healthy People 2010 objective for child maltreatment. Child 

maltreatment is equivalent to child abuse and neglect. 





Adults 

Crime Arrest 

Each year, the Texas Department of 

Public Safety reported more than 

70,000 adult crime arrests in 

Tarrant County. This translates to 

an overall adult crime arrest rate of 

about 69 per 1,000 persons (Table 

32). 

Males had a much higher crime 

arrest rate than females (Table 32). 

In both years, the male arrest rate 

was more than three times that of 

females. 

The crime arrest rate in Blacks was 

highest, followed by Hispanics and 

Whites (Table 33). The arrest rate 

in Blacks was more than twice that 

of Hispanics and Whites in both 

years. 

` 

Adult crime arrests declined with 

age (Table 34). People 18-24 had 

the highest rate (Table 34). This is 

more than twice that of the next age 

group with the second highest rate, 

25-34 years (Table 34). The crime 

arrest rates declined in all age 

groups from 2000 to 2001 (Table 

34). 

Alcohol-related offenses were the 

most reported crimes, followed by 

drug-related offenses and crimes 

against people in both years (Table 

35). 

Table 32: Tarrant County Adult Crime Arrest by Gender 

2000 2001 


Male 54,880 108.0 56,239 107.3 

Female 16,994 32.0 17,765 32.5 

Total 71,874 69.1 74,004 69.1 

Age 18 years and older 


Table 33: Tarrant County Adult Crime Arrest by Race 

2000 2001 


White 36,269 71.1 37,413 74.3 

Black 20,694 166.3 20,481 158.1 

Hispanic 14,338 80.0 15,572 80.4 

Other 573 12.4 536 10.7 

Age 18 years and older 


Table 34: Tarrant County Adult Crime Arrest by Age 

Group 

2000 2001 


18-24 27180 188.7 25362 171.4 

25-34 21208 90.0 20982 86.9 

35-44 17402 70.0 17374 69.1 

45-54 6492 34.9 6430 32.8 

55-64 1322 12.6 1338 12.1 

65 + 400 3.3 388 3.1 


Data Source: Texas Department of Public Safety 




Classification of Offenses 

Crime Against Person 

Murder and non-negligent 

manslaughter 

Table 35: Tarrant County *Adult Crime Arrests by Offense 

2000 2001 

Male Female Male Female 

Total 

60 2 58 8 128 

Manslaughter by negligence 3 0 4 2 9 

Forcible rape 125 0 157 4 286 

Robbery 332 50 358 83 823 

Aggravated assault 903 251 853 211 2,218 

Other assaults 6,448 1,985 7,459 2,318 18,210 

Crime Against Property 

Burglary- breaking or entering 579 66 613 79 1,337 

Larceny 3,686 2,090 3,910 2,254 11,940 

Arson 9 5 13 8 35 

Forgery and counterfeiting 416 310 469 369 1,564 

Fraud and embezzlement 382 326 33 21 762 

Stolen property: buying, selling, 

receiving 

12 2 20 6 

Vandalism 431 114 499 112 1,156 

Domestic Violence 

Crimes against family and children 88 34 83 55 260 

Narcotics (drug-related arrest) 

Drug abuse violations 4,271 1,158 4,003 1,003 10,435 

Sale/manufacturing 350 112 293 67 822 

Possession 3,921 1,046 3,710 936 9,613 

Alcohol-related Arrest 

Driving under the influence of alcohol 5,081 905 5,323 1,035 12,344 

Liquor laws 3,056 611 3,600 737 8,004 

Drunkenness 7,637 1,106 7,223 1,220 17,186 

Miscellaneous Offenses 

Weapons; carrying, possessing 521 58 495 46 1,120 

Prostitution and commercialized vice 528 1,806 423 1,918 4,675 

Sex offenses (other) 528 36 225 23 812 

Disorderly conduct 2,774 621 3,068 654 7,117 

Vagrancy 1,155 208 1,105 141 2,609 

All gambling 152 24 104 2 282 

Other offenses 16,036 5,233 15,876 5,195 42,340 

Total 59,484 18,159 59,977 18,507 15,627 

40 

*Age 18 years and older 






Youth 

Crime Arrest 

The overall youth crime rate in 

Tarrant County remained 

unchanged from 2000 to 2001 

(Table 35). There were more than 

19,000 youth criminal arrests in 

Tarrant County for each year. This 

translates to a youth crime rate of 

48 arrests per 1,000 people (Table 

35). 

Similar to adults, males had a 

higher arrest rate than females, but 

the difference was less (Table 36). 

The male crime arrest rate was 

twice that of females. 

Crime arrest rates were also highest 

for Blacks, followed by Whites and 

Hispanics (Table 37). 

Table 36: Tarrant County *Youth Crime Arrest by Gender 

2000 2001 


Male 13,363 64.3 13,583 63.9 

Female 6,343 31.4 6,639 32.6 

Total 19,706 48.5 20,222 48.6 

Age < 18 


Table 37: Tarrant County *Youth Crime Arrest by Race 

2000 2001 


White 8,110 73.0 8,396 79.0 

Black 6,157 96.7 5,943 90.4 

Hispanic 5,465 51.5 5,639 50.0 

Other 247 13.5 244 12.6 

Age < 18 


Youths 15 to 17 had a rate that was 

more than twice that of younger 

people in 2000 and 2001(Table 38). 

Crimes against property were the 

most frequent cause of arrest in 

2000 and 2001, followed by crimes 

against people and drug-related 

offenses (Table 39). 

Table 38: Tarrant County *Youth Crime Arrest by Age 

Group 

2000 2001 


10-14 2,630 23.5 2,561 22.1 

15-17 3,713 57.8 2,664 40.6 

* Age < 18 






Classification of Offenses 

Crime Against Person 

Murder and non-negligent 

manslaughter 

Table 39: Tarrant County Number of *Youth Crime Arrests by Offense 

2000 2001 

Male Female Male Female 

Total 

6 2 4 1 13 

Manslaughter by negligence 2 0 1 0 3 

Forcible rape 42 0 38 0 80 

Robbery 91 9 108 20 228 

Aggravated assault 231 81 228 54 594 

Other assaults 2,101 1,059 2,264 1,381 6,805 

Crime Against Property 

Burglary- breaking or entering 350 25 387 50 812 

Larceny 2,008 1,422 1,957 1,464 6,851 

Arson 23 5 1 5 34 

Forgery and counterfeiting 14 18 30 11 73 

Fraud and embezzlement 34 16 22 11 83 

Stolen property 5 0 6 0 11 

Vandalism 550 109 515 98 1,272 

Domestic Violence 

Crimes against family and children 2 3 4 0 9 

Narcotics (drug related arrest) 

Drug abuse violations 991 172 847 156 2,166 

Sale/manufacturing 31 5 30 8 74 

Possession 960 167 817 148 2,092 

Alcohol Related Arrest 

Driving under the influence 76 16 111 29 232 

Liquor laws 518 166 691 206 1,581 

Drunkenness 184 30 252 39 505 

Miscellaneous Offenses 

Weapons; carrying, possessing 162 13 112 16 303 

Prostitution and commercialized 

vice 

7 8 3 4 22 

Sex offenses (other) 136 10 130 16 292 

Disorderly conduct 461 147 514 165 1,287 

Vagrancy and runaway 1,480 1,617 1,030 1,269 5,396 

Curfew and loitering law violations 1,180 531 1,123 575 3,409 

All gambling 21 0 5 3 29 

Other offenses 2,960 884 3,183 1,066 8,093 

Total 14,626 6,515 14,413 6,795 42,349 

*Youths 17 and younger 




Geographic Distribution of Crime Arrests 

Fig 6: Tarrant County Crime Arrests, 2000 - 2001 

In this map, crime arrests for both 

youths and adult in years 2000 and 

2001 were combined because of low 

numbers reported in each year. 

ZIP Codes 76102, 76104 and 76105 

in central Tarrant County reported the 

highest rates of crime arrest and these 

are surrounded by ZIP Codes in the 

next highest quartile of crime arrest 

rate. 

Legend 

Rate (per 1,000) 

2000 - 2001 

Highest Quartile ≥ 134.41 

2 nd Quartile 89.61 – 134.40 

3 rd Quartile 44.81 – 89.80 

Lowest Quartile < 44.80 






In 2000 and 2001, the crime arrest rate in Tarrant County was higher than that of Texas. The 

crime arrest rate for the United States was not available. 

Table 40: Crime arrest rate (per 1,000 population) 


2000 63.3 50.7 NA 

2001 63.4 48.5 NA 

Data Source: TX Department of Public Safety 

Healthy People 2010 does not have a corresponding objective for the 

overall crime arrest rate. 





Divorce 

In Tarrant County, there were more than 7,500 divorces reported per year and the overall divorce 

rate remained unchanged from 2000 to 2001 (Table 41). Overall, divorce rates in 2001 were 

comparable to that of the previous year for males but not for females (Table 42). Within each 

gender, Whites had the highest divorce rate followed by Blacks (Table 42). Rates in Whites and 

Blacks were close to three times that of Hispanics and other races (Table 42). The majority (72.2 

percent) of divorces occurred in White couples for both years (Tables 43 and 44). 

Table 41: Tarrant County Divorce Rates 

2000 2001 


Total 7,574 5.2 7,742 5.2 


Table 42: Tarrant County Divorce Rates by Race/Ethnicity 

2000 2001 

Race/Ethnicity Male Female Male Female 

Case Rate Case Rate Case Rate Case Rate 

White 5710 12.9 5764 6.3 5660 12.6 5705 12.2 

Black 1028 11.6 963 4.9 1049 11.4 976 9.5 

Hispanic 528 3.5 497 1.6 629 3.9 622 4.3 

Other 129 4.0 139 2.0 174 5.0 182 5.3 

Unknown 174 - 206 - 222 - 249 - 

Table 43: Tarrant County Divorce by Couple’s by Race/Ethnicity 2000 

Wife’s Race/Ethnicity 


Husband’s White Black Hispanic Other 

Race/Ethnicity Cases Percent* Cases Percent* Cases Percent* Cases Percent* 

White 5,466 72.2% 27 0.4% 114 1.5% 46 0.6% 

Black 82 1.1% 911 12.0% 12 0.2% 6 0.1% 

Hispanic 148 2.0% 7 0.1% 358 4.7% 6 0.1% 

Other 33 0.4% 7 0.1% 7 0.1% 79 1.0% 

Table 44: Tarrant County Divorce by Couple’s by Race/Ethnicity 2001 

Wife’s Race/Ethnicity 

Husband’s White Black Hispanic Other 

Race/Ethnicity Cases Percent* Cases Percent* Cases Percent* Cases Percent* 

White 5,373 69.4% 33 0.4% 125 1.6% 65 0.8% 

Black 82 1.1% 921 11.9% 20 0.3% 7 0.1% 

Hispanic 154 2.0% 5 0.1% 451 5.8% 6 0.1% 

Other 46 0.6% 4 0.1% 13 0.2% 103 1.3% 

* Percent of the total divorces 

Divorce cases reported without race/ethnicity were excluded from this table 

Data Source: TDH Vital Statistics 




Close to half of the divorces occurred in couples 20-39 in both years (Tables 45 and 46). There 

were no reported divorces in teenagers in Tarrant County. 

Husband’s Age 

Table 45: Tarrant County Divorce by Couple’s Age, 2000 

Wife’s Age 

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ 

Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent 

20-29 1,090 14.4% 149 2.0% 19 0.3% 2 0.0% 3 0.0% 

30-39 610 8.1% 1,698 22.4% 266 3.5% 21 0.3% 4 0.1% 

40-49 40 0.5% 698 9.2% 1,101 14.5% 122 1.6% 7 0.1% 

50-59 4 0.1% 73 1.0% 359 4.7% 325 4.3% 34 0.4% 

60+ 4 0.1% 11 0.1% 22 0.3% 99 1.3% 103 1.4% 

Husband’s Age 

Table 46: Tarrant County Divorce by Couple’s Age, 2001 

Wife’s Age 

20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ 

Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent Cases Percent 

20-29 1,068 13.8% 158 2.0% 11 0.1% 2 0.0% 1 0.0% 

30-39 581 7.5% 1,619 20.9% 291 3.8% 23 0.3% 5 0.1% 

40-49 66 0.9% 665 8.6% 1,157 14.9% 119 1.5% 6 0.1% 

50-59 11 0.1% 96 1.2% 367 4.7% 389 5.0% 23 0.3% 

60+ 2 0.0% 16 0.2% 33 0.4% 107 1.4% 116 1.5% 

Percent of the total divorces 

Divorce cases reported without age were excluded from this table 

Data Source: TDH Vital Statistics 


Tarrant County had a higher divorce rate than Texas and the United States in 2000 and a higher rate 

than Texas in 2001. Data was not available for the United States in 2001. 

Table 47:Divorce Rate s per 1,000 population 


2000 5.2 4.0 4.1 

2001 5.2 3.9 NA 


Healthy People 2010 does not have a corresponding objective for divorce rate. 




Table 48: Social and Mental Health Indicators by City in Tarrant County (2000-2001) 

CITY 

Suicide* 

(per 100,000) 

INDICATOR 

Substance Abuse Deaths* ** 

(per 100,000) 

2000 2001 2000 2001 

ARLINGTON 9.6 10.2 5.7 4.2 

AZLE 10.4 20.8 0.0 0.0 

BEDFORD 10.6 17 6.4 8.5 

BENBROOK 4.9 0.0 @.@ @.@ 

BLUE MOUND 4.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 

COLLEYVILLE 20.4 10.2 0.0 @.@ 

CROWLEY 0.0 13.4 @.@ 0.0 

EDGECLIFF VILLAGE 39.2 0.0 0.0 @.@ 

EULESS 10.9 15.2 @.@ 8.7 

EVERMAN 17.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 

FORT WORTH 7.7 10.1 6.0 7.5 

GRAND PRAIRIE (in Tarrant) 1.6 0.8 @.@ @.@ 

GRAPEVINE 11.9 16.6 @.@ 0.0 

HALTOM CITY 10.3 15.4 10.3 7.7 

HASLET 0.0 88.2 0.0 0.0 

HURST 13.8 13.8 8.3 11.0 

KELLER 0.0 0.0 @.@ 0.0 

KENNEDALE 0.0 17.1 0.0 @.@ 

LAKE WORTH 0.0 43.3 @.@ @.@ 

MANSFIELD 10.7 10.7 @.@ 10.7 

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS 7.2 3.6 5.4 7.2 

RICHLAND HILLS 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

RIVER OAKS 14.3 14.3 @.@ @.@ 

SAGINAW 8.1 16.2 0.0 0.0 

SANSOM PARK 23.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 

SOUTHLAKE 0.0 4.6 0.0 @.@ 

TROPHY CLUB 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

WATAUGA 9.1 4.6 0.0 @.@ 

WESTWORTH VILLAGE 47.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 

WHITE SETTLEMENT 6.7 13.5 @.@ 0.0 

TARRANT COUNTY 9.3 10.0 - - 

* Rates is not age-adjusted. 

** Includes only direct substance abuse deaths . 




Table 48: Social and Mental Health Indicators by City in Tarrant County (2000-2001 

CITY 

Child Abuse and Neglect 

(per 1,000 children age 0-17) 

INDICATOR 

Crime Arrests 

(per 1,000) 

2000 2001 2000 2001 

ARLINGTON 5.4 5.0 66.2 72.1 

AZLE 4.9 8.2 31.2 30.0 

BEDFORD 3.9 1.8 30.6 40.2 

BENBROOK 7.1 6.0 17.8 27.1 

BLUE MOUND FW FW 27.1 26.2 

COLLEYVILLE 0.6 0.5 14.6 15.1 

CROWLEY 7.8 4.3 22.2 27.6 

DALWORTHINGTON GARDENS 0.0 0.0 18.3 13.9 

EDGECLIFF VILLAGE 0.0 0.0 NA NA 

EULESS 6.3 4.4 31.8 37.7 

EVERMAN FW FW 28.6 36.4 

FOREST HILL 0.0 0.0 38.6 33.1 

FORT WORTH 7.7 6.5 73.0 74.0 

GRAND PRAIRIE (in Tarrant) 0.9 0.7 NA NA 

GRAPEVINE 3.1 3.7 40.3 38.8 

HALTOM CITY FW FW 34.5 50.5 

HASLET 3.1 0.0 NA NA 

HURST 4.7 8.3 56.1 70.8 

KELLER 1.7 1.3 19.6 19.3 

KENNEDALE 6.6 6.0 27.8 31.6 

LAKESIDE TOWN FW FW 19.8 13.1 

LAKE WORTH FW FW 138.4 105.2 

MANSFIELD 2.0 0.2 29.6 32.5 

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS 1.0 0.8 41.9 44.6 

PANTEGO 0.0 0.0 33.4 70.9 

RENDON 0.4 4.2 NA NA 

PELICAN BAY AZ AZ 25.0 37.7 

RICHLAND HILLS FW FW 29.9 38.4 

RIVER OAKS FW FW 25.5 28.3 

SAGINAW 3.8 5.6 27.7 33.1 

SANSOM PARK FW FW 29.9 40.5 

SOUTHLAKE 0.0 0.0 17.0 14.3 

TROPHY CLUB 1.1 0.5 NA NA 

WATAUGA 4.1 4.0 19.9 29.5 

WESTLAKE TOWN 1.1 0.5 NA NA 

WESTWORTH VILLAGE FW FW 19.6 21.6 

WHITE SETTLEMENT FW FW 37.2 47.1 

TARRANT COUNTY 6.4 7.7 76.7 69.1 

FW- included in the rate for Fort Worth; AZ- included in the rate for Azle

Social and Mental Health - Tarrant County

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?