Timothy Bray, JD
Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Tim served as the Associate Commissioner for State Hospitals at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The Texas State Hospital System consists of nine state-operated psychiatric hospitals and one state-operated youth psychiatric residential center, as well as a new psychiatric hospital that is operated by an academic partner, and multiple other contracted psychiatric hospital-based services. Overseeing this system, Tim was at the epicenter of forensic psychiatric inpatient care – a major crossroads of the criminal justice and mental health systems. Prior to serving in this role, Tim practiced law in a variety of roles, including serving as the Deputy General Counsel for Government Law at the Department of State Health Services and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Texas Attorney General’s office, as well as in private law practice in New England. Tim has resolved, counseled, or litigated many constitutional, malpractice, and health-related claims over the years in both state and federal courts. Prior to the practice of law, Tim worked as a mental health counselor providing treatment services and emergency psychiatric evaluations in county jails and hospital emergency centers through a community mental health center in New Hampshire.
In his role at the Institute, Tim serves as the Texas team lead on justice and health initiatives and supports various national system-focused projects associated with the Center for Justice and Health. As a former behavioral health system decision-maker, Tim also serves as a thoughtful advisor for system actors providing technical assistance on health system integration, competency restoration, and various treatment diversion strategies for those currently entrenched or at risk of being justice-involved.
Tim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of San Diego, a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of New Hampshire, and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. In addition, Tim is a trained and certified mediator.
