Hays County is getting a public defender's office. A unanimous vote from Commissioners Court caps a yearslong effort to provide legal defense for low-income people accused of crimes.
A unanimous vote Tuesday from the Hays County Commissioners Court caps a yearslong effort to provide legal defense for low-income people accused of crimes.
Commissioners finalized a contract with Neighborhood Defender Service to oversee the creation of the new office, which will handle roughly 1,400 misdemeanor cases a year under. Hays County will fund half of the $11 million contract with federal relief money, while the other half will come from future county budgets.
The office's creation comes amid a spike in Hays County's jail population — specifically, among defendants who have been accused of crimes but haven't yet seen trial. As of Nov.
"This is a huge step toward resolving the persistent issue in Hays County Jail," he said."Creating a dedicated office would demonstrate that criminal defense is just as valuable and important as any other type of practice. If the legal culture in Hays County improves, we can better prepare for the expected growth that is coming to it."of Texas State University student Justin Gage. Gray has maintained his innocence since his arrest in 2018.
The county will work with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission in the next year to finalize the share of cases that will be handled by public defenders and by private attorneys appointed by Hays County courts.to support it. Your gift pays for everything you find on KUT.org. Thanks for donating today.
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