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* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

[00:00:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: IT IS 10:02. THEY WANTED -- IT IS DAY 1 OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 BUDGET HEARINGS ON JANUARY 6TH AND I AM CALLING THE BUDGET HEARINGS TO ORDER. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SPEAKERS. LET ME JUST OFFER A BRIEF WELCOME TO DAVE. IF YOU CAN GO OVER, DAVE, WHAT YOU SEE FIT AND COMMISSIONERS AND THEN WE CAN HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS AND THEN WE WILL CALL UP THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

FIRST I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY THANK EVERYONE AND THANK DAVE AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE WORKED TO MAKE THIS BUDGET PROCESS DIFFERENT.

MORROW BUST. MORE ROBUST. I KNOW IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK FROM EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A FIRST DRAFT. ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS, SOME FOLKS ARE STILL PROCESSING THEIR SUBMISSIONS AND THEIR REQUESTS. I KNOW FOLKS ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON METRICS AND UPDATES WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES.

THAT SAID, IT IS A VERY SOLID FIRST DRAFT. THAT'S WONDERFUL.

I SAW IN THE TOP OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT YOU GUYS PRODUCED THE OBJECTIVES AND THE CHANGES AND IT BEARS REPEATING THAT THE OBJECTIVES TIE INTO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE. THERE ARE METRICS. THERE ARE MORE DETAILED REQUESTS AND WE ARE SEEING ALMOST 2,000 METRICS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AS WE GO THROUGH THIS SOLID FIRST DRAFT. ONE QUICK LAST NOTE IS FOLKS HAVE REQUESTED A CLOSER LOOK. SEVERAL FOLKS AT COMPENSATION IN TERMS OF COMPETITIVENESS.

I KNOW HRM IS LOOKING AT DOING THAT HOLISTICALLY FOR THE COUNTY.

AS IT COMES UP I KNOW IT IS SOMETHING WE ALL DISCUSSED AT COURT AS A DESIRE OF THE MEMBERS OF COURT AND OF BUDGET TO REALLY BE SMART AND COMPREHENSIVE IN THE COMPENSATION PACKAGES WE HAVE. THIS IS A BIG START AND AN IMPORTANT START. ULTIMATELY WE WILL KEEP WORKING.

WE WILL WORK THROUGH TODAY AND HAVE TODAY AND TOMORROW AND THE TWO DAYS NEXT WEEK.

DAVE OR COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING BEFORE WE TAKE THE SPEAKERS ?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: THIS IS RODNEY. I DON'T MIND GOING THROUGH LUNCH, BUT I DO WANT TO LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW I WILL HAVE TO PULL OUT AT 3:00.

I DON'T MIND HAVING TO WORK AT LUNCH. I AM CAPABLE OF WOLFING IT DOWN DOWN AND PUTTING UP THE BLACK SCREEN. WHATEVER THE PREFERENCE IS.

>> THAT WORKS, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER. IT IS 10.

IF FOLKS FIND IT APPROPRIATE WE COULD BREAK AT 12:30 FOR AN HOUR.

AND THEN LET'S PLAN FOR THAT. AND THAT WAY IT CAN GIVE SOME CERTAINTY TO FOLKS.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: SO I WILL JUST END IT -- I KNOW WE WILL PROBABLY ALL ARE WATCHING THE GEORGIA ON MY MIND UNTIL 2:00 AND 3:00 IN THE MORNING. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT 3.

I DON'T MIND WORKING THROUGH LUNCH. >> LINA HIDALGO: I

MISUNDERSTOOD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I CAN MOVE IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: IF THAT IS THE CASE, THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS -- AND COUNTY ATTORNEY, CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE DON'T NEED A FORUM FOR BUDGET HEARINGS. IF FOLKS WANT TO JUST PLOW THROUGH AND TURN OFF YOUR CAMERA TO GET A BIT OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO HEAR THE FIRST PRESENTATION FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS NOT PERFECT AND RECOGNIZING THEIR REQUESTS ARE WELL BEYOND OUR AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. DEFINITELY A LOT OF CHANGES

HAVE TO HAPPEN. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I ASSUME THAT DAVE IS GOING TO SET THE STAGE. SO AT LEAST THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS KNOW WHAT WE HAVE.

USUALLY THERE ARE MORE ASKS THAN THERE ARE REVENUES. >> COMMISSIONER DIARCH -- I'M

[00:05:03]

SORRY, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, DAVE.

>> I HAD THOUGHT TO SPEND ABOUT 15 OR 20 MINUTES AND SHOW SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PRESENTATION WE PUT TOGETHER THAT MAY GIVE THEM SOME CONTEXT.

I AM FLEXIBLE IF YOU WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE PUBLIC. >> GO AHEAD, DAVE.

>> LUCINDA, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE. WE ARE AT THE FIRST DRAFT STAGE OF THE BUDGET. I JUST WANT TO THANK AS YOU DID BOTH MY TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTY FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE PUT IN.

DOING BUDGETING THE WAY WE WANT TO, IT GETS DOWN TO THE SERVICE LEVEL AND IT IS PERFORMANCE BASED. IT IS NOT JUST A LITTLE MORE WORK THAN ADJUSTING TO TOP LINE BUDGETS. IT IS VASTLY MORE WORK. I AM REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT FOLKS HAVE PUT IN SO FAR. THE DOCUMENT WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH HERE, NOT EVERY PAGE, JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR THE HEARINGS AND THE WORK WE HAVE TO DO OVER THE NEXT -- WELL, THE NEXT SIX WEEKS OR SO.

AND THIS IS -- IT IS ON THE SCREEN AND LUCINDA IS SHARING.

IF ANYBODY IS LISTED IT IS POSTED WITH THE AGENDA AND ON THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT WEBSITE THIS IS A SUMMARY OF RESOURCES AND REQUESTS. LUCINDA, IF YOU CAN GO TO PAGE 3 TO GET US STARTED. SO TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT IS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WHAT IS COMING UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND IT POINTS TO THE ISSUES AND THE QUESTIONS WE NEED TO DISCUSS TO GET FROM WHERE WE ARE TO A BUDGET. WHERE ARE WE NOW? WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE THAT IS PREPARED BY THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET NEXT YEAR. THAT IS SUMMARIZED IN THIS DOCUMENT. WE HAVE ALL OF THE REQUESTS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS.

WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO RECEIVE IN THEIR BUDGET AND THE RATIONAL FOR THEM AND THEIR CASE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDS. AND WE HAVE CAPITAL PROJECT REQUESTS. FROM THE FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT AND THE TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY AND CON -- COUNTY ENGINEER AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS. THEY PUT IN A PROPOSAL FOR THAT.

SO WE ARE NOT AT THE POINT THAT WE HAVE A PROPOSED BUDGET OR A PROPOSED CAPITAL PLAN.

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS SORTING THROUGH THE REQUESTS AND COMPARING THE RESOURCES AND FINDING A WAY TO BRING THE TWO FROM THE TWO TOGETHER. WHERE WE NEED TO GET TO IS A GENERAL FUND BUDGET. THIS IS THE UNRESTRICTED MONEY THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT HAS THE MAXIMUM CONTROL OVER FOR ANY LEGAL PURPOSE. AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR CONTINGENCY FUND AND THE MOBILITY TRANSFERS FROM THE TOLL ROAD.

WE NEED A TOLL ROAD BUDGET AND A CIP. IN THE PAST THE CIP HAS BEEN A TRANS MISS TALL. I AM PROPOSING THIS YEAR IT GO TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR APPROVAL AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

FINALLY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET, THAT IS APPROVED THROUGH A SEPARATE BOARD, BUT IT WILL COME TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR APPROVAL. THAT'S ALSO COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. ALL OF THESE FISCAL YEARS START MARCH 1ST.

MARCH 1ST 2021 TO FEBRUARY OF 2022. THAT'S A SNAP SHOT OF WHERE WE

ARE AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED. >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET ALTHOUGH APPROVED BY THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD, THE HARRIS HEALTH BOARD AND IT COMES TO US, DO WE HAVE ANY

RIGHT TO MODIFY IT? DO WE JUST RATIFY? >> I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THE LEGAL DETAILS, COMMISSIONER, BUT IT IS SUBJECT TO YOUR APPROVAL.

I DON'T THINK YOU ARE COMPELLED TO RATIFY IT AS IS. I THINK YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES OR NO OR WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE CHANGES.

THEY HAVE INDEPENDENT GOVERNENCE, BUT IT IS SUBJECT TO A VOTE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> OKAY, LUCINDA, LET'S GO TO PAGE SIX.

[00:10:07]

>> RODNEY ELLIS: DAVID, ON THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BUDGET, I KNOW WE ASKED OR SEVERAL OF US CHIMED IN ON IT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT BEFORE THAT COMES UP, I'M SURE THEY ARE COOPERATING WITH YOU AND MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE IN THE JAIL WITH THE SHERIFF'S LEADERSHIP AND YOURS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT PUBLICLY. I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO NOT JUST COME TO US.

I WOULD SUGGEST IF MY COLLEAGUES AGREE, I JUST ASSUME DIG IN ON MY OWN, BUT ASSUMING WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC, I SUGGEST WE TAKE TIME, I DON'T KNOW TODAY OR HALF A DAY, SCHEDULE TIME WHEN WE GO THROUGH IT AND LET THEM EXPLAIN IT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW IT. I DON'T WANT JUST TALK TO THE FIVE OF US.

I GET A LITTLE MORE OUT OF A GROUP DYNAMIC. >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, WE INVITED DR. PORSA AND I THINK HE PLANS TO GIVE A PRESENTATION IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS. EVEN THOUGH HIS BUDGET IS NOT PART OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IT IS WHERE THE BUDGET IS HEADED AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> AND AN UPDATE ON THE HEALTH CARE ISSUE. YOU ARE THE CZAR OF THAT SO TO

SPEAK. THE SHERIFF. >> TRAFFIC CONDUCTOR MAYBE.

>> THIS IS JAY. TO ANSWER COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S QUESTION, THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. YOU ARE NOT A PASSIVE PARTICIPANT.

THE JUDGE AND THE COURT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ASK FOR CHANGES IF CHANGES ARE SOMETHING YOU REQUEST. YOU ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND BUILDING ON THAT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, DAVE, THAT YOU CAN REQUEST FOR THEM TO PRESENT TO US IN A WAY IN THIS TEMPLATE THAT IS IN THE DEPARTMENTS, OR IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN

FACILITATE FOR US SO IT IS THOROUGH? >> I AM HAPPY TO FOLLOW-UP WITH YOUR OFFICE ON THIS. I THINK IT IS A CHALLENGE TO USE THE EXACT TEMPLATES.

WE ARE INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW. THEY ARE HAVING DISCUSSION WHEN WE ARE HAVING IT, TO MOVE FROM A BUDGET. I THINK IT WOULD MAKE ALL OF THE SENSE IN THE WORLD FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO CONVEY TO THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT WHAT THEY ARE HOPING TO SEE EARLIER THAN LATER SO THAT YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING THAT IS NOT

WORTH LOOKING FOR. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME -- OBVIOUSLY NUMBER ONE IS BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAKING SURE WE CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD THIS, AND THAT WE ARE IMPROVING GOVERNMENTS. AND PART OF WHAT YOUR TEAM HAS BEEN DOING AND WILL BE DOING IN THE COMING WEEKS IS WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO IDENTIFY THESE OUTCOMES SO THAT WE ARE MEASURING, AS YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR REPORT, OUTCOMES AND NOT OUTPUTS. SO IS THE COMMUNITY GETTING HEALTHIER VERSUS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE HOSPITAL. I JUST WONDER -- I MEAN MAYBE THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT TAKES US ALL YEAR TO DO FOR NEXT YEAR.

IF YOU SEE ANY POSSIBILITY FOR YOU TO HAVE A HAND IN HELPING THE HOSPITAL DISTRICT DO THAT

AS WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE VALUABLE. >> I THINK WE CAN HELP.

I THINK THAT ASSISTANCE WILL PRIMARILY BE OVER THE COMING YEAR.

THEY ARE JUST PRETTY FAR ALONG AT THIS POINT. I WOULD CERTAINLY ASK DR. PORSA THESE QUESTIONS DURING BUDGET HEARINGS AND WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HELPFUL HOWEVER WE CAN. OKAY. SO A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF COVID BECAUSE WE ARE SETTING A BUDGET IN THE CONTEXT OF A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. THE ECONOMIC TOLL TO THE REGION HAS BEEN SEVERE. SINCE JANUARY 2020, LOST ABOUT 100,000 JOBS.

THAT'S 100,000 PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY WHO WERE WORKING WHO ARE NOT NOW.

WITH THAT WE DO BELIEVE THAT INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY VALUES WILL BE DOWN.

OTHER REVENUE DRIVERS WILL BE DOWN. OUR REVENUE WILL BE AFFECTED.

THE GOOD THING IS WE ARE STARTING FROM A VERY GOOD POSITION.

WE PROJECT WE WILL HAVE A STARTING UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE IN EXCESS OF 1.4 BILLION AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A GRANT LAST YEAR OF $426 MILLION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT BOTH DEFRAY OUR COSTS IN RESPONDING TO COVID AND ALLOWED US TO INVEST MORE THAN $200 MILLION IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. WHETHER WE HAVE ANOTHER ROUND

[00:15:05]

OF THAT, NOBODY KNOWS. IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. WE WILL SEE REVENUE IMPACTS NEXT YEAR. WE WILL SEE THEM EVEN IF THERE IS A RECOVERY.

THE DATE WE SET PROPERTY VALUES IS JANUARY 1ST. THEY ARE SET AS OF JANUARY 1ST. TO THE EXTENT BUSINESSES WERE SUFFERING AS OF JANUARY 1ST AND THEY SEE SOME REBOUND WE STILL EXPECT SOME DECLINE.

AND AS A RESULT WE WILL FACE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH PRIORITIES TO FUND.

WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDING AVAILABLE TO FUND THE TOPE PRIORITIES.

BUT IT IS NOT A YEAR I BELIEVE WHERE EVERY DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO GET A BIG INCREASE, AND IT IS NOT A YEAR WHERE EVERY MARE RAW FOR YOUS -- MERITORIOUS PROPOSAL WILL BE FUNDED. THAT'S JUST WHERE WE ARE GIVEN THE ECONOMIC DATA.

SO NOW LET'S GO, LIEU SIN -- LUCINDA TO SLIDE EIGHT. I WILL SPEND JUST A MINUTE ON THE APPROACH WE ARE MAKING TO BUDGETING. AT TIMES THERE ARE SIX PRINCIPALS THAT WE ARE USING. WE STARTED TO IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR AND WILL BE THE BASIS OF MY TEAM'S EFFORTS OVER THE COMING YEAR. FIRST IS A FOCUS ON GOALS.

WE HAVE MADE COMMISSIONER'S COURT'S GOALS AN ORGANIZING PRINCIPAL FOR BUDGET SUBMISSIONS AND THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS. I AM QUOTING A FINANCE GURU.

A GOOD BUDGET MANAGEMENT SHOULDN'T COUNT WHERE YOUR MONEY WENT.

IT SHOULD COUNT WHERE IT WILL GO. THROUGH CLEAR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WE ARE TELLING MONEY WHERE TO GO. INVEST IN SERVICES.

WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT SERVICES ARE WE FUNDING. WHAT CUSTOMERS AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE WE HELPING AND HOW. MEASURING RESULTS. SO FOR EVERY SERVICE, IS IT WORKING AND IS IT HELPING PEOPLE? NUMBER FOUR, PLANNING FOR THE LONG-TERM SO WE HAVE AN ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, BUT MANY OF THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OCCUR OVER MANY YEARS. RIGHT? ECONOMIC TRENDS, SOME OF THE NEW INITIATIVES AND THE PROGRAMS WE ARE LAUNCHING. SO PUSHING TO IN-- INCORPORATE THAT. NUMBER FIVE, STAYING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.

HARRIS COUNTY HAS EXCELLED AT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. EVEN AS WE EMBARK ON NEW EFFORTS AND ADDRESSING NEW PROBLEMS AND PERFORMING THE BUDGET PROCESS WE NEED TO REMAIN SO. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN'T PRINT MONEY.

MY GOAL IS TO SPEND AT OUR MEANS AND NOT LESS AND NOT MORE.

WE NEED CLEAR FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING, WHAT WE ARE FUNDING AND NOT FUNDING AND WHY IN THE FULL LIGHT OF DAY. ON PAGE 9, WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN ALL OF THE AREAS THIS. IS A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE GOING. THIS VERY MUCH OPEN TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT GUIDANCE AND INPUT. I WON'T READ IT THROUGH AT THIS MOMENT, BUT WILL BE DELIGHTED TO ENGAGE FURTHER. AND THEN LET'S GO TO SLIDE -- PAGE 11, PLEASE, LUCINDA. THIS IS UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND REVENUE.

THE GENERAL FUND AND THE CONTINGENCY FUND IS THE ONLY FLEXIBLE SOURCE OF REVENUE.

ALL OF THE OTHER FUNDS, WE CONTROL ALL OF THE OTHER REVENUE AND IT IS SUBJECT TO LEGAL RESTRICTIONS. THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PREPARED A PRELIMINARY REVENUE OF 1.99 BILLION AND WE RECOMMEND THIS AS THE GENERAL FUND FOR APPROPRATIONS.

THE KEY ASSUMPTION BEHIND THIS IS WE HAVE TO MAKE A LOT OF UH -- ASSUMPTIONS IS THE TAX RATE IS NOT SET AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BUDGET. WE ASSUME THE SAME GENERAL FUND TAX RATE IN 2021 AS 2020. SO THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A TAX RATE DECREASE. THAT'S BECAUSE IT DEFAULTED TO A LOWER RATE IN 2019 AND THEN 2020 BY A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC. WE SEE A 2% DECLINE IN THE TAX

[00:20:03]

BASE. SO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES ARE GOING DOWN BY MORE, BUT THAT IS PARTIALLY OFFSET BY RESIDENTIAL INCREASES.

OTHER NONTAXED REVENUES ARE REMAINING DEPRESSED THROUGHOUT THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHERE WE ARE NOW. THERE IS A POTENTIAL UPSIDE FROM RECOVERY. I THINK WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS COMING AND WE WOULD BE HESITANT TO PROP -- TO APPROPRIATE THAT BEFORE WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN A RECOVERY. LET'S GO TO SLIDE 12, LUCINDA. PAGE 12. I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS, BUT THIS IS A SNAP SHOT OF HOW WE ARE ALLOCATING MONEY.

WE TRIED TO PREVENT -- HERE ARE SOME VISUALS HERE. IT CAN COME TO LIFE MORE THAN A LINE ITEM IN A BUDGET. WE ARE PRESENTING THEM ACROSS THE GOAL AREAS.

SO NOT JUST ALLOCATING TO EACH DEPARTMENT, BUT ACROSS JUSTICE AND SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ENVIRONMENT, FLOODING.

SO OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA IN THE PAST OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AND WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. AS YOU WILL SEE, JUSTICE AND SAFETY AND THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND ALLOCATIONS TO PRECINCTS WHICH ARE THEMSELVES DOING A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION AND BART WORK AND ARE THE LARGEST SHARE THE LARGEST PART OF THE GENERAL FUND.

OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT HAVE BEEN MUCH SMALLER LEVELS. LET'S GO TO PAGE 13, PLEASE, LUCINDA.

THIS IS A SUMMARY OF REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENTS. THESE ARE THE TOTAL REQUESTS WE HAVE GOTTEN IN. AGAIN, IT IS SORTED BY THE WHOLE AREA.

WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 152 MILLION IN REQUESTS THAT WAS AS OF DECEMBER 18TH.

JUDGE, YOU ARE CORRECT. SOME NEW REQUESTS AND MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN COMING IN. THE BUDGET SUPPLEMENTS THAT ARE ON OUR WEBSITE ARE THEMSELVES LIVING DOCUMENTS. WE ARE PERIODICALLY UPDATING THEM AND KEEPING A VERSION OF HISTORY AND LETTING THE COURT STAFF KNOW AS THEY ARE UPDATED SO THEY CAN TRACK THEM.

IF YOU WILL GO TO PAGE 14, PLEASE, LUCINDA. THIS IS HOW THE OVERALL PICTURE FITS TOGETHER. BASED ON ON THE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE, 1,99 MILLION -- 1.99 MILLION OF REVENUE AND THE BASELINE BUDGET AND THIS IS CARING FOR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST AND THE NEW, RECURRING EXPENDITURES APPROVED BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IN THE LAST YEAR THAT ARE IN EFFECT AND ALREADY APPROVED FOR THE COMING YEAR.

THAT'S 1,950 MILLION. AND THAT LEADS TO 49 MILLION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

WE HAVE 152 MILLION OF DEPARTMENT REQUESTS AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT IF WE WERE TO COVER THE ENTIRETY OF THE COSTS OF INCREASED HEALTH PRIM -- PREMIUMS AND COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER 26 MILLION.

THAT WOULD BE 178 MILLION COMPARED TO $49 MILLION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

AGAIN, WE HAVE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE HERE. THE PATH FORWARD IS FIRST OF ALL WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OTHER DEPARTMENT REQUESTS. THIS IS ON THE RIGHT HAND PART OF THE PAGE HERE. ANY INCREASES FOR PRECINCTS OR THE JUDGE'S OFFICE THAT ARE REQUESTED AND THEN WE HAVE TO GET A PATH TO BALANCING. THAT COULD INCLUDE OBVIOUSLY NOT APPROVING ALL REQUESTS, NEGOTIATING SOME OF THEM DOWN.

IT CAN INCLUDE IDENTIFYING NONGENERAL FUND FUNDING SOURCES FOR SOME OF THESE REQUESTS. MY TEAM IS REVIEWING ALL OF THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AVAILABLE AND SEEING CAN THOSE BE USED TO MEET SOME OF THOSE NEEDS.

WE HAVE A BALANCE OF I THINK OVER $130 MILLION IN SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS.

SOME OF THOSE COMMISSIONER'S COURT CONTROLS, SOME THEY DON'T.

CAN IT HELP BRIDGE THE GAP HERE? CAN SOME OPERATING EXPENSES BE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES? THAT'S ONE OF THE TOOLS WE HAVE HERE.

ANOTHER TOOL IS REDUCING BASELINE BUDGETS. SO THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE PROBABLY OVERBUDGETTED AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT IN THEIR BASELINE. WE MAY ALSO -- REALLY COMMISSIONER'S COURT MAY SEE SERVICES THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT'S THEY MIGHT NOT WANT TO CONTINUE FUNDING AT CURRENT LEVELS. WE ARE NOT TAKING THAT BASELINE FOR GRANTED. THAT'S ANOTHER TOOL TO GET INTO BALANCE.

MEANWHILE WE ARE ALSO REVIEWING REVENUE PROJECTION WITH THE AUDITOR MOVING FROM A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE TO A FINAL ESTIMATE. THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF MOVING PIECES HERE. OUR TASK FORGETTING STARTED IN THE HEARINGS IN THE COMING

[00:25:03]

WEEKS IS TO FIND OUR WAY BACK TO A BALANCED BUDGET. >> LINA HIDALGO: JUST BRIEFLY, I SEE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT LISTED HERE ON THE CHART YOU CURRENTLY HAVE UP.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU GUYS ARE CONDUCTING THE COMPENSATION STUDY THAT LEAD TO A LOT OF RESHOVELLING. RUSHUFFELING. BUT IT CAN CHIP AWAY AT THE COMPETITIVENESS AND THAT'S THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON THIS, JUDGE.

IN GENERAL I THINK COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS ARE A GOOD THING TO DO.

TO BE IN THE HABIT OF DOING. I THINK IT IS A PLACE THAT MAKES -- IT IS A MOVE THAT MAKES THE COUNTY ATTRACTIVE -- AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO WORK. I ALSO THINK THIS IS A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES. I THINK THERE IS SOME JUSTIFICATION AND DOWN REVENUE YEARS TO HOLD OFF ON THE ADJUSTMENT.

I WOULD SAY IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK THROUGH, JUDGE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT. THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD ADD IS IT MAY BE THAT SOME DEPARTMENTS CAN ABSORB THIS ADJUSTMENT WITHIN THEIR EXISTING BUDGETS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE LOOKING AT AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. MR. BERRY, ONE OF THE AREAS THE JUDGE SPARKED A QUESTION THAT I HAVE AND I DIDN'T SEE IT.

I MAY HAVE MISSED IT. BUT ON THE COST OF LIVING IS THERE ANYTHING PLANNED FOR -- AND I DON'T REMEMBER IN WHAT CYCLE WE DO THIS OR WHETHER IT IS ANNUAL OR OPTIONAL TO DO IT ANNUALLY, BUT THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT COMPARED TO PEPTION CONTINUE -- PENSION

CONTRIBUTIONS. DID I MISS THIS IN THE BOOK? >> WE DIDN'T EXPLICITLY CALL IT OUT WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT A BIT AGO OUR RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS TO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE PENSION PLAN. WE ARE IN A PRETTY DECENT SPOPT -- SPOT IN TERMS OF OUR FUNDING LEVELS. I'M SORRY?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: EVEN COST OF LIVING? >> MEANING WOULD WE MATCH A PORTION OF THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT? YES.

YES. THAT'S OUR PLAN FOR NOW. ANY INCREASE THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVES WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME PENSION MATCHING AS OTHER

SALARIES. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: OKAY. >> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THIS

IS ON THE TABLE AS WE WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOT YOU.

THANK YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: IF IT IS ON THE TABLE WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE COST. IT WOULD REDUCE THE FIGURE THAT YOU HAD EARLIER IN TERMS

OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO MEET THE REQUESTS. >> CORRECT.

AND THIS 16 MILLION, THIS IS IF WE GAVE EVERY DEPARTMENT AN INCREASE TO COVER THE COST OF LIFE ADJUSTMENT AND THAT INCLUDES THE PENSION MATCH. THAT IS NOT JUST THE GROWTH OF SALARY. IT INCLUDES OUR BENEFITS AND PENSION MATCH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY BUSINESS IN HARRIS COUNTY AFTER THIS PANDEMIC, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN, AND COST OF LIVING TYPICALLY IS THE FIRST THING THAT'S ON THE TABLE THAT YOU DON'T DO. YOU ARE TRYING TO KEEP BUSINESS IS -- BUSINESS OPEN.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SIDE SOMEWHAT REFLECTS THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND UPON ONE SIDE THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING THROUGH THE TYPICAL, WELL, THIS IS OUR ROUTINE COST OF LIVING INCREASE WHILE FRANKLY ALL OF OUR BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN AND CERTAINLY REPORT DOING COST OF LIVING. I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE. I WOULD CERTAINLY PUT COST OF LIVING ON THE TABLE OF HELPING

TO BALANCE SOME OF THE BUDGETS. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE DID IT, WHAT WOULD IT COST? THAT POLICY DECISION WAS MADE AND WE COULD SHORTEN THESE HEARINGS BECAUSE WE WOULD BE OUT OF MONEY.

I COULD LEAVE AT 11:00 TODAY. >> I'M SORRY. COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: IF WE DID WHAT WE DID THE LAST CYCLE, WHAT WOULD IT COST?

>> THE LAST CYCLE WE GAVE INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WERE ABOVE COST OF

[00:30:01]

LIVING. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT FIGURE.

I THINK IT WAS IN THE RANGE OF 3 TO 4%. WE JUST PUT ON THE TABLE, RIGHT, A 1.2% INCREASE THAT MATCHES INFLATION OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS TOGETHER WITH EMPLOYMENT -- OR THE BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THAT'S THE 16 MILLION FIGURE YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THIS PAGE. THE $16 MILLION COST.

>> I THINK I UNDERSTAND COMMISSIONER ELLIS' QUESTION A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

IF I UNDERSTOOD IT CORRECTLY, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT YOUR CHART ON PAGE 14, WE'VE GOT 49 MILLION IN ESSENCE THAT IS AVAILABLE ON TOP OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

AND WE HAVE 152 OF ADDITIONAL REQUESTS. IF I UNDERSTOOD COMMISSIONER ELLIS' QUESTION, AND IT IS KIND OF MY QUESTION TOO, WHAT WE DECIDE TO DO IS TO JUST DO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT THE 49 AS OPPOSED TO GOING THROUGH THIS 150,000, PLUS 10, PLUS 16 AND GET TO THE NEGATIVE 168.

IN ORDER, THIS IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER ELLIS SAID. IF WE JUST DID WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, WHERE WOULD WE BE?

>> RODNEY ELLIS: 3%, IS THAT 60 MILLION? JUST ROUGH MATH.

DID YOU SAY 16 MILLION? >> 16 MILLION IS 1.2%. >> RODNEY ELLIS: SO IF YOU DID

THAT BY THREE YOU ARE NOT QUITE 20. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: MY POINT IS THAT WOULD BE -- YEAH. LOOK.

WE WOULD WIPE OUT THIS 40 SOMETHING MILLION PRETTY QUICK, RIGHT?

>> AGREED. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND THEN SO SAME WITH THE HEALTH INCREASE THEN, DAVE? I AM HEARING THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY NOT TOO HOT ON THIS IDEA OF COST OF LIVING MORE THAN HEALTH AND THAT'S WHAT I GET FROM THE COMMISSIONERS TOO

THAT IT IS TOO MUCH. >> RODNEY ELLIS: JUDGE, I WAS JUST CONNED -- ROUNDING OUT THE NUMBERS. IF WE DID WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, IT IS GOOD -- SOMETIMES I HAVE SEEN IN MY YEARS IN GOVERNMENT, NOT REFERRING TO ANY OF US, BUT SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE THE FIRST ONES WITH IDEAS ON SPENDING MONEY WOULD BE THE LAST ONES TO COME UP WITH IDEAS ON HOW TO BRING IT IN. WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT

POSITION, AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO DO IT. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND JUST A QUICK QUESTION, DAVE, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SLIDES TO GET THROUGH, BUT ON THE REDUCED BASELINE, TO ME THAT WAS THE NEXT FRON -- FRONTIER. IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO GET THE METRICS ON THE NEW REQUESTS. IDEALLY WE HAVE THE METRICS AND JUSTIFICATION ON THE BASELINE BUDGET. OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY IN THE PACKET.

YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL AT ONCE. DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GIVE US A WAY TO EVALUATE THE BUDGET THAT INCLUDES DIGGING INTO THAT? OR IS THIS JUST KIND OF A, YOU

KNOW, FOR ILLUSTRATE -- ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES? >> WE ARE NOT ON THE WAY TO SCRUTINIZING EVERY DOLLAR WE ARE SPENDING. WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DO THAT AS FAR AS A DEEP DIVE ON EVERY DOLLAR ON THE BUDGET.

WHAT WE DO HAVE IN THE BUDGET PACK IS FOR EACH SERVICE THE DEPARTMENT IS PROVIDING, WHAT IT IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, SOME INFORMATION ON THE METRICS AND SOME INFORMATION ON THE CLOCKS. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE AND MY TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING AT IT. ARE THERE SERVICES THERE THAT ARE JUST CLEARLY NOT WORKING OR NOT YIELDING A GOOD RESULT? SHOULD WE LOOK AT REDUCTIONS THERE? THAT'S ONE POINT ON RE -- REDUCING THE BASELINE BUDGET.

ARE THERE JUST DEPARTMENTS OVERBUDGETTED? FOR YEARS THEY WERE SPENDING LESS THAN THEIR BUDGET AND THEY APPEAR TO NOT NEED WHAT THEY ARE GETTING TO DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW. WE HAVEN'T FINISHED OUR ANALYSIS WITH THAT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE COME BACK, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME SAVINGS THERE.

JUDGE, IS THAT GOING TO BE 100 MILLION? I DON'T THINK SO.

WE ARE IN A YEAR WHERE EVERY FEW MILLION DOLLARS HELPS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF COMMISSIONER ELLIS' JUST TO MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR THIS FELLA THAT WENT TO SCHOOL OFF OF SOUTH MAINE. IF WE DID WHAT WE DID LAST

[00:35:01]

YEAR, THAT'S OUR BASELINE. WE HAVE 49 EXTRA MILLION TO SPEND.

IF WE DID WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND THAT MEANS WE DON'T ADD THE COLA AND DON'T DO THE EXTRA HEALTH REQUESTS AND WE SORT OF SAY BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE OUR DEPARTMENTS AT THIS TIME, AND THEN WE FOCUS ON WHAT THE JUDGE MENTIONED IS THOSE THINGS TO MAYBE WE CAN REDUCE OUR BASELINE AND REDUCE SOME OF WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND FOCUS ON WHERE WE WOULD SPEND THE 49? I GUESS THAT'S -- I GUESS THAT'S THE DUMBED DOWN QUESTION IS WE UH -- APPEAR TO HAVE FOIRT 9 -- 49 EXTRAS IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE ADDED INCREASES. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> I THINK 49 IS NOT A FINAL NUMBER BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING ON THE REVENUE ESTIMATE. IT IS A GOOD WORKING FIGURE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT PRIORITIES ARE. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHAT WE ARE HOPING TO GET OUT OF THE HEARINGS IS WHAT ARE YOUR TOP PRIORITIES IS COME BACK FOR A BUDGET THAT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES AND IS IN BALANCE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE. IF I COULD HAVE -- MR. BERRY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL TAKE A LOOK, ONE THING I WANT TO CAUTION US ON IS IN HAVING THE CONVERSATION OF MAINTAINING WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, BUT THERE MAY BE I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A CLIFF, BUT A POTENTIAL DROP IN WHAT WE ARE ASSUMING IS A STATUS QUO FOR THE MOST PART.

I WOULD JUST ASSUME TRY TO FIGURE OUT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION BASED ON RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE HANGING ON TO A JOB AND DOING WHAT WE CAN TO SMOOTH IT OUT AND NOT REACT TO NEXT YEAR, BUT WORK TO SMOOTH IT OUT SO WE CAN KEEP OUR OPERATIONS AS CONSISTENT AND PREDICTABLE AS POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL

MEAN, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT. >> I CAN SAY IT CERTAINLY IS AN ISSUE OF DEBATE. WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO ON THAT.

IN THIS 1,099,000,000, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOVING PIECES. LET'S TRY TO SMOOTH THINGS OUT AND THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE. WE ARE IN A STRONG SPOT, BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO GET -- I DON'T EVER WANT TO GET US IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE IN A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. WHERE WE HAVE RECURRING EXPEPPED TOURS -- EXPENDITURES IN EX -- IN EXCESS OF OUR REVENUE. THAT'S DIFFICULT TO CLIMB OUR WAY OUT OF. LOOK, THERE'S LOTS OF UNCERTAINTY.

IS IT IMPOSSIBLE? NO. IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

WE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOWARD A BUDGET HERE WHERE THERE ARE RECURRING EXPEPPED TOURS -- EXPENDITURE THAT'S ARE IN LINE WITH WHERE WE ARE NEXT YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE.

THERE IS A PAGE ON THIS LATER IN THE PRESENTATION AND WE LOOKED AT ON A MULTI-YEAR FORECAST, WE LOOKED AT VARIOUS CASES AND WE DO -- WE THINK -- WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT WE THINK WE WILL BE NEAR THE BOTTOM NEXT YEAR. WE SHOULD SEE SOME RECOVERY IN

THE YEAR AFTER. >> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND THEN COMMISSIONER CAGLE.

>> RODNEY ELLIS: I WAS JUST -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: I'M SORRY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE JUDGE

SAID IT WAS YOU. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANT TO SAY AS A GENERAL PHILOSOPHICAL MATTER, I DON'T THINK WE CAN TAKE THAT -- I DON'T PERSONALLY THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE ATTITUDE OF JUST CONTINUE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING HISTORICALLY.

[00:40:01]

I THINK WE HAVE UNCOVERED A LOT OF INEQUITIES IN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SOME THAT ALL OF US ACKNOWLEDGE. SOME MAY FEEL THAT THERE ARE NOT INEQUITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS AND SOME THINK THERE ARE.

AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, THE BUDGET IS SIMPLY BUT A STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES.

MORE THAN ANY SPEECHES OR RESOLUTIONS WE PASS, WHAT WE DO WITH THE MONEY IS THE REAL STATEMENT OF WHAT WE BELIEVE IN. TO THAT EBBING TENT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BE CREATIVE AND NOT JUST DO WHAT I THINK WE HAVE DONE HISTORICALLY.

IT IS NOT JUST A SEAT CHANGE IN TERMS OF FACES ON THE COURT, BUT PHILOSOPHICAL CHANGES. THAT'S NOT TO BE CRITICAL OF ANYTHING IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK WE HAVE EVOLVED. I THINK YOUR CHART GIVES A BREAK DOWN OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING THE MONEY HISTORICALLY SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHERE THIS USED TO BE A PLACE WHERE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BUILD ROADS AS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE BIGGEST CITY IN TEXAS IN A COUNTY. IT DOESN'T HAVE A NAME. IT IS UNINCORPORATED.

FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I THINK WE SHOULD JUST DO BUSINESS AS USUAL. WE HAD PROPOSALS ALONG THE WAY INCLUDING THE IDEA OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE. IT WAS SHOT DOWN. I CAN LIVE WITH IT.

WE HAD THE IDEA OF FINANCING. THAT WAS THWARTED. BECAUSE WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, I FOR ONE, IN TERMS OF MY VALUES AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, I DON'T WANT TO JUST DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. I THINK TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LEFT BY THE WAY SIDE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER CAGLE? >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE 10 MILLION ON THE HEALTH INCREASE -- FIRST OF TWO QUESTIONS HERE.

IF WE DO NOT APPROVE THAT HEALTH INCREASE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT OUR EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT HEALTH INCREASE? QUESTION A.

>> WE COMMUNE CHALET -- COMMUNICATED TO THE EMPLOYEES IN OPEN SEASON THAT THE COUNTY WILL COVER THIS. IT WAS SOMETHING APPROVED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

IF YOU DON'T APPROVE THIS INCREASE, THE DEPARTMENTS WOULD HAVE TO ABSORB IT WITHIN THEIR EXISTING BUDGET. THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS EXPENSE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WE ARE NOT DOING OR WE HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN THE BUDGET NOW THAT WE CAN COVER. I CAN TELL YOU TODAY THAT THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT IF WE PRESS THEM, THEY COULD COVER THIS TODAY, RIGHT? THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT.

THAT'S PART OF IT. CAN THEY ABSORB SOME OF THIS COST? SHORT HAPPIES IS WE CAN'T JUST SAY EMPLOYEES, THIS IS ON YOU.

THAT WOULD BE CHANGING THE ROLES AND I WOULDN'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> I THANK YOU. THE SECOND PART IS WHEN WE GO FROM THE 49 AND THEN FUNDS AVAILABLE. WE GO TO THE 152 WHICH ARE THE REQUESTS.

THE 152 DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 49 COMING INTO THAT CATEGORY, IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR CHART CORRECTLY. IN OTHER WORDS WE HAVE ROUGHLY SPEAKING 50 MILLION TO SPEND.

WE HAVE ONE PORT FOR THE THREE BEING REQUESTED OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.

>> WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO A TOTAL OF 178 MILLION OF -- I WON'T CALL THEM NEEDS. THEY ARE LOTS. THEY INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF REQUEST AND THE HEALTH INCREASE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION? >> IT DOES. WE HAVE 50 MILLION TO GO TOWARD THE 178 ROUGHLY SPEAKING? CORRECT.

[00:45:09]

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET AND TO TAKE OFF ON THE POINT THAT COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I NEVER DID A BUDGET WE DIDN'T MAKE AS THE VALUES OF A CORE. I TAKE THE NUMBER AND THE ISSUE IS WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TO SPEND. MY EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH HCAT AND OTHER PEOPLE OVER THERE, AND REAL ESTATE VALUES IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE DOING VERY WELL. THE COMMERCIAL SIDE IS HURTING, AND THAT HAS GOT MY ATTENTION AND I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.

BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN DO , THE 152 LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE NICE IF THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE TO DO THINGS. TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS' POINT WE HAVE X NUMBER DOLLARS TO SPEND AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SPEND IT ON AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO WEIGH IN.

THESE ADDITIONAL REQUESTS MAY IN FACT WEIGH INTO THE VALUES THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS, AS COMMISSIONER ELLIS REFERS TO THOSE, BUT I WOULD START WITH AT LEAST OUR CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE POIJ -- WITH THE MONIES WE HAD LAST YEAR.

IT WOULD BE THE 152 I AM NOT SURE HOW WE ARE GOING TO VET THAT.

I'M ASSUMING YOUR OFFICE WILL VET THOSE, AND AT SOME POINT COMMISSIONER'S COURT WILL WEIGH IN ON THOSE REQUESTS. AT LEAST WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MONEY WE DO HAVE. AND THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD START ON A BUDGET.

>> AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ON HOW WE WOULD PROPOSE AND GO THROUGH THOSE REQUESTS, YOU SHOULD HEAR ABOUT THEM AT BUDGET HEARINGS.

WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO FOCUS ON THEIR REQUESTS. I'M SURE EVERYBODY WILL WANT TO TELL ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THEY HAVE DONE IN THE LAST YEAR.

LET'S DIG INTO THOSE REQUESTS. WE WANT FEEDBACK FROM COMMISSIONER'S COURT AT THIS HEARING, BUT ALSO SEPARATELY. WE CAN'T HAVE MEETINGS ALTOGETHER DUE TO OPEN MEETINGS RULES, BUT CONVEYING YOUR FEEDBACK TO US IS HELPFUL. IN THE END, TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, THIS IS COMMISSIONER'S COURT BUDGET. THIS IS COMMISSIONER'S COURT BUDGET AND NOT THE BUDGET OFFICE'S BUDGET. WE WANT TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT ON JANUARY 26TH WITH SOMETHING THAT IS AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO REFLECTING YOUR PRIORITIES ON THIS 152 MILLION OF REQUESTS AND THE OTHER ISSUES HERE.

>> I GUESS ONE OTHER POINT TO BE MADE, WE ARE NOT ONLY CHALLENGING OUR PEOPLE TO SAY WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED, BUT WE ARE CHALLENGING OUR PRECINCT 3 PEOPLE WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO WITHOUT? WE KNOW WHAT OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE DOING WITHOUT, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO WITHOUT TO HELP BUILD UP THAT 49 MILLION SURPLUS, DELTA OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. MAYBE WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO IT FROM A PRECINCT LEVEL.

IF WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT REALLY WE DON'T NEED TO BE DOING OR WE CAN DO WITHOUT AND

CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT OTHER SIDE WE SHOULD. >> RODNEY ELLIS: I JUST WANTED TO SAY BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, AND I'M SURE IT WON'T HAPPEN IN THIS CASE, BUT WELCOME TO THE BIG TIME. WHEN SOMEBODY IS HAPPY IT IS OUR BUDGET.

WHEN THEY ARE MAD, IT IS YOUR BUDGET. >> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH.

AND THE POINT OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE OTHER SIDE, LIKE A BUSINESS, THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE. FOR US, WE NEED TO SURVIVE. WE NEED TO NOT BREAK THE BANK IN ANYWAY, BUT PEOPLE NEED OUR SERVICES MORE THAN EVER. HOW CAN WE UP OUR GAME WHILE AT THE SAME TIME KEEP IT SOLVE VENT. WHAT ABOUT THE RAINY DAY

FUND? CAN YOU GO OVER THAT BRIEFLY? >> I THINK THE SIMPLEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS NOT JUST OUR CONTINGENCY FUND, BUT THE TOTALITY OF OUR FUND BALANCES. WHAT THE CONTINGENCY FUND IS FOR.

WE EXPECT TO START THE YEAR WITHIN EXCESS OF A $1.4 BILLION FUND BALANCE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT WE EXPECT TO HAVE I WOULD SAY A THREE-DIGIT REIMBURSEMENT.

IT IS NOT AN OBLIGATION. IT IS AN EXPECTATION FROM FEMA IN TERMS OF COVID.

AND THIS IS SPELLED OUT -- IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH IT NOW OR LATER IT IS SPELLED OUT A PAGE LATER IN THE DOCUMENT FOR YOU. WE DO HAVE ABILITY TO ABSORB

[00:50:03]

UNEXPECTED COSTS FROM COVID. WHICH MAY CONTINUE INTO NEXT YEAR WITHOUT FEDERAL FUNDING.

AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME ABILITY TO ABSORB ONE OFF COSTS.

THAT'S A VERY STRONG FUND BALANCE. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IF WE CAN AT ALL AVOID IT IS USE THE FUND BALANCE TO GET BACK TO A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.

MY ADVICE AND WHAT I WILL WORK TOWARD IS TO KEEP RECURRING EXPENSES IN LINE WITH RECURRING REVENUES AND DO WE HAVE SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF ONE OFF EXPENDITURES RELATED TO COVID OR OTHERWISE? YES WE DO.

AND DO WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF CAPITAL FINANCING? YES, WE DO. I WOULD SAY IN GENERAL WE HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AROUND CAPITAL FINANCING AND ONE OFF EXPENDITURES THAN WE DO ABOUT RECURRING COSTS SUCH AS HIRING PEOPLE AND BUILDING TEAMS. WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THEY WON'T JUST WORK HERE NEXT YEAR, BUT BUILDING A SERVICE THAT IS DURABLE OVER MANY YEARS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: SO WHAT WE HAVE COULD WITHSTAND THE -- BILL USED TO TALK ABOUT THE

HURRICANE AND THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN? >> I BELIEVE WE CONTINUE TO BE

IN GOOD SHAPE ON THAT FRONT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> LUCINDA, IF YOU CAN TAKE US TO PAGE 15 AND WE CAN TOUCH ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AND I I KNOW WE NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC. THE TOTAL CAPITAL PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT, OVER 280 PODGE JECTS AND A -- PROJECTS AND A COST OF 8.8 BILLION.

WE HAVE DIVIDED THESE INTO FIVE CATEGORIES. AGAIN, FLOOD CONTROL, TOLL ROAD, GOVERNMENTS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THAT'S THINGS LIKE BUILDINGS AND MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

I WOULD SAY WE ARE A LINE OF SIGHT TO FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FUNDING THAT COULD COVER ALL OF THESE REQUESTS. I AM NOT SAYING WE WANT TO DO ALL OF THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DETERMINE IF IT IS WORTH THE MONEY. WE COULD.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH ON FLOOD CONTROL. COMPLETING THE BOND PROGRAM.

WE HAVE PLENTY OF FUNDS FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT AS WE LOOK OUT AT THE OVERALL PORTFOLIO, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON PARTNER FUNDING WHICH IS A BIG PART OF BANG FOR THESE PROJECTS. ALSO A POTENTIAL COST INCREASES.

I EXPECT TO GET INTO THAT MORE IN THE FLOOD CONTROL MEETING. IF THAT IS NOT A BURNING CRISIS BY ANY MEANS, WE CAN DO WHAT WE ARE DOING. IT IS A FINANCIAL ISSUE WE NEED TO KEEP YOUR -- KEEP OUR EYE ON. AND THEN IF YOU CAN GO TO PAGE 16 -- EXCUSE ME, PAGE 19. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A NEED TO REVAMP THE WAY WE ADMINISTER CAPITAL PROJECTS. SOME OF THAT IS HAVING AN APPROVED CIP AND SOME OF THAT IS ALSO HAVING A MORE ROBUST FRAMEWORK FOR TRACKING THESE PROJECTS AND HOW COMMISSIONER'S COURT APPROVES THEM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL SUBMISSIONS, A LOT OF THEM HAVE NUMEROUS FIELDS THAT ARE FILLED IN "TBD." THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN PEOPLE AREN'T DOING THE WORK. IT MEANS IT IS AN EARLY STAGE PROPOSAL. I BELIEVE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS HAVE A FRAMEWORK OF HOW PROJECTS MOVE INTO THE PROCESS WHEN THEY ARE IN AN EARLY SCOPING PHASE AND IN DESIGN PHASE AND IN EXECUTION AND CONSTRUCTION. WHERE ARE THEY? WHEN DOES COMMISSIONER'S COURT NEED TO WEIGH IN? HERE WE HAVE OUTLINED AND THIS IS VERY MUCH FOR COURT'S INPUT AND WE ARE WORKING ON THE AFFECTED DEPARTMENTS WITH IS THE POTENTIAL FRAMEWORK TO DO THAT WHERE WE ARE NOT APPROVING A CIP AND SAYING EVERY PROJECT -- THAT'S A DIRECTIONAL -- I USE CIP AS A DIRECTION OF FUNDS AND SETTING TRAIT GEE. ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WE NEED A ROBUST PROCESS AS THEY WORK THROUGH THE APPROVALS. WE CAN SEE LOTS OF BIG CONTRACTS COME UP ON THE AGENDA. WE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP. I HEARD BACK FROM SOME MEMBERS OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO WORK TOWARD HAVING A MORE FORMAL

[00:55:03]

INVESTMENT APPROVAL WHEN SOMETHING GOES TO DESIGN. AND THEN AN EVEN MORE VETTED APPROVAL WHEN WE GET TO CONSTRUCTION. SO WE WOULD PROPOSE ACTUALLY TO COME BACK WITH A PROPOSED CIP IN FEBRUARY SO WE CAN DO MORE WORK ON THIS.

LET'S GET THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FIRST WOULD BE OUR SUGGESTION IN JANUARY, AND THEN COME BACK WITH A PROPOSED CIP IN FEBRUARY. WITH IT SOME UPDATED POLICIES PROCEDURES THAT WE CAN REFINE BOTH AT COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENTS. IT IS NOT THAT WE DO CIP AND WE ARE DONE, BUT IT IS

ALLOCATING FUNDS TO CAPITAL PROJECTS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: DAVE, I GUESS I AM COMING UP WITH THE PROCESS -- THE RECOMMENDED PROCESS.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT OTHER URBAN COUNTIES DO? >> WE CERTAINLY HAVE.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS A FRAMEWORK I USED IN MY PRIVATE SECTOR EXPERIENCE.

NOT ALWAYS DOES PRIVATE SECTOR PRACTICE TRANSLATE WELL TO GOVERNMENT, BUT THIS IS A CASE WHERE IT COULD TRANSLATE WELL. BEFORE YOU GET A BIG APPROVAL TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, YOU DOCUMENT IN ONE PLACE THE INVESTMENT CASE FOR. IT EVERYBODY LOOKS AT THAT BEFORE YOU SIGN THE BIG CHECK. THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY JUST THE HIGH POINTS IN THIS DOCUMENT, BUT I AM GOING TO PAUSE THERE UNLESS THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONER'S

COURT. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER GARCIA?

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE CIP.

I AM JUST CURIOUS THAT TO YOUR POINTS THAT THESE ARE -- THOSE PROJECTS ULTIMATELY SHOULD HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE FULFILLING THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. WE ADD CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THE CIP ITEM. IT WILL POTENTIALLY SAVE MONEY AND STILL BRINGS SOME OTHER VALUE TO OUR OPERATIONS. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR OFFICE BEING ABLE TO TEST THOSE CIP PROJECTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE STILL -- THAT THEY SHOULD STILL CONTINUE AS PROPOSED VERSUS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY THAT WILL SAVE MONEY, BUT STILL FULFILL THE INTENDED, BUT STILL BRING ADDITIONAL

VALUE? >> FIRST I WILL STAY -- SAY THAT WE WILL FOCUS ON THIS.

THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT WE CAN DO BY OURSELVES. WHAT WE ARE TEEING UP HERE IS A PROCESS WHERE ACTUALLY SOME OF THAT BURDEN FALLS ON THE DEPARTMENT PROPOSING THE PROJECT. WHEN WE HAVE THE PRELIMINARY INVESTMENT APPROVAL THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING FROM SCOPING TO SPENDING AND LAUNCHING THE FULL PROJECT, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GET A WRITE UP PERHAPS SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE PROVIDED AROUND THE POTENTIAL BUILDING PURCHASE THAT SAYS HERE IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. HERE IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST. HERE IS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE.

HERE ARE THE ALTERNATIVES WE LOOKED AT. HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE, IF ANYTHING, TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY. IF THE INFORMATION IS IN A PROJECT SHEET THAT IS IN THE BUDGET SUPPLEMENTS WE PROVIDED AND THE CIP, BUT I USE THE PHRASE FULLY BAKED, INVESTMENT READY. I THINK THAT IS THE -- AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET A GOOD TEMPLATE FOR THIS.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A 30-PAGE DOCUMENT. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A COUPLE PAGES. MY HOPE IS COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS ASKED TO LOOK AT THAT. MY TEAM CAN LOOK AT IT. WE CAN MAKE A DECISION.

DO WE WANT TO PROCEED OR DO WE WANT TO CHANGE COURSE? WE LOOKED AT THE ALTERNATIVES AND NOT -- THE WORLD CHANGES. I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE A DECISION ON ALL $8.8 BILLION OF PROJECTS. WE CAN SET THE DIRECTION AND THEN HAVE IT MOVE FORWARD AND

MOVE THROUGH AS WE COMMIT THE DOLLAR. >> AND I GUESS ONE LAST POINT IN THIS IS THAT HAVING DEALT WITH THE CIP AT THE CITY, A LOT OF THE PROJECTS ARE 10 --

[01:00:03]

ARE BETWEEN 10 AND 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING. SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS WERE INITIATED BY CITIZENS WHO WERE ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND IN TUNE WITH THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES OF THE COMMUNITIES AND PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS, THE POLITICAL PROCESS TO RAISE AWARENESS BY GOVERNMENT THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE INVESTED IN.

10 TO 20 YEARS TO WAIT ON SOMETHING, THAT'S A LONGTIME. ONE THING I WOULD WORK TO CHALLENGE US ON IS SEE HOW WE CAN EXPEDITE, MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY THE PROJECT AS SCOPED OUT, BUT REALLY THE INTENDED IMPROVE -- IMPROVEMENT.

THESE PROJECTS ARE FOREVER IN THE MAKING. UH -- A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE MAKING AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF IT GOES TO PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR THEM.

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> TOM RAMSEY: I WILL ECHO SUPPORT FOR WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA IS SAYING. WE DO NOT NEED A CIP PROGRAM ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT THE CITY OF HOUSTON HAS. THERE'S NO CONFIDENCE IN IT.

PEOPLE ATTEND THESE CIP MEETINGS. THEY HAVE SUPER NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS. SOME OF THESE POOR PEOPLE WERE TOLD THEY WILL HAVE THEIR PROJECT DONE LITERALLY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

WHAT I HAVE BEEN MOST EXPERIENCED WITH IN THE 20 COUNTIES I WORKED WITH IN TEXAS IS YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE GONNA DO FOR SURE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

YOU HAVE A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY. CERTAINLY I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT YEAR. SHOULD BE ABLE TO. SO THERE REALLY DOES NEED TO BE NOT -- THESE V -- THESE CIP PROJECTS SHOULD NOT BE A WISH LIST.

THEY SHOULD GIVE THE CONSTITUENTS SOME LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE DEFINED WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT, GET THEIR FEEDBACK AND GET THEIR INPUT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE -- THIS IS NOT A WISH LIST FOR SOMETHING WE WILL ACTUALLY DO.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE CAN FIT THAT INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF HERE ARE THE PROJECTS WE KNOW WE ARE DOING. THERE IS A SEPARATE LIST OF PROJECTS IN WHICH WE ARE DOING EVALUATIONS. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC AND OF OURSELVES. WHAT DO WE KNOW WE ARE DOING AND WHAT ARE WE STILL EVALUATING? PART OF WHAT THIS FRAMEWORK CAN DELIVER AND SOMETHING WE CAN IMPROVE ON IS SEPARATING BETWEEN THOSE SO WE DON'T HAVE PROJECTS UNDER EVALUATION

MIXED WITH PROJECTS WE KNOW WE ARE DOING. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

ELLIS? >> RODNEY ELLIS: I THINK IT IS A BALANCING ACT.

I CAN SEE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND COMMISSIONER GARCIA ON BOTH SIDES.

MY SENSE OF THE COUNTY ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. IT WAS ON THE BALLOT AND IT WAS TURNED DOWN AND IT ENDED UPCOMING BACK ANYWAY. I DO SEE THE OTHER SIDE.

PARTICULARLY PUTTING MY NAME ON THE BALLOT. WE GO OUT AND HAVE THESE MEETINGS. SOMETIMES I DO TELL PEOPLE THIS IS NOT AMAZON.

YOU WANT TO GIVE INPUT BECAUSE IT IS THEIR MONEY. BUT THE OTHER SIDE IS, YOU KNOW, I WILL GO OUT ON A -- IT IS A SCHOOL PARK, A SPARK DEAL.

THEY SAY WE WANT LIGHTS AND WE WANT BASKETBALL GOALS AND WE WANT A SOCCER FIELD AND WE WANT TO YOU PUT A GYMNASIUM OVER THERE TOO. I AM TRYING TO FIND A POLITE WAY OF SAYING THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO. THE OTHER SIDE IS WE DO NEED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC IN MY JUDGMENT MORE INPUT. WHAT THE BALANCE IS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE IN OFFICE FOR A GOOD WHILE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BALANCE IS. WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: DAVE, WAS THAT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION?

>> IT WAS. JUST A QUICK WORD ABOUT BUDGET HEARINGS, THIS SUMMARY BUDGET

[01:05:03]

BOOK AND SUPPLEMENTS EACH DAY ARE POSTED ONLINE BOTH FOR COMMISSIONER'S COURT STAFF AND THE PUBLIC. WE MADE UPDATES TO THEM AND WE WILL KEEP A VERSION HISTORY TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE CHANGED. WE HAVE FOUR DAYS OF HEARINGS AND WE ORGANIZED THOSE BY GOAL AREAS. TODAY WE WILL HEAR FROM JUSTICE AND SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. THE HOPE WAS TO HAVE PRESENTATIONS GROUPED TOGETHER THAT MAKE SENSE TOGETHER. WE ARE HERE TO -- I WOULD SAY FROM OUR SIDE WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR US TO GET OUT OF THE HEARINGS IS WHERE IS COMMISSIONER'S COURT HEADED AND WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? SO WE CAN WORK ON A PROPOSED BUDGET AND COME BACK LATER IN JANUARY THAT'S AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO WHERE COMMISSIONER'S COURT WANTS TO CONDUCT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. I KNOW WE HAVE SPEAKERS AND AS I AM READING THROUGH THE SPEAKER LIST I AM NOTICING THAT THEY ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH ON THE REINVESTMENT FUND THAT JAD IS PROPOSING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT EX-- EXTENT MY COLLEAGUES ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS. I KNOW BECAUSE OF MY ROLE IN THE JUVENILE COURT THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT JAD AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THE JUVENILE JUDGES, THE HARBOR KENNEDY GROUP AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. THEY BASICALLY -- NAKC HAS BEEN OBSERVING HARRIS COUNTY AND THE CHANGES THAT THE JUDGES AND THE DEPARTMENT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. BASICALLY THERE IS A REDUCTION IN THE POPULATION OF KIDS THAT ARE IN JAIL. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A KAW IMMEDIATE -- COMISREATE INCREASE. THE DISPARITIES, THERE IS NOW A RISK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND IN PRACTICE IT DOES NOT HAVE DISPARITIES.

THE OUTCOME STATISTICALLY ARE THE SAME ACCORDING TO EACH RACE.

THE PROBLEM AND -- THE PROBLEM IS THE KIDS THAT ARE GETTING ARRESTED ARE STILL DO PROPORTIONATELY BLACK OR HISPANIC. 90 OR IF NOT 80% ARE BLACK OR HISPANIC. IT IS CRAZY. WHY ARE THESE KIDS THE ONES ARRESTED? THIS IS AN INITIATIVE TO FIND ALTERNATIVES.

THE THEORY IS THAT A LOT OF THE OTHER KIDS FOUND WITH MARIJUANA OR THEY GET INTO A FIGHT, THEY ARE ABLE TO GO TO A TREATMENT PROGRAM, TO SOME SORT OF -- YOU KNOW, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE, BUT NOT PUTTING THEM IN JAIL-TYPE PROGRAM.

WHEREAS THE BLACK AND HISPANIC KIDS ARE TAKEN TO THE DETENTION CENTER DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS AN INITIATIVE TO TRY AND ADDRESS THAT SIDE OF THE EQUATION FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. I HOPE THERE IS SOMEONE FROM JAD WHO CAN FILL IN IF I SAID SOMETHING THAT WASN'T QUITE ACCURATE THERE. IF MAYBE ANNA OR JIM BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THE SPEAKERS, LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW WHAT IT IS THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

>> MR. BETKEY, YOU ARE UNMUTED. >> VERY GOOD.

JUDGE HIDALGO, I THINK YOU ABSOLUTELY NAILED IT. IN THE REPORTS I GOT FROM ANNA, ANNA HAS BEEN WORKING EX -- EXTREMELY CLOSELY ON THIS INITIATIVE.

I THINK THE STARK RACIAL DISPARITIES IN JUVENILE DETENTION AND ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE DETENTION HAS RAISED DATA DRIVEN INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES.

I THINK YOU SUMMARIZED IT QUITE WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: LIEU SIN --

LUCINDA, CAN WE TAKE THE SPEAKERS, PLEASE. >> YES, MA'AM.

JASON OLIVER, GO AHEAD PLEASE. MR. OLIVER?

>> HI, YES. I'M JASON OLIVER. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY WANT TO ECHO EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL HAVE SAID. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT I AM A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU AS WELL AS THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION FOR SEEING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FUND. I KNOW I WORK WITH YOUTH IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES.

I DO PROGRAMMING AROUND THE CITY AND I ALSO DO A LOT OF TUTORING WITH THE STUDENTS.

I CAN SEE THE VALUE OF THESE TYPES OF COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO JUST NEED THIS INVESTMENT. WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO POLICING, AND THEN WHEN WE START TO SEE -- WE HAVE A LOT OF EVIDENCE ABOUT WHAT WORKS, AND WE NEED MORE MONEY TO

[01:10:03]

FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN BUILD OR WHAT WE KNOW WHAT WORKS WITH OUR YOUTH.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO ADOPT THIS ITEM, AND THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. CARLTON HARRIS WITH MY BROTHER'S KEEPER.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THANK THE HONORABLE JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR THEIR TIME.

MY NAME IS CHARL TON HARRIS -- CARLTON HARRIS AND THE ADMINISTRATION MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SERVE AS THE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION CITY LEAD CONTACT DUE TO EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST AND I HAVE WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER GARCIA AS WELL AS WORKED WITH COMMISSIONER ELLIS ON IMPLEMENTING HOSPITAL-BASED AND COMMUNITY-BASED VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN PRECINCT 3 WHERE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY SERVES AS MY COMMISSIONER. THIS INITIATIVE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HENRY GONZALEZ IN JUVENILE PROBATION AND PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION FOR JUST AS INVOLVED YOUTH, PRIMARILY BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR. MY OWN PERSONAL TESTIMONY IS AS A YOUNG MAN AT THE AGE OF 16 I BECAME JUST AS INVOLVED AT 19.

I I WAS SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SELLING DRUGS AND CARRYING WEAPONS.

I SERVED A TOTAL OF SIX YEARS IN PRISON AND WAS RELEASED FEBRUARY 14TH OF 2000.

I HAVE BEEN OUT OF PRISON NOW FOR NEARLY 21 YEARS. FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY SETTING AS A MENTOR, AN INCREDIBLE MESSENGER WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG MEN TO HELP THEM GET THEIR LIVES ON TRACK AND TO PROVIDE SOME POSITIVE MENTOR SHIP AND ROLE MODEL FOR THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO ADOPT THIS ITEM IN THEIR BUDGET BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT OUR YOUTH DO NOT HAVE TO BECOME JUST AS INVOLVED TO RECEIVE THESE SERVICES.

I THINK IF WE WERE MORE PRO ACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE, AND SPENDING MONEY ON THE FRONT END FOR THE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, THE LESS MONEY WE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND ON INTERVENTION AND INCARCERATION. FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JUVENILE PROBATION, AND I HAVE ONE YOUNG MAN THAT COMES TO MIND THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH. HE MADE A SUCCESS OUT OF HIS LIFE. AND I KNOW AS WE CONTINUE TO FIND ALTERNATIVES TO IN -- TO INCARCERATION AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY SETTING THAT'S WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND IT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS INITIATIVE AND IT IS INVESTED IN OUR YOUTH RIGHT NOW. TWO THINGS, IT WOULD INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT WOULD ALSO SIMULTANEOUSLY TRANSFORM LIVES. I HAVE A PHILOSOPHY THAT WE DO IT BETTER TOGETHER. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INITIATIVE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I'M AFRAID I HAVE TO STOP YOU. WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS AND I HAVE TO STOP ON TIME. YES COMMISSIONER GARCIA. I THINK YOU ARE MUTED,

COMMISSIONER. >> RODNEY ELLIS: ARE YOU UNMUTED, COMMISSIONER GARCIA? WHILE HE IS TRYING TO GET ON. IT FROZE UP. I AM JUST PROUD OF YOU TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND. I AM WILLING TO BET COMMISSIONER GARCIA AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. FOR ALL OF THE SPEAKERS I WOULD JUMP IN ON EVERY ONE.

I CAN SEE GARCIA'S HEAD SHAKING. JUDGE YOU ARE MUTED.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. >> GO AHEAD, SIR.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ISAAC. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE LETTER CALLING FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUNDS. I AM HERE AND I WAS A JUSTICE

[01:15:03]

IMPACTED YOUTH. AND LIVED AS A BROTHER TO THE JUSTICE IMPACTED YOUTH.

I AM A PROUD RESIDENT OF HOUSTON, MENTOR TO YOUTH WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH FAMILIES OF COLOR, AND AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS REPRESENTING AN ALLIANCE OF ORGANIZATION AND FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER FOR THIS PURPOSE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TIME TO SHOW MY GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT FOR RECOGNIZING AND PRIORITIZING THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR YOUTH.

ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND FOR CREATING THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FUND. I AM HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I LIVED THROUGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY OWN BAD DECISIONS.

I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO SIT IN A JAIL CELL AS A TEENAGER AND MANY TIMES MORE AFTER THAT. I KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO SEE YOUR BROTHER SIT IN PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. MY FAMILY KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO ENDURE YEARS OF COURT DATES TO SEE YOUR LOVED ONE TAKEN AWAY WHILE HIS CHILDREN ARE LEFT WITHOUT A FATHER. MY MOTHER KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE TO HELP RAISE TWO GRANDCHILDREN WHILE HER SON SITS IN PRISON. FAMILIES AND VICTIMS HAVE SUFFERED LONG ENOUGH, AND I AM HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT ALL -- THAT ALTHOUGH I HAD A STRONG FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM, WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED MORE FOR OUR YOUTH.

I HAVE SEEN TOO MANY OF MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS IMPACTED BY THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AS YOUTH. AND IT STIP RIPPLES THROUGH THEIR LIVES TODAY.

NOW I AM SEEING OUR CURRENT YOUTH OF COLOR BEING DEEPLY IMPACTED AND THROWN IN A VICIOUS CYCLE WHERE THEY ARE LEFT WITH TOO FEW OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES AND FALLING DEEPER INTO RECIDIVISM, HOMELESSNESS AND LACKING ACCESS TO ADEQUATE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH. I AM HERE NOW AS A RECENT GRADUATE WITH A BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN , COMMITTED TO ADVOCATE FOR MY FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUTH WHO WILL LIVE THROUGH THE REALITIES OF STARK RACIAL DISPARITIES AND INADEQUATE ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE DETENTION. NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE COMMUNITY -- FOR COMMUNITY-DRIVEN INVESTMENTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES TO PREVENT YOUTH OF COLOR FROM JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT AND PREVENT DEEPENING INVOLVEMENT FOR YOUTH WHO ARE RELEASED FROM DETENTION TO FACE GREATER RISKS, HOMELESSNESS AND VARIOUS FACTORS THAT WILL DETER THEM FROM REACHING THE FULL POTENTIAL. I ENCOURAGE THE COURT TO REVIEW AND ADOPT THE INITIATIVE PRESENTED ON THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET AND GIVE OUR YOUTH AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OUR COMMUNITY THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL AND RESTORE JUSTICE. CONTINUE TO INVEST IN HOUSTON. CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR FAMILY, AND PLEASE INVEST IN

OUR FUTURE LEADERS. I THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> LINA HIDALGO: YES.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: I WAS JUST CHECKING MY MIC. THANK YOU TO THE GENTLEMAN FOR

CALLING IN. >> COUNCILMEMBER TARSHA JACKSON.

GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COUNTY JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS TARSHA JACKSON. I AM THE HOUSTON CITY COUNCILMEMBER FOR DISTRICT 8. FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR OF URBAN COMMUNITY NETWORK WHICH IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS TO BUILD LOCAL CAPACITIES TO ADDRESS AT RISK YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE JOINT BUDGET REQUEST BY THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO PILOT A YOUTH FUND.

PRIOR TO BEING A DIRECTOR OF A NONPROFIT AND COUNCILMEMBER, MY FAMILY WAS -- MY FAMILY'S LIFE WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN AFTER MY SON WAS ARRESTED FOR A CLASSROOM DISRUPTION.

THE CLASSROOM DISRUPTION STARTED HIM IN THE PRISON PIPELINE.

AFTER MY SON WAS ARREST ETD I REACHED OUT -- I REACHED OUT TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO HELP ME NAVIGATE A SYSTEM I I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND THE SERVICES. THE ONLY SERVICES THAT WAS AVAILABLE WAS WITH HARRIS COUNTY PROBATION. THAT WAS 20 YEARS AGO. UNFORTUNATELY THINGS AREN'T BETTER. THEY ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT THEY NEED TO IMPROVE TREMENDOUSLY. AS A MOTHER WHO NAVIGATED THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, I KNOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE AT RISK KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

AS A COUNCILMEMBER, THE LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE AT RISK OF GOING INTO THE SYSTEM AND THEY LIVE IN MY DISTRICT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF ORGANIZATIONS SO THEY CAN SERVE THOSE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE WILL BEA SPENDING MONEY ON KIDS.

THE BEST WAY TO SPEND IT RIGHT NOW IS IN PREVENTION. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. VOTE YES SO WE CAN GET THESE RESOURCES.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER, I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR CHIMING IN AND

[01:20:03]

CONGRATULATE YOU AGAIN. I CAN'T WAIT TO COME OVER AND LOOK AT YOUR OPERATION WHEN THINGS ARE NORMAL. WE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS IN THE BUDGET, BY THE WAY, SOME THINGS WE WILL DO TO HELP REIMAGINE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I MAY NOT BE AS WELCOME AT CITY HALL, BUT PART OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS CREATING A FUND AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WHEN THEY MATCH.

SO I AM GLAD YOU ARE THERE AND PROUD OF YOU AND THANK YOU. I THOUGHT ABOUT CALLING YOU TO JUST SEE HOW IT WAS GOING OVER THERE. AS I RECALL, THEY MEET TWO DAYS A WEEK. I WAS TEMPTED TO CALL YOU AS I DROVE IN THIS MORNING.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF IT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. COUNCILMEMBER, I WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER ELLIS. CONGRATULATIONSES AND GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THIS CALL ADVOCATING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

YOUR PAST WORK IS HELPING TO MOVE US FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONSES AND LOOKING

FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING

WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS. >> RODNEY ELLIS: COMMISSIONER GARCIA, SHE IS A BIKE RIDER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: LET'S GET HER ON. >> IT FEELS LIKE LONG AGO WHEN

WE WERE STRUGGLING TO GET THE ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED. >> THANK YOU.

WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE HAVE A COMMUNITY PARTNER MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK. THE COMMUNITY WILL START CREATING THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MOVING FORWARD FOR OUR KIDS, OUR ORGANIZATION AND IT IS A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S HOW WE WILL DO IT. IT IS MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE CAUSE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU. >> CENTER FOR URBAN

TRANSFORMATION. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS LEAH AND I AM WITH JUSTICE FOR CENTER FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION.

I PARTICIPATE IN THE REDEFINING YOUTH COALITION AND WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR ADVOCATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS COUNTY STAFF ON THIS INITIATIVE IN JAD AND THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. IN MY JOB WE WERE SWORN TO HELP BREAK THE PRISON PIPELINE AND BUILD A CULTURE OF COMPASSION.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS AND THE D.A.'S OFFICE AND OTHER PARTNERS WE DO CASE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES. WE WORK WITH THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HELP CHANGE OUTCOMES. IT'S NOT EASY, AND OUR PROGRAM IS DEFINITELY NOT PERFECT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO REDUCE OUR CASE LOADS.

WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR TRACKING SYSTEM. THAT'S WHY WE NEED INVESTMENT TO SOLIDIFY THE FOUNDATION WE HAVE BUILT AND EXPAND TO SERVE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY BEYOND THE GRANTS WE ARE HUSTLING FOR. ULTIMATELY TO SUPPORT THE BRILLIANCE AND LIGHT AND LOVE THAT IS EVERY YOUNG PERSON THAT WE WORK WITH.

IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A HUMAN BEING, WE HAVE ALL DONE THINGS THAT HAVE CAT TAU LIESED THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AS LEAST I HAVE. I AT TIMES PUT WHAT I WANTED OVER MY CARE FOR OTHER PEOPLE. SOMETIMES CONSCIOUSLY AND SOMETIMES NOT. WHEN WE ARE BLAMED FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED OR PUBLICLY SHAMED OR PUNISHED I KNOW THAT I, ANYWAY, REACT WITH ANGER AND REBELLION.

IN CONTRAST, WHEN I AM ENCOUNTERED WITH CARE AND COMPASSION, AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMAKE MYSELF, I CAN LEARN IN A WAY THAT I DIDN'T LIVE WITHIN MY OWN VALUE AND DO IT BETTER NEXT TIME. HUMAN BEINGS NEED SERVICES LIKE COUNSELING OR SKILL BUILDING AND SELF-AWARENESS. TOOLS TO DO CONFLICT BETTER. EDUCATION TO HELP BUILD LIVES. THESE HELP COMMUNITIES TO NOT JUST BE SAFER, BUT THRIVING.

OUR WORK IS ROOTED IN A COMMUNITY WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO KNOW THEIR COMMUNITY BETTER THAN ANY OF US. SOMETIMES THEY KNOW ALL OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF A YOUNG PERSON WE ARE WORKING WITH BEFORE WE DO.

YOU HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SEEING THE COMMUNITY FLOURISH AND WE WILL KEEP COMING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY LONG AFTER IT HAS MOVED ON. WE STARTED A COMMUNITY PROGRAM WITH PARTNERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO YOUTH HAVE A PLACE TO GO AND SEE LIFE GROW FROM THEIR OWN HANDS. THE RESTAURANT IS HOLDING THREE BARBECUES TO FEED PEOPLE HUNGRY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMUNITY STARTED A DIVERSION PROGRAM WITH CRITICAL COUNTY AND OTHER COLLABORATORS. WE ADVOCATED WITH PROBATION AND CALLING SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS TO OURS. IT IS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE RELEASED FROM DETENTION IN THE PANDEMIC AND IT IS FOR HEALTH AND FOR FAMILY.

[01:25:07]

THE BEST PLACE TO BE IS IN COMMUNITY. I ASK YOU TO APPROVE JAD'S

BUDGET REQUEST FOR THIS FUND AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> ALICIA CASTILLO. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK. I AM WITH THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION AND A MEMBER OF THE HARRIS COUNTY REDEFINING YOUTH COALITION AND IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. I DON'T ENVY THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS YOU ALL HAVE BEFORE YOU IN THE COMING DAYS, BUT I AM HERE TO STRESS WHY THE REINVESTMENT FUND SHOULD BE A PRIORITY AMONG ALL OF THE OTHER PRIORITIES YOU CONSIDER. TO GIVE SOME MORE CONTEXT, WHEN COVID-19 BECAME A PUBLIC CONCERN IN TEXAS IN MAR -- MARCH, THEY ARE WORKING WITH PROBATION DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE HELD IN DETENTION.

OVERWHELMINGLY WE HEARD JUDGES AND PROBATION ISSUES WHO AGREE WITH THE GOAL, BUT SAID THE SAME THING. YOU KNOW, WE WOULD RELEASE FUNDS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO SEND THEM. WE CAN AGREE THAT IT IS NOT SAFEST PLACE FOR A CHILD WHO MADE MISTAKES IN A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND WHEN IT DISPROPORTIONATELY IS APPLIED TO BLACK AND BROWN KIDS. IN MARCH WE FOUND A LINE VALUE AND AN URGENCY TO MAKE A CHANGE IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO MANY OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS STRETCHED THEMSELVES FURTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD WITH THE SUPPORT OF JAD AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND THEIR FULL LEADERSHIP TO SERVE MORE KIDS WITH MORE OFFENSES THAN THEY WERE SERVING BEFORE. I THINK OF ONE PARTICULAR STORY, A TEENAGER IN DETENTION FOR ASSAULT. HE WAS FIGHTING WITH HIS MOM. WHEN HE WAS RELEASED, ONE OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS STEPPED IN FOR CASE MANAGEMENT.

THEY SAW A FAMILY WHO IS IN POVERTY. A MOM WHO WAS DOING ANYTHING SHE COULD TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON. THIS TEENAGER, LIKE ALL TEENAGERS, WAS HUNGRY. HE WAS TAKING MORE FOOD THAN THEY HAD TO SPARE AND IT CAUSED A LOT OF TENSION BETWEEN HIM AND MOM. THE QUESTION WAS WHAT DOES HE NEED? I THINK ANYONE WOULD LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AND SAY HE NEEDED MORE FOOD AND NOT A JAIL CELL AND NOT A REHABILITATION PROGRAM.

FOOD. HIS CASE MANAGEMENT TEAM WORKED TOGETHER TO BRING A HOT MEAL TO THE FAMILY EVERY DAY WHILE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH HIM.

IN THE LAST REPORT THE FAMILY IS STILL DOING VERY WELL. SO WE ARE ASKING TO MAKE THIS KIND OF CHANGE SUSTAINABLE. AS WE JUST MENTIONED IT IS A HUSTLE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN IN HOUSTON. WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO LET THEM FOCUS MORE ON WHAT THEY DO BEST. CRIME PREVENTION IS PERSONAL. IT IS INTIMATE.

IT COSTS REAL MONEY TO PAY THOSE MESSENGERS. BUY THE WI-FI HOTSPOTS TO AVOID TRUANCY. TO BUY SNACKS FOR A HUNDRED TEENAGERS.

THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DARRELL SIMMS WITH KEYS OF HOUSTON. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DARRELL SIMMS. I AM THE CO-FOUNDER OF KEYS OF HOUSTON THE -- AND A MEMBER OF THE REDEFINED YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION.

I WANT TO THANK THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND JUVENILE PROBATION FOR SEEING THIS REINVEST MEANT FUND. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DETENTION CENTER AND VOLUNTEERING WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY JAIL.

I CAN SEE THESE YOUTH BEING RELEASED FROM PROBATION AT 15, 16, 17 YEARS OF AGE.

WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF RETURNING TO THE SAME COMMUNITY WITH NO PROGRAMS AND NOAL -- NO ALTERNATIVE THEY ARE A VICTIM TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND IS LOCKED UP WITH AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, CAPITAL MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER.

THEN THEY SAY MR. SIMMS, CAN YOU HELP ME? I FEEL WE NEED COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS JUST

[01:30:03]

SURVIVAL. I WAS HEARING THEM SPEAK ABOUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITY, HOME, HEALTH AND PURPOSE TO BE INCLUDED IN THESE PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE YOUNG PEOPLE GOING IN DOING THE DRUG AWARENESS PROGRAM AND I WOULD SAY 75 TO 80% OF THE SAME PEOPLE COMING BACK WITHIN WEEKS OF BEING RELEASED. IT IS 95 TO 90% BLACK AND BROWN KIDS. I AM DOING SOMETHING WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY ADULT PROBATION PROGRAM. 17% OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE COMPLETE THE PRO -- PROBATION PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY. WE NEED A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM THAT CAN HIT THERE AT HOME TO BE PART OF HELPING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AGAIN. I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR SEEING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. THANK YOU.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> DARRELL MALONE WITH THE

TUBMAN PROJECT. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> THE FOUNDER OF THE TUBMAN PROJECT. IT IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT DOES TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE AROUND THE COUNTRY. I AM A MEMBER OF THE REFUNDING YOUTH COALITION.

VERY INTERESTED IN THE JAD BUDGET ITEM WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AT LENGTH.

ONE THING I WILL ADD, I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DISPARITIES AND INVESTMENTS AND WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU DEAL WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU WERE WORKING WITH, AND IN A LOT OF THE PARTS OF THE WORLD YOU HAVE FUNDING DOMINATED BY SECURITY.

MOST OF IT WILL SEE IT IS AUTHORITARIAN BENT. IT IS SECURITY WITH OVERWHELMING FORCE. I THINK IT IS A LOT HEALTHIER THE IDEA OF CREATING SHARED PROSPERITY. LEADER THAT'S ARE GIVEN TRUST BY WORKING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERYONE VERSUS JUST IN POWER. LIKE A PARENT WHO IS NOT INTERESTED IN FEEDING THEIR CHILD, JUST BEAT THEM TO SUBMISSION.

I LIKE THE IDEA AND WANT TO APPLAUD HARRIS COUNTY FOR BEING CONSISTENTLY IN THE LEAD IN TERMS OF WORKING TOWARD THAT IDEAL. VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE RECENT WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOUNDATION TO REDUCE JAIL POPULATION.

THAT SEES THE REINVEST MEANT FUND AS A GREAT ADDITION. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL SERVE TO ENHANCE THAT AND OTHER EFFORTS THAT HARRIS COUNTY HAS UNDER TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC BODY. IT WILL GIVE COMMUNITIES A STRONGER VOICE IN HOW THEY SHAPE THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT AND ENHANCE THE DEMOCRACY WE HAVE IN A TIME WHERE PEOPLE ARE PUSHING AGAINST THE IDEA OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

SO AGAIN WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT AND MAKING SURE THERE IS JUST LESS OF A PIPELINE GOING INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MORE OF A PIPELINE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO BEING PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESS. MEMBERS OF SOCIETY -- AND SUCCESSFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AND IT BENEFITSEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

HAVE A GREAT DAY. >> LANITA ROBINSON WITH INNOVATIVE SEGUE.

>> SU -- SEGUE. >> I'M SORRY. >> THAT'S OKAY.

I AM LANITA ROBINSON AND THE DIRECTOR OF INNOVATIVE SEGUE, A 501C3 ORGANIZATION, A MEMBER OF THE REDEFINING COAL LOITION -- COALITION. I WANT TO LIKE TO THANK THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION FOR SEEING THE CLINICAL URGENCY AND IMPORTANCE OF CREATING THIS REINVESTMENT FUND. INGNAW -- INNOVATIVE SEGUE IS WORKING WITH THE MOST VULNERABLE. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE ACADEMIC STUDENTS AND

[01:35:03]

THEY HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY LABELED AS DISRUPTING AND RECEIVING HARD PENALTIES TO TEACH A LESSON AND WITHOUT THE LACK OF RESOURCES TO HAVE SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS TO THE SUCCESSES. I HAVE DRAGGED MY STUDENTS ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY TO KEEP THEM ENRICHED AND ATTACH THE COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN CARE FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

IN 2014 I WALKED BY A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE ALIE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT HAS NOW BEEN TORN DOWN AND IT WILL TAKE THREE YEARS IT REBUILD IS WHAT ACTUALLY SAVED MY CHILDREN FROM BEING VICTIMS OF THE JUVENILE DETENTION SYSTEM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET FOR OUR CHILDREN, THE BUDGET SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC, WITHOUT A DEBATE AND COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY INVOLVED, AND RESOURCES SHOULD BE QUICK, FAST AND IN A HURRY AS IF WE ARE DEALING WITH A DISASTER RECOVERY BECAUSE WE HAVE DEALT WITH HURRICANE HARVEY SINCE 2017 AND NOW THIS PANDEMIC, AND OUR CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING. EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN, WE NEED TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE INCREASE THAT IS SURELY TO COME WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ENSURE THE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. BECAUSE OF THAT I AM ENCOURAGING AND ASKING THE QUESTION TO PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE FUND.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ASANA RICHARDS WITH THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS OSADA RICHARDS AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE AS YOU HEARD AND A FAMILY MEMBER OF A YOUTH WHO HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. I ALSO SPEAK TO YOU AS A COORDINATOR OF THE REDEFINING YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION WHICH YOU HEARD MEMBERS SPEAK FROM TODAY WHICH WAS FORMED IN JUNE OF 2020 IN THE MIDST OF THE CO -- COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH THREE GOALS.

THE FIRST GOAL WAS TO BUILD A LOCAL COALITION FOR YOUTH JUSTICE TRANSFORMATION TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE THE FEED FOR DETENTION. OUR SECOND GOAL IS TO EXPAND COMMUNITY BASED CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE AND SAFELY KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF CUSTODY. OUR THIRD GOAL IS TO CONNECT THE LOCAL FAMILIES, YOUTH AND THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO NATIONAL BEST PRACTICES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO TRANSFORM THE EFFORTS WHICH THE REINVESTMENT FUND IS.

I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THE COALITION HAS CON -- CONVENED IN SMALL AND LARGE MEETINGS AND THAT INCLUDES THE PARTICIPATION OF HARRY GONZALEZ, THE DIRECTOR OF HARRIS COUNTY JUVE -- JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND OAKES AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT, YOUTH IMPACTED AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE CONTINUING TO BE IMPACTED.

ON TUESDAY OUR COALITION SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT ASKING OUR COUNTY JUDGE AND EACH COMMISSIONER TO ADOPT THIS ITEM IN THE JAD BUDGET FOR THE CREATION OF THE REINVESTMENT FUND. OUR LETTER INCLUDES MORE THAN 60 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THE BREDTH AND DIVERSITY OF HARRIS COUNTY WHICH INCLUDES MAYOR TURNER AND TRUSTY NATASHA BUTLER AND AS YOU HEARD FROM THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEMBER TASHA JACKSON. IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING AS A RESEARCHER AND A MEMBER OF THE COALITION, I AM A PROUD THIRD GENERATION RESIDENT OF THE HISTORIC THIRD WARD. I AM A PROUD FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENT WHO AFTER BECOMING A MOTHER IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO EARN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND A MASTER'S DEGREE AND PHD FROM PENN STATE.

AS A YOUNG PERSON LIVING BETWEEN SOUTH PARK, SUNNY SIDE, I FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND UNSPEAKABLE TRAUMAS THAT TESTED MY HOPE AND RESILIENCE.

IT WAS MY COMMUNITY AND THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WAS THERE FOR ME TO MAKE SURE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY AND THE SUPPORT I NEEDED TO FULFILL MY GREATEST POTENTIAL WHICH IS WHY THIS FUND IS NEEDED. WHEN MY SON ENCOUNTERED CHALLENGES AS A TEEN, IT WAS THE COMMUNITY AND THIS ORGANIZATION AND THE DIRECT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT STEPPED IN TO SUPPORT HIM AND ME AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED OF THEFT.

I AM GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, COVENANT HOUSE, AGAPE MINISTRY THAT HELPED HIM AFTER BEING CONVICTED TO GO ON TO JOIN THE U.S. NAVY AND START A CAREER.

[01:40:03]

I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THIS FUND AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> RILEY GLOVER WITH THE YOUTH PROGRAM. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO ALL.

AMAYA YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM A 501C3 ENRICHMENT PROGRAM WORKING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS A FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION. IT HAS BEEN AFFECTED FOR 13 YEARS NOW. IT IS THE CITY OF HOUSTON ANTI-GANG UNIT I CAN SAY WITHOUT RESERVATION THAT YOUTH AND COMMUNITY HAVE A BETTER OUTCOME WHEN THEY COME FROM COMMUNITIES AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN MEMBERS ARE REDEFINING THE YOUTH JUSTICE COALITION IN THE PRESENT DAY DATA. I THINK WE WILL DO WELL AND I WILL SAY SO IN ADVANCE AND TO HELP WITH THIS REINVEST MEANT.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS REINVESTMENT FUND AND THE BUDGET AND FINALLY THANK YOU

FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

JUDGE, THOSE WERE ALL OF THE SPEAKER THAT'S KEY -- THAT WE COULD REACH.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUCINDA. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SPEAKERS. LET'S GET MOVING WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS BY DEPARTMENTS. WE'LL START HERE.

JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION IS THE FIRST DEPARTMENT. >> I AM GOING TO UNMUTE GYM

BETKEY. AND DR. ANNA CORREA. >> GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU, LUCINDA. GOOD MORNING JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.

I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR ESTABLISHING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

I AND MY ENTIRE TEAM CONSIDER IT AN HONOR. AS LUCINDA I HAVE DR. CORREA, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND I CAN'T ANSWER, BUT CORREA HAS AGREED TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE.

LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET HEARING WE WERE THREE MONTHS OLD AND WE HAD A TEAM OF THREE PERSONS. COME MARCH OF 2020 LAST YEAR, WE -- COVID HIT AND OUR DEPARTMENT HAD TO GROW UP QUICKLY. LUCINDA, IF YOU CAN TURN TO PAGE TWO. WHAT WE WILL FOCUS ON INITIALLY ARE THE GOALS.

[01:45:01]

I WANT TO THANK ANYONE THAT CALLED IN FOR THE YOUTH JUSTICE COMMUNITY FUND FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR BUSY SCHEDULES. I WANT TO REFLECT AND GIVE CREDIT TO HENRY GONZALEZ WITH THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND CHAIRPERSONS HIDALGO WHO CHAIRS THE COURT AND OTHERS FORGIVING THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO FACILITATE THIS PROGRAM. THE VERY FIRST GOAL WE HEARD OF THE HARSH DISPARITIES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ARENA. WE HAVE SIMILAR DISPARITIES IN OUR ADULT JUSTICE SYSTEM. EARLY THIS YEAR WE HIRED A FAIRNESS ADMINISTRATOR AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO ASSIST. THEY WORKED CLOSELY AND THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO THE PERSONS GETTING RELEASED.

THE SECOND IS ON TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WHAT I WILL SAY THERE AND JUSTICE BRANDIS SUMMED IT UP BEST. SUNSHINE IS THE DISINFECTANT.

THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO HAVE DATA THAT IS PUBLIC FACING SO WE CAN BE OPEN AND ACCOUNTABLE.

OPEN GOVERNMENT IS GOOD GOVERNMENT. WE ARE DOING SIGNIFICANT WORK IN SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF CRIME. THEY ARE DEDICATED TO THAT AND THEY ARE MAKING END ROADS IN THAT AREA. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS A PORTRAIT OF OUR ORGANIZATION TODAY. WE ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE DIVISIONS. ADMINISTRATION, POLICY AND DATA TECHNOLOGY.

OUR ADMINISTRATION IS MORE THAN AN ADMINISTRATION. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS DEPARTMENT IS THE PROJECT MANAGER OF THE CONSENT DECREE.

WE ALSO HAVE A GRANTS PROGRAM AND RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE ESTABLISHED A NEWSLETTER TO INFORM THE COMMUNICATION AND IT WAS ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WE HEARD OFTEN. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR STAKEHOLDERS IN FORMED AS TO THE GOOD WORK GOING ON IN THE COUNTY. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THIS SLIDE IS OUR ADJUSTED BASE BUDGET FOR 2021. AGAIN IT IS BROKEN DOWN BY OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION POLICY DATA TECHNOLOGY YOU WILL SEE THE ADJUSTED BASE IS UNDER 2.7 MILLION. NEXT SLIDE.

WE ADD NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR 21-22, THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.

WE HAD REQUESTS OF 5.22 MILLION. A LARGE CHUNK OF THAT REQUEST OF COURSE WILL BE PART OF THE REINVESTMENT FUND. WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING NEEDS PERTAINING TO THE CONSENT DECREES. IT IS CRITICAL TO BE ABLE TO AVOID WHAT WE GOT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

AND THE NEXT SLIDE. WE HEARD FROM THE PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO TESTIFY AND I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO GREAT DETAIL IN THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT.

IT IS TO INVEST IN THE GRASSROOTS PROVIDING ANYTHING FOR RETENTION.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT AS A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT AND HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT WILL ASSIST IN THE GRASSROOTS PROVIDER AND REALLY INVEST IN THE DATA COLLECTION.

[01:50:07]

WE CAN LOOK AT RESULTS. THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING TO FUND 2 MILLION.

AND THE MONEY HE IS WILLING TO TRANSFER TO OUR DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THIS SLIDE GIVES KIND OF A ONE-PAGE SNAP SHOT OF OUR BASE REQUEST AND OUR NEW REQUEST AND THE TOTAL REQUEST. THE BASE REQUEST IS AGAIN JUST UNDER 2.7 MILLION. OUR NEW REQUEST TOTALED 5.2 MILLION.

THE TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR 2021-2022 IS 7.9 MILLION. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? THIS IS A LOOK TO THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR A YEAR FROM NOW, AND IF EVERYTHING WE ASKED FOR IS APPROVED, IT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AT THE SAME TIME NEXT YEAR.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE BASE, 2.7 MILLION. THE ON GOING REQUESTS THAT WE CARRY FORWARD FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION AND THE 3.9 MILLION IS WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER KIND OF THE ONE-TIME COST DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. WITH THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: JUDGE? >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. I'D

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: MR. BETKEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A LITTLE STICKER PRICE SHOCK HERE, BUT THE REALITY IS BY VIRTUE OF A GREAT DEAL OF THIS -- BY VIRTUE OF THE LAWSUIT AND A FEW OTHER THINGS, THIS HAS

ALREADY BEEN GREAT GAINS BY VIRTUE OF A SETTLEMENT. >> A LARGE CHUNK IS BASED ON THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AND FOR US GETTING INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE O'DONNELL CONSENT DECREE.

A BUNCH OF THIS MONEY IS REALLY SERVING OUR OTHER JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOTCHA. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAD THAT CORRECT.

THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS JACK CAGLE.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT? IS THERE ANY FUNDING THAT IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THEM OR OTHER GRANTS OR FUNDS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO YOUR

DEPARTMENT? >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, I AM NOT SURE.

ANNA, DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION? >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, HI, HOW ARE YOU? ONE OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS SO POLITELY IS CONNECTING US WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON THE EDUCATION OF HARRIS COUNTY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT TO SEE WHAT POTENTIAL PARTNERS CAN EXIST. SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE YOUTH JUSTICE FUND. WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE SOME POSSIBILITIES THERE.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THERE IS SOME OVERLAP WITH EDUCATION AND WHAT WE DO TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND WHAT YOU GUYS THINK. SO I'M EXCITED THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO GET THOSE -- IT IS THE THEN DIAGRAM AND EVERYTHING IS CIRCLED AND WE CAN TRY TO GET Y'ALL TO WHERE WE HAVE MORE IN THE MIDDLE SPH -- IN THE DIAGRAM AND IT IS LESS CIRCLED OUT. THANK YOU FOR EXPLORING THAT.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GETTING WITH MY STAFF, I THINK SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WERE IN THIS REPORT WEREN'T QUITE EXACTLY THE NUMBERS THAT YOU CITED, BUT MAYBE I JUST DIDN'T HAVE A

[01:55:11]

CHANCE TO SEE WHERE IT WAS IN THAT WAY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ADDED UP FROM YOUR REPORT AND WHAT OUR CREW WAS LOOKING AT. I UH TBREESH -- I APPRECIATE THE FOLLOW-UP WITH MY TEAM.

>> WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO DO SO. THANK YOU.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: THANK YOU. >> JUDGE, I AM GOING TO MUTE THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND JUST THANK THE TEAM.

MY NOTE WAS ON THE PRETRIAL -- THERE IS A PRETRIAL ITEM HERE THAT I WAS WONDERING WHY IT IS ON THEIR BUDGET. THE R14 CONSULTING. MAKE SURE YOU PUT THOSE IN

PRETRIAL BUDGET. >> JUDGE HIDALGO, THE REASON THE CONSULTING FEE FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT CAME OUT UNDER OUR BUDGET, AT THAT POINT WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON THIS, WE WERE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO PRETRIAL SERVICES I WASN'T IN THE ROLE OF DIRECTOR AND THAT PARTICULAR MONEY WAS TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF DR. BRIAN LOVINS WHO WILL HAVING A PRETRIAL SERVICE FOR THE ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND REALLY ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT GOING VIRTUAL. IN THE EFFORT OF TIME AND OUR ROLE, WE HAD THE MONEY AND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO GO THROUGH SO WE WANTED TO EXPEDITE THAT. THAT'S A ONE-TIME COST. THE OTHER FEES RELATED TO PRE-TRIAL SERVICES, THAT WILL NEEDLESS TO SAY WILL BE UNDER THE PRE-TRIAL SERVICES

BUDGET. >> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. THANK YOU, JIM.

AND ON EVERYTHING ELSE, YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND HOW YOU ARE COORDINATING ACROSS SO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND SO MANY DIVISIONS.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING. >> VERY CLEAR.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER

RAMSEY AND CONGRATULATIONS. >> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, LET'S GO TO THE PROBATE

COURTS. >> YES, MA'AM. I AM GOING TO UNMUTE THE PRESENTER JUDGE MICHAEL NIEMAN. JUDGE MICHAEL NEWMAN AND JUDGE JASON COX. IF YOU CAN JUST TURN DOWN YOUR BACKGROUND.

JUDGE COX, YOU ARE UNMUTED AS WELL. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM MICHAEL NEWMAN AND THE JUDGE OF PROBATE COURT 2 AND THIS YEAR THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE AND I AM HERE WITH JUDGE SIMONEAUX FROM COURT 1 AND JUDGE COX IN COURT 3 AND JUDGE HORWITZ FROM COURT 4.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST. I WANT TO THANK TWO PEOPLE WHO DID THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK AND THAT IS OUTER COURT OPERATIONS MANAGER YOLANDA LOPEZ AND AUDITOR WANDA IKEMAN. I WANT TO PREF -- BRIEFLY, I KNOW IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENCES IN PROBATE COURT.

THE PROBATE COURTS ARE BASICALLY IN CHARGE OF GOING THROUGH ESTATES AND WITH RESPECT TO THREE AND FOUR THEY ARE IN CHARGE WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH DOCKETS.

SO WE DEAL WITH FAMILIES THAT ARE GRIEVING THEIR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY AS WELL AS FAMILIES THAT ARE GRIEVING OR DEALING WITH LOVED ONE THAT'S ARE INCAPACITATED.

RIGHT NOW IN PRE BAIT -- PROBATE COURT TWO IT IS SIMILAR FOR EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE COURTS. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 9,000 ACTING PENDING CASES.

THAT'S AN INCREASE AND LAST YEAR WE HAD CLOSE TO 6,000 ACTIVE CASES.

OF THOSE 9,000 CASES A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE ARE DEDICATED TO GUARDIANSHIPS.

THE UNIQUENESS ABOUT THE GUARDIANSHIP IS THAT THOSE CASES STAYED WITH US FOR A

[02:00:05]

LONG PERIOD OF TIME. OFTEN OFTENTIMES WE ARE DEALING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTEREST -- WHO ARE INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED OR FOLKS WHO ARE OLDER, 50S AND 60S, WITH SENILITY OR INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENTS AND WILL BE AROUND FOR AWHILE AND ARE IN -- INCAPACITATED MAYBE MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY, BUT THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY MAY NOT BE SHORTENED. AND THEN WE ARE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY ELDERLY WHO MAY NOT BE AROUND AS LONG AS THE OTHERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE CASES WE HANDLE, NOT ONLY DO WE DO TRIALS AND HEARINGS, BUT WE HAVE ESTATES, BOTH GUARDIANSHIP AND ESTATES THAT HAVE TO GET ADMINISTERED.

WE CONTINUE DO THAT WITHOUT THE STAFF WE HAVE. WE HAVE IN OUR COURTS, THE SAME NUMBER OF STAFFED FOLKS. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 11 EMPLOYEES HERE WITH THE COUNTY.

THAT INCLUDES ME. WE USUALLY PROCESS BETWEEN 13,000 AND 16,000 ORDERS EVERY YEAR. WHILE I READ EVERYTHING THAT COMES BEFORE ME, I COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO ALL OF THE READING I NEEDED TO DO TO SIGN ALL OF THE ORDERS THAT WERE APPROVED WHETHER IT WAS ACCOUNTINGS, INVENTORIES, HEIRSHIPS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE WOULD BE UNABLE TO FILL UP -- I THINK THE 4 OF US COMBINED HAVE OVER 10 YEARS LEGAL EXPERIENCE. ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS I FOUND EVEN THOUGH I DID GUARD -- GUARD YEN SHIP WORK AS A PRIVATE LAWYER IS GUARDIANSHIPS AFFECT ALL FAMILIES, EVERY RACE, CREED, RELIGION IN HARRIS COUNTY. UNFORTUNATELY THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC NETWORK ARE AFFECTED MORE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. THEY DON'T HAVE THE CARE.

THEY CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE. THEY TEND TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN BY THEMSELVES.

IT IS STRESSFUL AND WE TRY TO HELP THEM AS BEST WE CAN. FRANKLY OUR JOB IS A PIECE OF CAKE COMPARED TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH DAY-TO-DAY AND DEALING WITH LOVED ONE THAT'S ARE BED RIDDEN, COMATOSED, PARALYZED, HAVE FEEDING TUBES AND BED PANS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE LIVES WE LEAD COMPARED TO SOME OF THE FOLKS APPEAR US IN THE COURT. EVEN THOUGH WE ARE HARD-NOSED LAWYERS, IT IS SAD AND I TRY NOT TO BE OVERLY SAD WHEN DEALING WITH THESE FOLKS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THE BEST THEY CAN FOR THE MOST PART. YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY HAVE ADAPTED AND ACCEPTED AND THEY DO SO MOST OF THE TIME AND I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD DO IT MYSELF. I THINK WHEN JUDGE HIDALGO BECAME THE COUNTY JUDGE, I THINK SHE WAS PROBABLY FOCUSED ON TORNADOES AND HURRICANES AND NOT ON COVID.

ALL OF US HAVE HAD TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. NOW THE COURTS HANDLE ALL HEARINGS AND TRIALS REMOTELY. YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD SLOW US DOWN, BUT IT HASN'T.

IT HAS BEEN A BENEFIT IN MANY REGARDS. IF THERE IS ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT THE PANDEMIC IS WE COULD HANDLE MORE MATTERS WITH FOLKS REALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I MADE A LIST BEFORE I STARTED MY PRESENTATION AND WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE ZOOM IN FROM EUROPE , MEXICO, ASIA, AFRICA, AUSTRALIA. WE HAVE HAD HEARINGS WITH PEOPLE LOCATED IN 20 STATES IN THE U.S. SOMETIMES OUR HEARINGS ARE FAIRLY ROUTINE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS ROUTINE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO COME DOWN HERE TO TEXAS TO HANDLE AN INITIAL HEARING.

THAT SAID, THEY DO HAVE TO COME BACK TO HANDLE THE STAY OF ADMINISTRATION.

BUT IF THERE IS GOOD NEWS ABOUT COVID IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE EFFICIENT. ALL OF US HAVE DIFFERENT VARYING DEGREES OF TECH-SAVVINESS, BUT WE HAVE ALL BECOME SOMEWHAT EXPERTS AT ZOOM MEETINGS NOW WE HAVE DONE SO MANY OF THEM. THAT'S A BENEFIT. AND FRANKLY WE INTEND TO CONTINUE TO DO THE ZOOM HEARINGS IF THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWS US TO DO SO.

AND WHERE IT MAKES SENSE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO APPEAR IN PERSON.

SOMETIMES IN A GUARDIANSHIP, THE WARDS HAVE DISABILITIES AND TRAVELING DOWNTOWN AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE DOWNTOWN AND GET INTO THE COURTHOUSE IS A CHALLENGE THAT FRANKLY WE DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH. WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. I THINK THAT WILL CONTINUE.

IN TERMS OF OUR COURT AND I THINK THE OUR COURTS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING, WE HAVE ACTUALLY TRIED MORE CASES THIS YEAR THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. WE TRIED 17 CASES THIS YEAR.

12 WERE BY ZOOM. ALTHOUGH ALL OF US HAD SOME INITIAL APPREHENSION OR

[02:05:03]

CONCERN, IT REALLY HAS WORKED. WE GET TECHNICAL GLITCHES FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT OUR STAFF IS ABLE TO HELP US WITH OUR INADEQUACIES.

UNLESS YOU HAVE A TEENAGER AROUND, GEUM -- ZOOM CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF OUR LIT GANTS -- LITIGANTS AND APPLICANTS WHO NEVER USED THE TECH BEFORE.

THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL. IN TERMS OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST , WE ASKED FOR APPROXIMATELY $1.8 MILLION. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

THE WAY THAT'S DIVIDED UP IN OUR BUDGET, AND I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THREE-FOURTHS OF THE BUDGETS, BUT WE ASKED FOR 992,000 FOR GUARDIANSHIP WORK AND ALMOST 788,000 FOR ESTATES AND MORE PHON ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. FOR THE GUARDIANSHIP ESTATES, WE HAVE A COURT INVESTIGATOR THAT GETS REFERRALS FROM ALL OVER HARRIS COUNTY.

IT COULD BE BY THE HARRIS COUNTY GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM. IT COULD BE BY DOCTORS.

IT COULD BE BY OTHER THIRD PARTIES THAT ARE CONTACTING OUR COUNTY CLERK WHO THEN DIVEES UP THE CASE TO GO OUT AND INVESTIGATES A INCAPACITATED PERSON.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. THEY DO THE INITIAL VISITS AND THEY DO THE FOLLOW-UP VISITS.

THEY HAVE TO THEN DO A REPORT AND HAVE TO CONTACT FAMILY MEMBERS BEFORE THEY DO THAT REPORT. THEY MAY HAVE TO CONTACT THE DOCTORS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WORK WITH STAFF TO FIND OUT WHAT THE CONDITION OF THESE FOLKS ARE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A LESSER RESTRICTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO GUARDIANSHIP. IF NOT, THEN THE CASE WILL PROCEED TO SECURITY -- TO COURT. ALL PARTIES ARE GIVEN NOTICE TO APPEAR AND WE WILL HANDLE IT FROM THAT STANDPOINT. THAT'S ONE OF THE SADDEST PARTS OF MY JOB FRANKLY IS DEALING WITH FOLKS WHO BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NEEDING THE GUARDIANSHIP. IF SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO REACH FOLKS -- SOME FOLKS ARE VERY SUPERSTITION -- SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT PLANNING AND THEY THINK IF THEY DON'T PLAN NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS WISE TO HAVE THINGS IN PLACE TO AVOID A GUARDIANSHIP. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM.

THEY ARE A GREAT ORGANIZATION. THEY HELP US AND THEY HELP THE COMMUNITY BY HANDLING GUARDIANSHIP CASES WHERE EITHER THE FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T STEP UP OR THE ESTATES HAVE NO MONETARY VALUE SO THEY ARE THE GUARDIANSHIP PROGRAM OF LAST RESORT. WE DO A LOT OF WILLS, PROBATE OF WILLS AND THAT IS ROUTINE.

WHAT IS NOT ROUTINE ARE THE HEARINGS AND THE LAWSUITS WE GET INVOLVED WITH IN CONTESTED MATTERS. ONE THING I CAN SAY ABOUT THE CONTESTED CASES IS THAT IT PRETTY MUCH TRAN SENDS ALL ASPECTS OF HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS, WHAT IS AVAILABLE, WHAT IS AN EXPENSIVE ESTATE TO ONE FAMILY MEMBER, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER MAY SEE -- OR ANOTHER GROUP OF FOLKS SEE $100,000 IS WORTH FIGHTING OVER.

FAMILY THAT'S CAN'T GET ALONG AND RESOLVE THEIR ISSUES COME TO COURT.

WE DEAL, AS THE JUDGES, WITH SETTING CASES FOR TRIAL, SETTING THE -- WHAT WE CALL THE DOCKET CONTROLLER AND THAT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR HOW THE CASE PROCEEDS.

AND WE DEAL WITH RESTRAINING ORDERS, TEMPORARY INJUNCTIONS.

MOST OF THE COURTS HAVE HEARINGS -- LIKE IN OUR COURT WE HAVE THEM TUESDAYS, WENSZ -- WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. MONDAY AND FRIDAYS ARE FOR THE SPECIAL HEARINGS WE CAN'T FIT IN IN THE NORMAL DAY AND FOR TRIALS AS WELL.

WHEN WE HAVE A TRIAL ALL OF THE COURTS HAVE SEWS -- ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

A LOT OF TIMES THE ASSOCIATE JUDGE WILL HANDLE THE DOCKET. THEY CAN HANDLE THE CONTESTED DOCKETS AS WELL. WE HAVE 11 STAFF MEMBERS HERE BECAUSE OF COVID AND WE HAVE MANY FOLKS WORKING FROM HOME. WE HAVE FIVE HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

WE ARE SOCIALLY DISTANT, BUT NOT EMOTIONALLY DISTANT. THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB KEEPING THINGS A FLOAT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL DECIDED WHEN WE RAN FOR JUDGE AND ONE OF MY PERSONAL FRUSTRATION WHEN I WAS A LAWYER IS OFTEN TIMES WE HAVE JUDGES -- AND THIS IS NOT JUDGE JACK CAGLE BECAUSE HE WAS GOOD AS A JUDGE, BUT THEY WERE NOT PREPARED. THEY DIDN'T READ THE PLEADINGS.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE CASE WAS ABOUT BEFORE THE PARTIES GOT THERE.

[02:10:03]

OFTENTIMES THEY WERE CURT AND I GUESS THEY WERE NOT CUSTOMER FRIENDLY AND DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. THE GOAL OF OUR COURTS AND THE OTHER COURTS IS TO HAVE DILIGENT CUSTOMER SERVICE WHICH MEANS HAVING HEARINGS TIMELY AND MORE IMPORTANTLY BEING PREPARED AND ALSO RULING IN COURTS WITH TEXAS LAW. SO THERE IS NOT -- NOT FOR UNDO APPEALS AND EXPENSES. SOMETIMES AS DAUGHTERS -- -- SOMETIMES LAWYERS WHEN YOU SIT ON THE BENCH YOU SEE IT DIFFERENTLY. PART OF THE ROLE AS A JUDGE IS TO MAKE SURE THE ARGUMENTS THEY ARE MAKING ARE BASED ON FACT AND NOT BASED ON WISH.

WE CAN SEE A LOT OF THE LAWYERS, SOME ARE EXCELLENT AND KNOW THE LAW AND SOME WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US BECAUSE WHAT THEY ARE TELLING US MAY SOUND GOOD, BUT IT MAY NOT BE BASED ON TEXAS LAW. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. I REALLY LIKE BEING THE JUDGE OF PROBATE COURT 2.

IT IS A LOT OF FUN. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

IF I CAN'T ANSWER I WILL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO CAN ANSWER THEM.

JUDGE UH -- JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS? >> R. JACK CAGLE: YOU MADE ME LAUGH. THIS IS JUDGE CAGLE. YOUR HONOR, YOU MAY BE LAUGHING AND TAKE IT AT FULL FAITH VALUE. I HAVE A REMINDER OF THOSE

DAYS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I APPRECIATE IT. I WOULD JUST ASK -- I KNOW JAD AND BUDGET IS WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS AND WITH EVERY STAKEHOLDER IN THE COUNTY ON WHAT INFORMATION WE CAN TRACK SO WE CAN GET BETTER. ONE OF THE NOTES I SAW WAS MAYBE THE PARTIES WERE NOT IN ATTENDANCE AND IT WOULD BE GOOD TO TRACK WHY FOLKS DON'T SHOW UP.

TO THE EXTENT THAT JAD CAN HELP WITH THAT. I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE A WINDOW INTO WHAT MIGHT BE SOME BROADER STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES THAT WE CAN PERHAPS RESOLVE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THERE ARE AREAS OF DATA THAT YOU ALL CAN COLLECT THAT OTHERS OF US JUST DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO OBSERVE AND THAT MAY BE VALUABLE TO THE SERVICES WE

PROVIDE THAT YOU ALL HELP US TRACK THAT. >> KEY CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT -- WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT, JUDGE. I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT ANY OF OUR CASES WE HAVE FOLKS WHO CAN'T FINANCIALLY AFFORD MANY OF THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AS LAWYERS LIKE INTERPRETERS. THEY ARE ENTITLED TO HAVE A INTERPRETER AND IF THEY CAN'T PAY FOR IT IT COMES OUT OF OUR BUDGET AND THAT MEANS THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR THE INTERPRETERS. I AM NOT SAYING WE ARE HAPPY TO DO IT, BUT WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO IT AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS.

IF FOLKS ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE ATTORNEY AD LIE -- LITEM FEES WE PAY FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT FINANCIALLY AFFORD TO PAY FOR ROUTINE EXPENSES. WE CAN DOUBLE CHECK AND SEE HOW MUCH OF THAT COMES OUT OF OUR BUDGET. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE IT IS A LOT OF WORK, AND IT IS A LOT OF FUN AND IT IS MORE THAN A 40-HOUR WORKWEEK IF YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. ONE REASON I DECIDED TO RUN AND MY COLLEAGUES I THINK RAN IS WE KNOW SOME GUNNELS, NOT JUDGE CAGLE WHO IS ALWAYS PREPARED AND ALWAYS VERY NICE. ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAYS IT NEVER HURTS TO BE NICE. WE KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE TELLING US THINGS THAT WE KNOW NEED TO BE DOUBLE CHECKED. WE TRY NOT TO CALL PEOPLE OUT.

WE TRY TO BE PATIENT WITH THE LITIGANTS. A LOT OF TIMES ON THE ZOOM HEARINGS FOLKS HAVE TROUBLE CONNECTING AND WE DO THE ZOOM HEARINGS EVERY WEEK.

WE HAVE DONE A THOUSAND MAYBE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE ARE PRO'S, BUT DONE IT MORE THAN ONCE. OFTENTIMES THESE FOLKS ONLY DO IT ONE TIME. SO PATIENCE AND UNDERRING WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH A GRIEVING PROCESS I THINK IS A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL OF US TRY TO FULFILL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

>> THANK YOU ALL. TAKE CARE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO FOR US.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. NEXT IS COURTS OF APPEALS. >> JUDGE, I AM UNMUTING

CHRIS. CHRIS? >> THIS IS CHRIS PRINE WITH

[02:15:03]

THE COURT OF APPEALS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR THE MONEY GIVEN TO US IN THE PAST AND THE MONEY FOR THE BUILDING HAS ALLOWED US TO NOT MISS A BEAT IN THE COVID CRISIS BECAUSE OF THE SPANS OF THE BUILDING. WE HAVE BEEN OPEN AND HAD SOMEBODY AT THE BUILDING EVERY DAY SINCE THE COVID CRISIS STARTED.

WE CONTINUED ON THROUGH THE CYBERATTACK THAT CRIPPLED US FOR AWHILE, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE THE CONTINUING CASES AND WE TRANSFERRED OVER TO A ZOOM ORAL ARGUMENT SETTING. WE ARE CONTINUING THE ORAL ARGUMENTS AND IT HAS HELPED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LIVE STREAM THEM ON YOUTUBE. IT IS GIVING MORE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC TO WATCH WHAT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE ORAL ARGUMENTS. I KNOW OUR GENERAL FUND PART OF THE BUDGET IS SMALL COMPARED TO MOST, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES SECURITY. WE ALSO GET MONEY FROM THE CHAPTER 22 FUNDS THAT IT HAS SHARED BETWEEN THE COUNTIES AND IT WILL BE SERVICED. IT PROVIDES SUPPORT WE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT. WE ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE ALL YOU

HAVE DONE FOR US. THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE METRICS YOU HAVE THAT ARE SO OUTCOME FOCUSED.

ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE CHURNING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.

>> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> LINA HIDALGO: FOLKS ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. ON TO THE COUNTY COURTS.

>> JUDGE I AM UNMUTING ED WELLS. AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHER

JUDGES I AM GOING TO UNMUTE. >> YES. >> JUDGE TONYA JONES.

YOU ARE UNMUTED. JUDGE CEDRIC WALKER, YOU ARE UNMUTED.

I DO NOT SEE JUDGE FINCH ON THE LINE. I AM NOT ABLE TO UNMUTE JUDGE WILL WILLIAMS. THERE MAY BE SOME CONNECTIVE TEE ISSUES.

>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED. JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS ED WELLS AND I AM THE COURT MANAGER OF THE OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT AND COUNTY COURTS OF LAW, JUSTICE COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS OUR BUDGET REQUEST TODAY.

I HAVE WITH ME OUR LEADERSHIP JUDGES FROM THE COUNTY COURTS.

JUDGE JONES IS OUR LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW.

JUDGE WILLIAMS IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY OF CIVIL COURTS AT LAW. JUDGE WALKER IS THE PRESIDING JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. LAST YEAR AND THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR JUSTICES IN GENERAL AND IN THE COURTS SPECIFICALLY IN. THAT TIME WE HAVEN -- IN THAT TIME WE HAVE THE PROLONGED LITIGATION OF THE O'DONNELL CASE AND DEVASTATING FLOOD, SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE JUDICIARY AND OPERATING WITH CONSTRAINTS REQUIRED DUE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. THROUGH THAT TIME OUR COURTS HAVE MAINTAINED ACCESS TO JUSTICE. WE HAVE BEEN OPEN AND AVAILABLE DESPITE THE MULTIPLE DISRUPTIONS WE HAVE HAD. WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO ADOPT POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH VIRTUAL PRESENCE.

WE HAVE VIRTUAL COURTS. WE HAVE A HYBRID FACILITY. WE LIVE STREAM TO THE PUBLIC AND WE HAVE ALTERED APPEARANCE POLICIES TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BITS -- BUSINESS WITH THE COURT AND NOT HAVE TO APPEAR IN PERSON.

THROUGH ALL OF THIS, THE COURTS HAVE MAINTAINED OUR OPERATIONS AND CONSISTENCY WITH THE PURPOSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COURTS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THEM.

THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE AN IMPARTIAL FORM WITH LEGAL DISPUTES AND PROTECTING THE

[02:20:05]

INDIVIDUALS AGAINST ASH -- DASH ASH -- -- TRARY USE OF POWER.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE KEY TO MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE COURTS ARE DEDICATED TO THAT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THE MISSION OF THE COURT AND THE OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT ARE KIND OF ONE IN THE SAME.

SIGNIFICANTLY TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE FAIR, IMPARTIAL, ACCESSIBLE AND TIMELY RESOLUTION OF CASES. WE DO THIS THROUGH A CLOSE COLLABORATION AMONG THE COURTS AND OUR OTHER JUSTICE PARTNERS AND ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES AND PROVIDING JUSTICE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND CONTINUALLY MONITORING AND EVALUATING AND IMPROVING OUR PRACTICES.

THE VISION THAT WE HAVE AND I THINK THIS VISION SUPPORTS THE COUNTY'S OVER ARCHING VISIONS AND GOALS IS A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR, EQUITABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO COME BEFORE THE COURT AFFECTING ITS ABILITY TO CARRY OUT ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES. IT IS AN ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISH THE PRINCIPALS OF TIMES AND STANDARDS AND CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT. AN ESTABLISHED SOURCE OF VISIONING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE JUSTICE COMMUNITY AND THE PURPOSES AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF COURTS. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

JUST TO HELP ALL OF YOU REMEMBER THE SCOPE OF SUPPORT WE HAVE THROUGH DEPARTMENT 940 OR OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT. IT IS A 16- COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT OF LAW AND FOUR CIVIL COURTS OF LAW, 16 JUSTICE COURTS.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE OUTLINED IN RED BECAUSE THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS TO SUPPORT THEIR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS. WE SUPPORT THE JUSTICE COURTS, THEIR TECHNOLOGY. WE SUPPORT THEIR BUSINESS PROCESS.

WE PAY FOR SOME EXPENSES, INTERPRETERS IN PARTICULAR IS A BIG ONE, VISITING JUDGES IN THE JP COURTS. WE SUPPORT THE 24/HOUR PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING COURT.

AND THEN OF COURSE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT.

THE THINGS LISTED THERE ARE A FEW THINGS WE SUPPORT. WE SERVE AS A LIAISON AS JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND STATE AND JUDICIAL ENTITIES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. FOR FISCAL YEAR 21-22 OUR BUDGET REQUEST IS $20 MILLION 122,163. AND ADDITIONAL REQUESTS TOTALING $915,062 FOR NEW FUNDING REQUESTS. THOSE FUNDING REQUESTS ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS SLIDE. NO DOUBT THAT MERIT-BASED SALARY AND AND/OR COLA ARE OUR PRIORITY. WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN CRISIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IT HAS TAKE ANSWER TOLL ON OUR PERSONNEL. MONEY IS NOT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ASSIST THEM, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE WAYS. OUR OTHER PRIORITIES -- THIS IS A CIP REQUEST, BUT THE AUDIO/VISUAL SYSTEMS IN THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE, THEY ARE THE ORIGINALS TO THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE AND MANY HAVE THE FAILING COMPONENTS.

WE HAVE HAD TO BUY PARTS EVEN FROM EBAY AT TIMES TRYING TO PATCH ALONG.

THE SAME IN THE CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE WILL BE FUNDED BY REPLACEMENT THROUGH THE CJC CONSTRUCTION FUNDS AND IT IS WITH THE DISTRICT COURT'S REQUEST.

OTHER THINGS ARE REQUESTING A POSITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WITH THE CHANGE TO PEOPLE SOFT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LOAD FOR PURCHASING THE PAYROLL AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS AS IT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, WE ARE A VERY LEAN DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE OPERATED WITH ONLY TWO PEOPLE SUPPORTING THAT. WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE AMOUNT OF DATA ENTRY REQUIRED TODAY, WE SIMPLY CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT. EVERY REQUEST REQUIRES AN APPROVAL.

IF ONE OF MY TWO ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE ARE OUT, THEN I HAVE NO ONE TO SUBMIT THOSE REQUESTS. THE OTHER THINGS WE ARE REQUESTING IS A SAW PORLT --

[02:25:07]

SUPPORT ENGINEER. THAT'S TO SUPPORT THE AV SYSTEMS AND ALL OF THE COURTS WE SUPPORT. THE AV HAS BECOME A TECHNOLOGY OF ITS OWN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE COURTROOMS THAT MAKE USE OF COURT TECHNOLOGY AND THAT ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO USE THE SYSTEM , THE JUDGE TO CONTROL THE SYSTEM, TO PRESENT INFORMATION TO BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS, JURORS INCLUDED.

THAT'S BECOMING VERY SPECIALIZED AND WE NEED THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT THROUGHOUT THESE COURTS. THE LAST POSITION IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK POSITION TO SUPPORT THE 24-HOUR PROBABLE CAUSE -- PROBABLE CAUSE COURT. THEY OPERATE 24/7 AND THERE IS A LOT OF TURNOVER AND THAT IS LARGELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS A 24/7 OPERATION OPERATING IN THE JAIL FROM THE -- FROM WITHIN THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE TWO CLERKS AT EVERY SHIFT. WE NEED THIS ADDITIONAL POSITION.

BEYOND THAT AS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, WE NEED YOUTH TECHNOLOGY FOR REMOTE ACCESS TO COURT. THAT TOTAL COMES TO $50,000 ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT OUR ZOOM LICENSING AND THE LIVE STREAMING COST THAT WE HAVE FOR COURT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WILL HAVE TO HAVE IN OUR BUDGET IN SOME FORM BECAUSE WE SEE THE NEED TO CONTINUE VIRTUAL PROCEEDINGS. CERTAINLY SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE BASED ON THE PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO BEYOND THAT AS A WAY TO REDUCE TRAFFIC IN THE COURTROOM AND IN THE COURTHOUSE. LASTLY THERE IS A REQUEST FOR A VISITING JUDGE INCREASING THOSE FUNDS. WE HAVE ONE ELECTED JUDGE WHO IS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS AS PART OF THE ARMY RESERVE. WE ARE PROVIDING A VISITING JUDGE IN THAT COURT EVERY DAY. AND SO THAT IS NOT A PERMANENT REQUEST, BUT IT IS A ONE-TIME REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR TO HELP GET US THROUGH THAT REQUEST.

LASTLY, IT IS NOT IN OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION AND IT WAS A LAST-MINUTE REQUEST THAT I SENT TO MR. BERRY. AS ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE AS WE BECOME MORE AND MORE DATA DRIVEN, THE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION IS COMING FROM EVERYWHERE, THE BUDGET OFFICE, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENTS, THE MANY CONSULTANTS WORKING TO IMPROVE JUSTICE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED IS A REPORT DEDICATED TO BOTH THE JP COURTS AND THE COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT LAW. THAT REQUEST IS SPECIFICALLY TO THOSE COURT DIVISIONS.

WE HAVE A POSITION FOR THE CRIMINAL COURTS KSZ, BUT JP COURTS AND COUNTY CIVIL COURTS OPERATE ON A DIFFERENT DATABASE. THEY OPERATE THROUGH TWO INSTANCES OF THE TYLER ODYSSEY PLATFORM. AND THAT DATABASE IS UNIQUE TO THAT WE WANT TO PRESENT TO JAD AND COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND TO THE PUBLIC, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I APOLOGIZE IT IS NOT IN OUR PRESENTATION, BUT I DID WANT TO REACH IT BECAUSE IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK TOWARD.

I HAD AN INITIAL CONVERSATION WITH THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS.

I BELIEVE HE IS IN AGREEMENT THAT IT IS SOMETHING WORTH WHILE AND I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH EACH OF YOU AND MR. BERRY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THAT FOR THE FUTURE.

NEXT SLIDE AND I WILL GO THROUGH THESE QUICKLY. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THIS IS JACK

CAGLE. >> YES, SIR. >> R. JACK CAGLE: WITH REGARD TO YOUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED, YOU HAVE THE JUSTICE DATA WAREHOUSE. I KNOW THAT THERE IS ALWAYS THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT COURTS AND DIVISIONS ABOUT WHAT IS PUBLIC AND WHAT IS NOT PUBLIC AND WHAT IS PART OF -- WHAT IS TO BE THERE. WHAT ISSUES DO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE -- IT MAY BE PART OF WHAT YOU ARE DISCUSSING, BUT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THOSE RULES? I MEAN, RELEASING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT JUVENILES, YOU GUYS DON'T DO AS MUCH OF THAT. HOW DOES IT SUSTAIN A WAREHOUSE WITH REGARD TO THE

[02:30:01]

PUBLIC CONFIDENTIAL DATA? >> SURE. SO ALMOST ALL OF THE DATA THAT WE POPULATE INTO THE JUSTICE DATA WAREHOUSE IS JWEB DATA, AND WE HAVE CONTROLS ON WHAT IS PUBLIC AND WHAT IS CONFIDENTIAL. ALL OF OUR REPORTING IS IN THE AGGREGATE. YOU CAN DRILL DOWN INDIVIDUAL CASES, INTERNATIONALLY WE CAN. WHAT WILL BE PUBLIC FACING WILL BE IN THE AGGREGATE.

IT WON'T INCLUDE THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. IT NEVER HAS.

WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH JAD AND THEIR DATA ANALYSTS TO PROVIDE THE SAME FUNCTION NALT THERE FOR THEM. WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH JIM BETHKE AND HIS STAFF.

IT IS TO SUPPORT DECISION MAKING BY COMMISSIONER'S COURT WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING

REQUESTS IN JUSTICE. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR -- >> R. JACK CAGLE: OKAY.

AND I HAVE A COMMENT ON [INAUDIBLE]. WE ARE GETTING FROM THOSE SYSTEMS IN 2006 WHEN WE MOVED INTO A BUILDING THAT WAS CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY.

BUT I THINK IT IS YOU AS WELL AS OTHER THAT'S SAY TECHNOLOGY RARELY LASTS FIVE YEARS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. AND WE ARE WELL BEYOND END OF LIFE FOR THOSE SYSTEMS. AS I SAID THERE ARE MANY COMPONENTS FAILING AND AT TIMES WE ARE HAVING TO COBLENTZ -- COBBLE TOGETHER SYSTEMS SO A COURT CAN OPERATE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ? >> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD. >> THIS PERFORMANCE METRICS CH AT IS REPRESENTATION OF CASES COMING IN AND GOING OUT FOR BOTH THE COUNTY AND CIVIL COURTS AND THE COUNTY AND CRIMINAL COURTS. LET'S START WITH THE CIVIL COURTS WHERE IT IS A GREAT STORY. THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN THE LAST YEAR THEY MAINTAINED CLEARANCE RATES OF 100%. ONE THING TO NOTE IS THAT THE CASE LOAD HAS DROPPED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC. YOU WILL SEE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN CASES FILED FROM MARCH TO APRIL AND THEN CONTINUING ALL THE WAY TO INCREASE IN OCTOBER. WE EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE. ALTHOUGH ONCE WE GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC, I EXPECT ANY INCREASE IN CASE FILINGS BACK TO MORE HISTORICAL NORMS. SO THE CLEARANCE RATE WILL BE IMPACTED FROM THAT.

ON THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTSIDE, THINGS ARE NOT AS GLOWING, BUT COURTS ARE DOING GOOD GIVEN THE ISSUES WE HAVE FACED. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CLEARANCE RATES IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN, THEY WERE AT 100% UNTIL HARVEY OCCURRED.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE APPRECIATE THE IMPACT HARVEY HAS HAD ON OUR BUILDINGS AND THE OPERATIONS OF COURTS WELL ENOUGH AT TIMES. WE WENT FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL COURT HAVING THEIR OWN COURTROOM AND THE ABILITY TO CALL JURORS TO TRIAL AS THEY NEEDED TO SHARING COURTROOMS IN THE FAMILY LAW CENTER TO COURTS TO A COURTROOM FOR BOND CASES AND HANDLING THE JAIL OPERATIONS IN THE JAIL FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN IN CUSTODY.

WE MOVED BACK TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER, THE COURTS DID , AND INITIALLY HAD THEIR OWN COURTROOMS, BUT THAT WAS SHORT LIVED AND WENT BACK TO SHARING COURTROOMS AGAIN.

AT ONE TIME SHARING FOUR COURTS TO ONE COURTROOM. THAT CRIPPLED OUR ABILITY TO HOLD CASES GIVEN THE VOLUME OF CASES WE HAD IN OUR COURTS. CURRENTLY EACH COURT IS IN THEIR OWN COURTROOM IN THE CJC, BUT WE HAVE ALL OF THE CONSTRAINTS OF COVID.

REDUCED COURTROOM CAPACITY, THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON US FROM THE SUPREME COURT REGARDING IN PERSON PROCEEDINGS. LARGELY THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE HAD IS THE REDUCTION IN JURY SERVICE. THE SINGLE BIGGEST TOOL THAT A COURT HAS IN ITS TOOL KIT IS THE ABILITY TO PUT A CASE TO TRIAL IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THAT SIMPLY HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND CERTAINLY EVEN MORE SO IN THE LAST YEAR ITSELF. SO A RESUMING OF JURY SERVICE IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO OUR ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF OPERATIONS. THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

[02:35:03]

I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE NEXT ONE. THAT IS FOR YOUR CONSUMPTION LATER. A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PRIORITY THAT'S WE HAVE -- PRIORITIES WE HAVE, DESPITE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE STARTED THE OPEN HOURS COURT AND THE RAISING OF PARENTS AND ONLINE COURT SETTINGS AND RESET REQUEST PORTAL THAT IS ABOUT TO COME ONLINE SO ATTORNEYS AND DEFENDANTS IN THE CRIMINAL CASES WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR A NEW SETTING OR UPDATING ONLINE.

AND THEN THERE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC PHONE AND E-MAIL SYSTEM.

HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS BEEN THIS YEAR AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER'S COURT FOR THIS IS THE CREATION OF THE MANAGED ASSIGN COUNCIL OFFICE. THE TIDC GRANT FUNDING HAS ALLOWED US TO DO THAT WITH A COST SHARE OVER FOUR YEARS WITH THE COUNTY AND WE HAVE HIM AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH MR. HARDIN TO HELP HIM PUT TOGETHER WHAT IS GOING TO BE A PREMIERE MANAGED COUNCIL SYSTEM FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

LASTLY I WILL MENTION OUR COLLABORATION WITH JAD. JIM AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS AND WE WORK WELL TOGETHER. THEY PROVIDE SYSTEMS ON ARCHITECTURE. WE HAVE PROVIDED PEER REVIEW FOR DATA DRIVEN PUBLICATIONS WHERE A GROUP HAS DONE SOMETHING AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE COUNTY AND WANT US TO REVIEW DATA TO TELL THEM ANY ISSUES IN THEIR ANALYSIS OF THE DATA.

AND FUTURE VISIONING FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SHARING.

WE ALL RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING OUR WORK MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC AND THE PLACE TO START WITH THAT IS THE DATA. WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING? NEXT SLIDE? THE LAST COUPLE THINGS AND THIS IS A TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN COVID-19. I'M SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE DATES.

THE SIGNIFICANT ONES WAS MARCH 11TH. THE 18TH, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO HAVE STAFF PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS. THE NEXT DAY WE DEPLOYED THE VIRTUAL APPEARANCE TECHNOLOGY TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. A MONTH LATER WE HAD LIVE STREAMING THIS HAS MADE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ATTEND COURT. IT ALLOWED US TO CONTINUE THE COURT OPERATIONS WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE EVERYTHING FACE-TO-FACE AND IN PERSON IN THE COURTROOM. THAT'S BEEN A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO USE FOR THE FUTURE. I DON'T SEE THAT NEED GOING AWAY. ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT WE HAVE HAD IS THE CITE AND RELEASE OF THE CARPORT. IT IS STILL RELATIVELY SMALL AND IT IS GROWING.

IT STARTED WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AGENCY USING IT. WE HAVE SINCE EXPANDED TO OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING CONSTABLES AND HPD. THAT WAS A PROJECT WITH THE SHERIFF, DISTRICT CLERK, DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND IT SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL.

AGAIN SOMETHING WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING MORE USE OF IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN LASTLY A COUPLE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED DURING THIS TIME HAVE BEEN THE MANY COURT MOVES AND FACILITATING THE MOVES WITH VERY LIMITED I GUESS NOTICE OF A MOVE BEING NECESSARY AND IT IS PROBABLE CAUSE. THEY MOVED BEFORE HARVEY AND THEY MOVED TO THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER. AND THEN THEY MOVED OUT OF THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER DURING THE PANDEMIC. THEY ARE OPERATING TODAY VIRTUALLY WITH THE FAMILY LAW CENTER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM MOVING BACK TO THE JPC BECAUSE THAT ALLOWS FOR MUCH MORE EFFICIENT PROCESSING IN THE CASES OF THE DEFENDANTS ON THE FRONT END OF THE SYSTEM. NEXT SLIDE.

THIS CHART REPRESENTS THE GROWING CASES IN THE COUNTY AND CRIMINAL COURTS OF LAW.

NEXT SLIDE. THIS SAME SLIDE YOU WILL SEE THERE THE EVENTS IN THE

[02:40:09]

TIMELINE THAT IMPACTED THE LARGE INCREASE. WE HAD HURRICANE HARVEY AND THE DIS -- DISPLACEMENT OF COURTS AND THE INTEREST ROPINGS OF -- INTERRUPTION OF JURY SERVICES. WE HAD ALMOST A COMPLETE TURNOVER FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS. WE HAD THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE STILL IN.

WE HAVE HAD A LIMITED JURY CALL RESUME FOR OUR COURTS AT NRG, BUT THAT ARE VERY LIMITED CAPACITY. IT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK ON.

THE RED MARKS ACROSS THE TOP JUST SHOW THE NET INCREASE OR DECREASE IN ACTIVE CASES FOR THOSE PERIODS. NEXT SLIDE. SO OUR GOALS THIS YEAR ARE TO CONTINUE THE COLLECTIONS IN CIVIL COURTS AS SUCCESSFUL AS THEY HAVE BEEN AND TO GIVE THEM MORE ACCESS TO TRIALS JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR COURTS NEED.

WE HAVE A BACKLOG THAT IS GROWING AND WE NEED TO RECOVER FROM THAT.

IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE WORKING WITH OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM PARTNERS AND THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONER'S COURT, ACCESS TO COURTROOMS. I KNOW WE DON'T CONTROL THAT, GUT -- BUT IT WILL HAM -- HAMPER OUR OPERATIONS. I MENTIONED EARLIER THE NEED TO EXPOSE TEXAS AT TRIAL AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT NEW PRACTICES THAT WILL HELP US MANAGE OUR DOCKETS MORE EFFECTIVELY. ONE OF THOSE EFFORTS INCLUDES WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE ON A CASE FLOW PLANNING FOR OUR COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS.

ANY ONE OF THOSE IS NOT THE SILVER BULLET. IT IS A COMBINATION OF ALL OF THESE THINGS. THE BACKLOG IS SIGNIFICANT. WE NEEDNT GET THERE OVERNIGHT. WITH THAT, IF THE VISION IS TO HAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT ACCOMPLISHES ALL OF THESE GOALS, PART OF THE ANSWER TO THAT IS RESOURCES THROUGH ADEQUATE FUNDING AND PERSONNEL IN ORDER TO REALIZE THE VISION.

WE MAKE OUR REQUEST BASED ON THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT IT TO YOU AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND THE JUDGES ON THE

LINE AS WELL. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

DO COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND THE METRICS THAT FOCUS ON THE CASES. ET CETERA. THIS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TACKLE AND TO SEE THE CASE LOADS IS PRETTY SHOCKING. IT NEEDS TO GET DONE.

I HOPE -- YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE WITH THE BUDGET PROCESS, IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS NEED TO TURN THE PAGE ON THAT, THAT YOU ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN. IT HAS THE EXTERNALITIES OF

THAT AND IT IS PROBLEMATIC AS WELL. >> YES, JUDGE.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS BECAUSE OF THE JAIL POPULATION. OUR CASES, OUR DEFENDANTS REPRESENT A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THAT. THEY ARE STILL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MANY OF WHOM ARE WORKING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES. WHATEVER THE DISPOSITION IS, IT IS IMPORTANT. THEY ARE CARRYING THE BURDEN OF THAT ON THEIR HEADS.

AND THAT'S TRUE OF ANY COURT, CRIMINAL, CIVIL, WHATEVER. WHEN WE CAN'T GET TO JUSTICE IN A TIMELY MANNER, SOMEONE IS LOST. SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSION AREAS COURT AND HELPING US ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. FOLKS, I KNOW WE PROMISED A 10-MINUTE BREAK.

IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE WE CAN BREAK UNTIL 1:00 AND CONTINUE PER THE AGREEMENT EARLIER.

WE WON'T TAKE A LUNCH BREAK RECOGNIZING THAT FOLKS CAN HOP IN AND OUT AS THEY NEED TO.

SO LET'S BREAK UNTIL

[02:45:01]

>> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER ELLIS, LET'S CONTINUE.

IT IS 1:02 AND WE ARE CONTINUING. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> HI, JUDGE. >> R. JACK CAGLE: DOING ALL RIGHT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WILL KEEP A BETTER TRACK OF THE TWO HOURS.

THOSE WERE THE COUNTY COURTS. THE DISTRICT COURTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER 1:30 SO

WE WILL HEAR FROM PRE-TRIAL SERVICES. >> I AM GOING TO UNMUTE JIM

KETHKE AND KENNEDY. >> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS. I WILL BEGIN AGAIN FOR THANKING THE COURT FOR ITS INVESTMENT TO REIMAGINE AND REVAMP HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES.

THE WORK AT PRETRIAL SERVICES AND ITS OFFICERS AS YOU KNOW IS CRITICAL TO ALL OF THAT REFORM EFFORTS GOING ON IN THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM. I AM THE -- I AM SPURGEON KENNEDY. IN JUNE MCARTHUR AGREED TO FUND A WORKLOAD AND OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES SYSTEM.

THEY RECENTLY COMPLETED ITS WORK. WHEN WE LEARNED OF THE RESIGNATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PRETRIAL SERVICES, AND MY EXPERTISE IS NOT IN PRETRIAL SERVICES. I WORKED AT IT AS A PROSECUTOR AND I WORKED AT JAD, BUT NEVER RUNNING THE AGENCY. SPURGEON KENNEDY HAS AND IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF PRETRIAL SERVICES. LUCINDA, THE NEXT SLIDE? AGAIN.

OUR MISSION, VISION AND GOALS. WHEN MY TENURE BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18TH, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS WHEN I MET WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM, I SAID WE NEED TO HAVE A VISION AND A TARGET TO SHOOT FOR. AND WE NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME GOALS.

I HAD A VISIONING SESSION WITH FOLKS AND TALKED WITH PFM AND OTHERS IN THE AREA TO HELP GUIDE WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GO. I DIDN'T WANT TO INVEST FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO FIND A REPLACEMENT DIRECTOR.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE WORK THAT I AM DOING AND KEN IS DOING AND THE TEAM IS DOING THAT WHOEVER WE HAND OFF THE TIME TO, THEY CAN CONTINUE FORWARD IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION. IT IS WHAT REALLY HELPED US PULL TOGETHER.

ON THE BUILDOUT OF THE PRETRIAL SERVICES, ANOTHER GOAL AND PART OF THAT IS TO INCREASE THE ROLE OF OUR PRETRIAL OFFICERS. IT IS TARGETING THE SUPERVISION AND RESOURCES TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF RISK FACTORS.

A BIG PART OF THIS CAME OUT IN BFM REPORTS AND IT IS SOMETHING THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION WAS AWARE OF THAT WE DIRELY NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE COLLECTION OF DATA AND REFLECT ANY CHANGES AND REALLY WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM IMPACT OF PRETRIAL SERVICES.

ANOTHER GOAL IS OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. THE COURTS UNFORTUNATELY ARE UNDER ATTACK. THERE IS SOME REFORM ISSUES AND I THINK IT IS UNFOUNDED AND THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION WILL BE WORKING ON THAT AND REALLY NEED TO HAVE A STRONG TRAINING. AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS DIRELY NEEDED IS IMPLEMENTING ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND ENHANCE VIRTUAL CAPABILITIES.

WHEN I BEGAN -- NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHEN I BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18TH, I THINK MAYBE 10 OR 12 OF THE 204 -- I THINK WE HAVE 187 EMPLOYEES

[02:50:07]

RIGHT NOW AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF 204, AND THE ABILITY FOR A PRETRIAL SERVICE OFFICER TO WORK REMOTELY WAS NONEXIST -- NONEXISTENT. THEY DID NOT HAVE LAPTOPS.

THERE ARE 10 OR 12 IN THE ENTIRE AGENCY. WE GOT LAPTOPS ORDERED SO OFFICERS CAN WORK REMOTELY. I THANK THE COURT FOR ALLOWING THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT TO DO A PERSONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DR. BRIAN LEVINS WHO YEARS AGO UPDATED THE PROGRAM FROM THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. WE ARE GOING TO BUILD OFF OF THAT EXPERT -- EXPERTISE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL ESPECIALLY WHEN MR. KENNEDY TAKES OVER IN JUST A BIT TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW THE OFFICE IS STRUCTURED.

WE HAVE A PRETRIAL SCREENING DIVISION. AND IN THE PRETRIAL SCREENING DIVISION THERE ARE 78 EMPLOYEES AND 76 ARE FILLED. THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO OPEN.

BOTH OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE POSTED. WHERE THERE HAS BEEN THE MOST IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS DEALING WITH THE DEFENDANT MONITORING DIVISION.

WE HAVE 105 WITH 87 FILLED. WE HAVE POSTED A NUMBER -- I AM NOT SURE EXACTLY, BUT IT IS MAYBE A MEASURE OF HOW MANY WE HAVE POSTED, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM.

15 AND FIVE HAVE ACCEPTED. OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THERE HAS BEEN A MASS EXODUS OF TALENTED PEOPLE LEAVING THE OFFICE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO IS STOP THE BLEEDING AND STOP THE MASS EXODUS.

WE HAVE A TALENTED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE.

THERE WASN'T AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO DO SO. OUR GOAL IS NOT JUST TO HAVE PEOPLE SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE IN THEIR WORK. WE MET WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND WE SAID WE ARE NOT OVER HERE, BUT IT IS A NEW DAY AND A NEW DAWN AND MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THERE ARE OFFICERS THAT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND THEY ARE BEING SUPPORTIVE IN US AND OF THESE INITIATIVES. AS ONE OF THE SENIOR LEADERS SAID, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE ON ON THE BULLET TRAIN NOW. THERE IS A HUGE SENSE OF URGENCY. AND IN THE POLICY ARENA, YES, THERE IS AN URGENCY TO GET THESE FORMS IMPLEMENTED. WE ARE DEALING WITH THE LIVE OF PEOPLE -- THE LIFE OF PEOPLE AND IT IS THE DIRECT CLIENT SERVICES THAT WORKS SO EXCEEDINGLY DIFFERENT FROM THE POLICY ARENA. IN 2021 THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED AND BEGAN IN MARCH OF 2020.

THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT THAT WAS PART OF THE O'DONNELL CONSENT DECREE AND DEALING WITH TRANSITIONING THE THOSE BEING SUPERVISED PRETRIAL. THE COURT APPROVED 5.7 MILLION OR 5.8 MILLION ON THAT. THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ONCE WE GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE WILL HAVE TALKED WITH DR. MAY AT CSED. WE HAD TO SHORE UP SOME THINGS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY DO THAT TRANSITION. THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

WE NEED TO DO IT IN A SMART WAY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

THIS IS A SLIDE, AND WHEN I GOT DONE WITH THIS WE WILL BE TURNING IT OVER TO MR. KENNEDY. FROM THE END OF JANUARY OF 2017 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST

[02:55:03]

THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS UNDER SUPERVISION HAS INCREASED 600%.

WHEN I MET WITH THE DEFENDANT MONITORING FOLKS THEY ARE UNDER SIEGE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE FIRST ITEM THAT WAS PLACED ON THE TABLE WAS A PHONE CALL I GOT FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO IS THE DIVISION CHIEF OF THE FAMILY LAW IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS. THERE IS A PERSON AND IT IS MY OFFICER'S WORST NIGHTMARE.

THEY WERE SUPERVISING AND WAS ACCUSED OF KILLING AN INTIMATE PARTNER.

WE LOOKED AT THAT AND DID A POST MORTUM ON THAT. I SAID WE ARE NOT POINTING FINGERS, BUT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS AND WE NEED TO ASSURE THIS WON'T HAPPEN.

WE PUT IN A POLICY AND A RESPONSE GRID WHERE WE CAN DO THAT.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH, AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE EFFORT OF BOTH MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AND

THE LINE OFFICERS. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER. >> THANK YOU, JIM.

IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JMI FOUND AND IT WAS STRIKING ABOUT HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES IS THE DIFFERENCE OF THIS AGENCY COMPARED TO OTHER PRETRIAL PROGRAMS NATIONALLY. YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW PRETRIAL AGENCY THAT'S ARE INDEPENDENT. IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR AGENCY IS NOT A UNIT IN A PROBATION DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS LIKE OTHER PRETRIAL AGENCIES. BECAUSE YOU'RE INDEPENDENT, YOU REALLY ARE MORE OF A MULTI-FACETED THAN OTHER AGENCIES. FRANKLY YOU DO MORE THAN OTHER PROGRAMS. YOU ARE PART OF THE BAIL DECISION PROCESS AT INITIAL ARRAIGNMENT. YOU PROVIDE INTAKE SERVICES WITH YOUR DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. YOU FACILITATE THE LEASES. YOU ARE REQUESTED IN COURT MUCH -- NOT JUST THE ARRAIGNMENT COURTS, BUT THE CALENDAR COURTS.

AND GIVEN THAT WIDE SCOPE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

PRIMARILY THOUGH WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR PRETRIAL AGENCY AND OTHERS IS THE SHEAR VOLUME OF DEFENDANTS THERE HAS BEEN AN ALMOST 600% INCREASE FROM 2017 TO 2020. WE PICKED THE ENDING OF 2019 THOUGH TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW QUICKLY THAT INCREASE HAS HAPPENED. AS YOU CAN SEE 12-31, 2019 WE HAD 26,951. WE ALMOST DOUBLED THAT. THEY ARE DOING MORE IN A DAY.

YOU ARE SUPERVISING MORE DEFENDANTS IN A DAY. THAT'S MORE THAN MOST JURISDICTIONS SUPERVISE IN A YEAR. I WILL GIVE YOU COOK COUNTY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP FOUR COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY POPULATION WISE LIKE YOU ARE.

THEIR DAILY AVERAGE POPULATION OF DEFENDANTS IS A LITTLE OVER 6600.

IN 2019 THEY SUPERVISED JUST OVER 29,000 DEFENDANTS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE SCOPE OF SUPERVISION COMPARED TO OTHER AGENCIES.

IF YOU DELVE DOWN A LITTLE DEEPER AND LOOK AT HOW THAT SUPERVISION NUMBER TRANSLATES TO CASE -- CASE LOADS, YOU WILL FIND THAT IN YOUR SUPERVISION UNITS WHERE MOST OF YOUR HIGHER LEVEL IS SUPERVISED AND THAT IS ALCOHOL MONITORING AND ELECTRONIC MONITORING THEY ARE FAR EXCEEDING THOSE OF OTHER PRETRIAL AGENCIES.

THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING CASE RATIO, AND THIS IS ASSUMING A FULLY STAFFED PRETRIAL AGENCY OF 204 PEOPLE. IT WOULD BE 1 TO 91. BY COMPARISON, OTHER PRETRIAL A LITTLE -- AGENCIES ARE TRYING TO KEEP CASE LOAD FROM 1 TO 20 TO 1 TO WOULD 3.

1 TO 23. THE WORST YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE ARE 23 DEFENDANTS FOR EVERY ONE CASE MANAGER. AS YOU CAN SEE YOU ARE ALMOST TRIPLE THAT.

[03:00:01]

YOU ARE ACTUALLY MORE THAN TRIPLE THAT. CASE LOAD RASH -- RARE IOS, ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF DEFENDANT HAS TO BE A PRIORITY.

YOU ARE GOING TO NEED MORE BECAUSE YOU DO MORE. YOU CAN HAVE INTERNAL POLICIES PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT HELP REDUCE THE NEED FOR STAFF. BECAUSE OF THE SHEAR VOLUME YOU NEED NEW STAFF. THE QUESTION WILL BE WHERE AND HOW MONEY.

EVEN WITH IMPROVEMENTS IN POLICY YOU WILL NEED MORE PEOPLE GOING FORWARD.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THANK YOU. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO STUDIES RECENTLY OF HARRIS COUNTY PRETRIAL SERVICES. THE FIRST WAS PERFORMED BY AN AGENCY CALLED PFM. THEY LOOKED AT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE AND HARRIS COUNTY PRE-TRIAL SERVICES IN PARTICULAR. WHAT THEY FOUND ARE SOME OF THE THINGS JOHN MENTIONED ALREADY AND IT IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PLUG. THE FIRST IS UNRELIABLE REPORTING IN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. THE CASE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW ISN'T THE ONE YOU WOULD NEED EITHER TO MANAGE DEFENDANTS OR TO PERFORM METRICS TO SHOW WHETHER OR NOT THE AGENCY IS SUCCESSFUL. IT HAS BEEN SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT YOU DON'T JUST WANT NUMBERS THROWN OUT. YOU WANT YOUR PERFORMANCE METRICS TIED TO YOUR MISSION AND GOALS. RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT. IT IS EXTREMELY LIMITED AND PROBLEMATIC.

THE JUDICIAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT GO INTO AGENCY WORK IS REALLY INCONSISTENT.

SOME REQUIRE MORE OF US THAN OTHERS. AND DAY IN AND DAY OUT THE REQUIREMENTS CAN BE QUITE INCONSISTENT. THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF PRETRIAL DEFENDANTS BEING SUPERVISED BY CSCD. MANY OF THEM ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND ALCOHOL MONITORING THAT NEED TO BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO PRETRIAL SERVICES. THAT TRANSFER BEGAN IN 2020, BUT WE DIDN'T COMPLETE IT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY HAVE TO EMPHASIZE IN 2021. LASTLY, THE RISING AND FRANKLY UNPREDICTABLE HIGH COST OF SOME OF THE RELEASE CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE COURT AS AN EXAMPLE RICKS -- EXAMPLE, WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR STUDY OF PRETRIAL SERVICES THAT THE DRUG TESTING CONDITION YIELDS ABOUT 60% NEGATIVE TESTS. IN OTHER WORDS, 6 OUT OF EVERY 10 DEFENDANTS YOU TEST WILL TEST NEGATIVE. ANOTHER CHUNK OF THOSE DEFENDANTS, 22%, ARE GOING TO TEST FOR MARIJUANA ONLY. THAT LEAVES 10 TO 12 DEFENDANTS OF DEFENDANTS WHO ARE GOING TO TEST FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO THE COURT AND TO THE COMMUNITY. IF WHAT WE ARE TRY -- TRYING TO DO IS IDENTIFY THAT DRUG USAGE, NOT MARIJUANA USE AND OTHER TESTS, THERE MAY BE A WAY TO DO THAT ASIDE FROM UNIVERSAL DRUG TESTING. THAT SEEMS TO BE A CONDITION WITH A FAIRLY HIGH COST, BUT A VERY, VERY LOW YIELD. NOT ONLY FOR THE PRETRIAL AGENCY, BUT FOR THE COURT SYSTEM. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND ALCOHOL MONITORING TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF PROVIDING THAT LEVEL OF SUPERVISION AT A LOWER COST AND A MUCH HIGHER EFFICIENCY.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

JIM AND I FOUND IT IN OUR SHORT WORK. WE HAVE REDUCED THE IN PERSON REPORTING REQUIREMENT. THAT MEANS FEWER DEFENDANTS, ESPECIALLY IN A PANDEMIC, ARE BEING REQUIRED TO REPORT TO PRETRIAL SERVICES. HOWEVER, WE ARE PROVIDING THE SAME LEVEL OF SUPERVISION BYWAY -- BY WAY OF TELEPHONE AND VIDEO CONFERENCING AND THE LIKE. WE ARE MOVING OUT OF A BUILDING THAT FRANKLY IS NOT CONDUCIVE FOR OFFICE WORK TO A NEW BUILDING. HOPEFULLY IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 WE ARE MIGRATING OUR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND SOFTWARE SYSTEMS TO OFFICE 365 AND ORDERING MORE LAPTOPS. THAT WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.

WE ARE ENHANCING THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE JUDICIARY.

WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE JUDGES WHO SCWANT -- WHO WANT TO WORK WITH US AND THEY

[03:05:03]

WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CONDITIONS OF BAIL ARE THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE AND TO ASSURE THE COURT APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH THE JUDGES AND PROVIDED MORE COURT RECORDS. WE WANT TO FIND OUT THE SATISFACTION LEVEL OF OUR STAFF AND PRE-TRIAL SERVICES. WE HAVE INITIATED AN EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM THAT REALLY DIDN'T EXIST IN THE PAST. WE HAVE SOME AUTHORITY TO ACT AND WE ARE REVIEWING ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE UP-TO-DATE AND TO MAKE SURE THE STAFF UNDERSTANDS IT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WE HAVE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WORKLOAD. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH PRE-TRIAL SERVICES MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT MORE STRUCTURED AND MORE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE COURT NEEDS AND WHAT THE COMMUNITIES SHOULD NEED OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM. IT WOULD INCLUDE PRETRIAL OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO EACH COURTROOM AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO JUDGES AS NEEDED.

SO THIS TEAM WOULD HELP FACILITATE THE LEASE AND HELP WITH COURTS COMING FROM PRETRIAL SERVICES. THEY WOULD BE IN COURT AS THE COURT MEETS.

THIS WOULD FREE UP THE SUPERVISION OFFICERS AND THE SCREENING OFFICERS TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION AND TO ASSESS RISK. IT WILL KEEP OUR SUPERVISION OFFICES TO A MINIMUM. WE ARE KEEPING IT TO A LEVEL ONE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE NEEDED SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN IN HOUSE REVIEW OF THOSE DEFENDANTS THAT AREN'T LEVEL 1. IF WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANT THAT'S ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT TO PRETRIAL SERVICES, AND RIGHT NOW THE DEFENDANTS AT LEVEL 1 MAKE UP ABOUT ONE HALF OF THE DEFENDANTS IN OUR GENERAL SUPERVISION. IF WE CAN REDUCE THAT NUMBER WE CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STAFF. WE WANT TO RESTRUCTURE DRUG TESTING AND MOVE AWAY FROM DRUG TESTING TO A DRUG SCREENING PROTOCOL. IN OTHER WORDS, IF WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND NOT JUST DRUG USE, DRUG TESTING ISN'T THE VEHICLE TO GET US THERE. WE ARE LOOKING TO GRADUALLY REPLACE DRUG TESTING AND OFFER THE COURT TREATMENT ASSESSMENTS AND COMMUNITY-BASED PLACEMENTS IN THE FUTURE. WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE COURT TO LIMIT ELECTRONIC MONITORING THAT -- TO THOSE ACCUSED OF SERIOUS VICTIM CHARGES. IT WILL BE A STAND ALONE CONDITION TO ONE THAT SUPPORTS OTHER CONDITIONS SUCH AS STAY AWAY ORDERS, CURFEWS AND HOME ARRESTS. WE WANT TO ADOPT STEP DOWN PROCEDURES.

THESE ARE CURRENTLY BEING PILOTED IN BOTH COURTS WHERE THE DEFENDANTS WHO MEET A CERTAIN LEVEL OF COMPLIANCE ARE STEP DOWN WITH THEIR CONDITION OF SUPERVISION ORIE MOVED FROM CON -- OR REMOVED FROM THE SUPERVISION CONDITION ALTOGETHER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COMPLIES WELL WITH THE O'DONNELL DECISION.

IF SUCCESSFUL THEY WILL RECOMMEND THE PRETRIAL SERVICES.

WE HAVE LOST A NUMBER OF STAFF IN 2020. AND SOME OF THE ISSUE THAT'S HAVE COME UP AND THE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION SURVEY ARE THE KINDS OF ISSUE THAT'S ARE CORRELATED TO LOSING STAFF. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE ISSUES ARE AND ADDRESS THEM. WE CAN'T STRATEGIES INTO PLACE NOT ONLY TO BRING IN NEW STAFF, BUT TO KEEP THE STAFF THAT ARE ALREADY THERE. THAT STRUCTURED APPROACH TO MANAGING OUR GROWTH. OUR PRIORITY AREAS ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THE IMMEDIATE NEED OF THE CASE LOAD. PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE HIGHER LEVELS OF DEFENDANTS AND ELECTRONIC MONITORING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ALCOHOL MONITORING AS WELL.

[03:10:03]

WE NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO MEET THE AGENCY'S MISSION AND GOALS.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THE AGENCY HAS A FAIRLY BIG FOOTPRINT.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS TO BE QUITE THAT LARGE OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE SHAPED QUITE IN THE WAY IT IS. WE WANT TO FOCUS BACK ON WHAT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US AS A PRETRIAL AGENCY. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE ARE PROVIDING TO THE COURTS AND TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TO THE COMMUNITY AND BEGIN TO FOCUS ON THOSE KINDS OF WORK. AND LASTLY WE WANT TO MEASURE AND ONLY -- ANALYZE AND ADJUST. WE WANT TO START USING THE DATA CONSTRUCTIVELY.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASK OURSELVES A SIMPLE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MEETING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. IF WE ARE, WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT.

IF NOT, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO CHANGE. RIGHT NOW OUR INFORMATION SYSTEM DOESN'T ALLOW THAT, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO CREATE A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS US NOT ONLY TO DO THE DAY IN AND THE DAY OUT WORK, BUT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT HOW WELL WE ARE MEETING OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

I WILL -- I BELIEVE I WILL TURN IT OVER NOW TO JIM. >> THANK YOU, MR. KENNEDY.

THE BUDGET WAS BASICALLY SUBMITTED BY THE TIME I HAD GOTTEN THERE.

WHAT WAS REQUESTED IS REALLY JUST THE ADJUSTED BASE. IN PART, PRETRIAL SERVICES SAID THEY WERE AWAITING THE OPERATIONAL WORKLOAD ASSESSMENT IN COORDINATION WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT THEY HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CON VEER SATISFACTION -- A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF. WE ARE NOT HAVING ANY SPES -- SPECIFIC ASKS FOR FUNDING AT THIS POINT. BASICALLY WHAT I WILL ASK THE COURT FOR IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO THE COURT IN A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS WITH A REAL BUDGET REQUEST. I UNDERSTAND THE TOTALLY LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE.

THESE ARE THE THREE TOP AREAS. ONE IS CONTINUED FUNDING AT 2021. ADDRESS THE WORKLOAD ISSUES. AND THEN THERE ARE INCREASED COSTS PERTAINING TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG MONITORING. YOU WILL BE WORKING IN YOUR RESPECTIVE STAFF AND BEING CONSCIENTIOUS AND THE LIMITATION OF FUNDING.

>> JUDGE, IF I MAY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK.

I HAVE ONE SERIOUS QUESTION AND THEN A NOT SO SERIOUS QUESTION.

THE NOT SO SERIOUS QUESTION IS CAN YOU OR MR. KENNEDY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY -- ABOUT HOW THE BACK PROGRAM WILL IMPACT THE PRETRIAL RELEASE PROGRAM AND THE SUPERVISION THAT IS -- [INAUDIBLE]. AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS JUST ONE OF PERSONAL CURIOSITY. SPURGEON IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS.

MR. KENNEDY, YOU WERE NAMED BY THE GREAT THEOLOGEON AND I HAVE TO KNOW THE BACK STORY.

WHAT AN AMAZING INDIVIDUAL IN OUR HISTORY AND BRILLIANT MIND.

I PRESUME YOUR PARENTS NAMED YOU THAT BECAUSE THEY KNEW YOU WOULD HAVE A BRILLIANT MIND.

GIVE ME THE BACK STORY. >> ACTUALLY I AM NAMED AFTER MY FATHER.

I AM A JUNIOR. FAMILY LEGEND IS HE WAS NAMED FOR THE DOCTOR WHO ACTUALLY DELIVERED HIM. MY GRANDMOTHER HAD SEVEN KIDS AND I GUESS SHE RAN OUT OF NAMES AT THAT POINT. I AM FAMILIAR WITH CHARLES SPURGEON.

I HOPE TO BE HALF AS BRILLIANT AS HE IS OR HAD BEEN. >> R. JACK CAGLE: THE NERD I AM I HAVE A 10-VOLUME SET OF HIS. IF EVER YOU NEED IT, LET ME

[03:15:07]

KNOW. AND TO THE SERIOUS QUESTION WHICH IS ABOUT HOW DOES THE

COUNCIL INTERACT WITH THE PRETRIAL PROGRAM? >> MY APOLOGIES ON THAT.

I AM NOT SURE ABOUT HOW THAT INTERACTION HAPPENS, IF IT HAPPENS AT ALL.

THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE BACK TO THE AGENCY AND GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU SOON.

>> COMMISSIONER, YOU HAD BROKEN UP. I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH WHAT YOU HAD SAID, BUT I WILL CIRCLE BACK WITH YOU IN REFERENCE TO THAT.

WE NEED TO GIVE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT. >> R. JACK CAGLE: ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

JIM, THANK YOU, MR. SPURGEON, THANK YOU AS WELL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

PRETRIAL HAS -- I HAVE HAD AN INTERESTING HISTORY WITH. IN THE CONTEXT THAT WHEN I CAME IN IN 2006 WE HAD AN OVER POPULATION OF ABOUT 12,000. TODAY THE SHERIFF IS I THINK ABOUT 99,000, SOME ODD. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE POPULATION IS IN, OUR PRETRIAL POPULATION REMAINS AT ALMOST A STAGNANT 78%. MY QUESTION WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS YOU ARE LOOKING TO DO AND THE WORK YOU ARE DOING PWHAT ARE WE -- I MEAN, I THINK I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE OFFICE IS STILL HEAVY PAPER DRIVEN.

WHAT ARE THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN ANTICIPATE THAT WILL HELP TO MORE

AGGRESSIVELY IMPACT THAT PRETRIAL STAT -- STATUS? >> I THINK YOU MENTIONED AN ISSUE THAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING NATIONWIDE AND NOT JUST HARRIS COUNTY.

NATIONALLY 63% OF JAIL INMATES ARE UNCONVICTED. AS YOU MENTIONED HARRIS COUNTY IS WELL UH -- ABOVE THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE. ONE OF THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO AND NEED TO DO AS EXECUTIVES IS GO TO THE DECISION MAKERS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE OR WHEN THE OUTCOME OCCURS TO DETAIN SOMEONE PRETRIAL. WHAT IS THE DRIVER THERE? AND WHAT IS NOT BEING OFFERED BY PRETRIAL SERVICES TO ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM. IF A PERSON SHOULD LEAVE, IN MOST CASES THEY DON'T NEED THAT LEVEL OF DETENTION TO MAKE A COURT APPEARANCE AND WANT TO REMAIN ARREST FREE. I THINK WE NEED MORE COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE DECISION IS MADE AND WHY IT IS BEING MADE AND WHAT KINDS OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT WE CAN INSTITUTE TO MAKE PRETRIAL MORE ATTRACTIVE TO

MORE DEFENDANTS. >> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I HAD ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM, AND THIS IS WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING PUBLIC SAFETY OR COMPROMISING PUBLIC SAFETY.

WITH US MOVING TOWARD AUTOMATION AND FILLING TO THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS, INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE IN PERSON OR TWO IN PERSON WHERE THE DEFENDANT IS REQUIRED TO COME DOWN AND STAND IN LINE AND WAIT IN LINE TO REDUCE THE CHECK INS, WE ARE DOING IT ELECTRONICALLY.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING SUPERVISED OR ACCUSED OF A VIOLENT CRIME. IT IS A DRUG POSSESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S PART OF THE VIRTUAL SIDE. AND EVEN BEING ABLE TO SIGN PAPERWORK BECAUSE IT IS SO VERY PAPER BASED AND I AM VERY GLAD WE HAVE AN EXPERT WHO IS

ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW WHO IS ASSISTING US WITH THAT. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: I IS -- I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS BY THE WAY. DO WE ANTICIPATE A TIMELINE ON AUTOMATED -- OUGHT MATING AS MUCH OF THIS PROCESS THAT WESTBOUND AUTOMATED?

[03:20:05]

LET ME JUST SAY THAT I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL HARM PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BONDS, BONDED OR THOSE THAT HAVE BONDS RECEIVE THEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR PRETRIAL STATUS IS FAIR AND ACCURATE, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE TO HAVE THAT RESOLVE.

THE QUESTION ON AUTOMATION, WHERE ARE WE -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE WORKING WITH SERVICES OR OFF THE SHELF, BUT WHERE ARE WE WITH AUTOMATION THAT NEEDS TO OCCUR?

>> IN REFERENCE TO THE AUTOMATION, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

WE WILL BE COORDINATING AND HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES ON THIS.

IT WILL BE AUGMENTING OFF OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT THE COUNTY HAS AND THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATIONS. THE SPECIFIC TIMELINE, AND PART OF THE REASON I WANTED DR. LEVIN HERE, EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING IN THEIR IN BOX. HIS ROLE IS TO KEEP IT AT THE TOP OF MY INBOX AND UNIVERSAL'S. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THREE MONTHS, SIX MONTHS, BUT THAT IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. WHAT I WILL DO, COMMISSIONER GARCIA, I WILL HAVE A FOLLOW-UP WITH DR. LOVIN AFTER THIS HEARING AND SEND IT TO EACH COMMISSIONER COURT AND THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE WITH A TIMELINE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS WHY DON'T WE HAVE METRICS -- DO WE HAVE THE DATA AVAILABLE FOR A METRICS-BASED SYSTEM TO ENSURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE VALUE OF THE -- NOT THE VALUE, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CASES ARE? IS THERE ANY DATA OR METRICS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH TO HAVE A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF

WHAT THE POPULATION LOOKS LIKE? >> THE PRETRIAL AGENCY HAS INCLUDED INFORMATION IN THE ANNUAL PORT. SOME IS DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON THE POPULATION. A COUPLE OF OUTCOME MEASURES AND PUBLIC SAFETY. FRANKLY WHAT IS PRESENTED HAS BEEN LIMITED AND FRANKLY IN MY OPINION NOT VERY HELPFUL TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE AGENCY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE WORKING ON IS IDENTIFYING A BROADER SET OF OUTCOME PERFORMANCE METRICS.

THESE ARE MEASURES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES.

THEY WERE DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CORRECTIONS AND APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PRETRIAL SERVICES AGENCIES.

THERE ARE FOUR OUTCOME MEASURES AND 9 PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

WE HOPE TO INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO TRACK THOSE METRICS. BOTH YEARLY AND AT SIX-MONTH INTERVALS. AND THEN START REPORTING THAT INFORMATION OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS. WE ALSO WANT TO BE BETTER AT IDENTIFYING DEFENDANTS BY DEMOGRAPHICS SUCH AS RACE, AGE, ETHNICITY, GENDER TO MAKE SURE IT IS FAIR WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THOSE PERSONS ARE TREATED. WE RECOGNIZE THE SHORT COMINGS WE HAVE IN DATA MANAGEMENT, BUT WE HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT IT IS WE WANT TO TRACK AND HOW USEFUL THAT IS NOT ONLY TO US, BUT TO THE SYSTEM.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. AND THEN THE TWO LAST QUESTIONS, ONE IS THAT IS THERE ANY PART OF THE GAG -- OF THE BUDGET THAT WILL REQUEST FOR PRETRIAL SERVICES PROVIDES OR CAN IMPROVE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION THAT MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES

[03:25:05]

RECEIVE WHEN MAKING BOND RECOMMENDATIONS? OR DO YOU THINK THE INFORMATION THEY ARE BEING PROVIDED IS AS ACCURATE AS IT CAN BE?

>> I WILL LET JIM ANSWER THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT IS AUTOMATION AND HOW MUCH IS SIMPLY THE TRAINING OF STAFF THAT PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW CONSISTENT PEOPLE ARE IN GETTING THE DATA AND HOW CONSISTENT OUR STAFF ARE IN REPORTING IT. AND WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE GAPS PROCEDURALLY. I WOULDN'T WANT TO LABEL IT AS AN AUTOMATION ISSUE.

I THINK THERE IS POLICY, PROCEDURE AND TRAINING ISSUES THAT GO INTO IT AS WELL.

>> COMMISSIONER GARCIA, WE UNEQUIVOCALLY WILL RAMP THAT UP.

OUR DEPARTMENT IS FALLING SHORT ON THAT. I TALKED TO THE NEW PRESIDING JUDGE IN THE CRIMINAL DISTRICT COURT AND THE COUNTY COURT THAT WE NEED TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AT PRETRIAL SERVICES PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE JUDGE.

WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. WE ARE NOT THERE YET. I DO BELIEVE AUTOMATION WILL ASSIST US IN THE ENDEAVOR, BUT IT DOES DEAL WITH POLICY AND OUR CURRENT PROCESSES.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE QUESTIONING EVERY PROCESS. THE AGENCY HASN'T CROSS TRAINED THE OFFICE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF SAYING, NO.

WE WILL SPEND ANOTHER 60 SECONDS AND THE SAME WITH GETTING INFORMATION TO THE COURT. WE HAVE TO TOTALLY STEP UP THAT GAME.

WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW. THAT'S ANOTHER AREA WE NEED TO INCREASE.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I CONSIDER THAT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN YOUR BUDGETING PROCESS AND APPROACH OVER THERE.

THE LAST THING IS THAT IS THERE A DEGREE OF WORK FOR WHICH YOU NEED FUNDING FOR THAT ASSUMING THAT -- I KNOW THE STORIES ARE NOT ACCURATE, AT LEAST NOT ENTIRELY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS AND IS NOT HAPPENING AND RECOGNIZING THAT A LOT OF THIS IS CONTINGENT ON THE HUMAN. WHEN I HEAR STORIES OF SOMEONE COMMITTING A VIOLENT OFFENSE AFTER BEING BONDED OUT, IF THERE IS ACCURACY TO THE NOTION THAT THAT PERSON HAD A HUNDRED DOLLAR BOND OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, IS YOUR OFFICEY -- OFFICE EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO SEE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, THE QUALITY ASSURANCE, IF YOU WILL, THE QUALITY CONTROL, AND SIMILARLY TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING BONDED AND RETURNING TO COURT.

AT LEAST ON THE MISDEMEANOR SIDE, WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW AND WE ARE GETTING THAT INFORMATION, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW HOW WELL THE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL IS FUNCTIONING , PRETRIAL SERVICES IS PROVIDING THE JUDGES GOOD DATA. IS THERE A PORTION OF THE OFFICE DEDICATED TO THE QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE?

>> I KNOW THAT YOU ALREADY IMPLEMENTED SOME THINGS IN REFERENCE TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU, JIM. COMMISSIONER, YOU BRING UP AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POINT.

HARRIS COUNTY, LIKE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER, THE COLD NUMBER,

[03:30:05]

WHAT WE FIND WITH MOST PRETRIAL AGENCIES IS LESS THAN 1% OF PRETRIAL DEFENDANTS ARE THERE ON VIOLENT OFFENSES. THAT'S OF THE COMFORT TO THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THE OFFENSES. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY HAPPEN AT A MINIMUM AND WE HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE TO REVIEW THOSE DECISIONS AND OUR ACTIONS AS WELL. WE HAVE LOOKED AT QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL. WE ARE GOING TO ADD AS BEST AS WE CAN, A PERSON WHO IS DEDICATED TO LOOKING AT QAQC OF ELECTRONICALLY MONITORED DEFENDANTS.

ARE WE MEETING THE POLICIES PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE? THIS IS THE BASIS OF THE QUALITY UH -- ASSURANCE IS THE POLICIES HAVE TO BE QUIPPED AND FOLLOWED. WE FOUND WHEN IT CAME TO A ELECTRONIC MONITORING SUPERVISION IT WAS NOT CLEAR TO THE STAFF WHAT CONSTITUTED VIOLATIONS, ESPECIALLY VIOLATIONS THAT HAD TO BE RECORDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE COURT IMMEDIATELY.

WE NOW HAVE THE POLICY CREATED AND IN PLACE. THE STAFF UNDERSTAND IT AND HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON IT. IF WE WANT TO ADD A PERSON ON STAFF WHOSE JOB IT IS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT LEVEL OF POLICY IS FOLLOWED BY STAFF. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY CHANGE IT GENETICALLY, BUT TO CHANGE IT. WE HAVE A REPORT COMING OUT THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE THE FIRST VALIDATION. THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THAT, IT DOES SEEM TO PREDICT COURT APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE ARE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE LOWER LEVEL DEFENDANTS THAT CAN BE SUPERVISED WITH LESS, AND THOSE WHO NEED MORE CONDITIONS SUCH AS ELECTRONIC MONITORING AND ALCOHOL MONITORING. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, OUR FIRST STEP IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE POLICIES PROCEDURESS IN PLACE AND THAT WE HAVE WAYS OF MONITORING AND MAKE SURE THOSE

ARE BEING FOLLOWED. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WE HAVE INSTITUTED, THAT THEY ARE WORKING WELL. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE NOT WORKING WELL, THEN WE NEED TO KNOW THAT AS WELL TO BRING ATTENTION TO IT AND DRIVE POLICY OR ACCOUNTABILITY WHEREVER IT MAY BE. I QUO SAY RIGHT NOW -- I WOULD SAY RIGHT NOW IT IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO ENSURE -- BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A FULL YEAR OF THE O'DONNELL SETTLEMENT. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS PROVIDING THE BENEFIT THAT WE BELIEVE IT IS AND MAKE SURE IT IS NOT THE SETTLEMENT THAT IS FAILING.

IF PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS, THEN I ASSUME THEY WILL STAND BY THE DECISIONS ASSUMING THEY ARE GETTING FULL , ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION.

IF THEY ARE NOT, THAT'S NOT THEIR FAULT WHY THEY ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS BEING PROVIDED TO THE JUDGES IN AN INCREDIBLY COMPREHENSIVE AND COMPLETE MANNER SO THEY MAKE DISCOED -- GOOD DECISIONS AND WE CAN MAKE SURE IT IS GOOD FOR THE VICTIMS AND GOOD AND FAIR AND JUST TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE SYSTEM.

>> I WOULD ADD THAT WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE MADE PEOPLE KNOW WHY THEY WERE MADE AND WITH

WHAT INFORMATION. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: EXACTLY. THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU JIM AND SPURGEON. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[03:35:01]

I JUST HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. ONE ON WHAT COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAS JUST SAYING.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT BY NATURE THE PRETRIAL SYSTEM CAN'T POSSIBLY BE PERFECT. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. WE WOULD HAVE TO PUT ANYBODY IN JAIL THAT IS INVOLVED WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ALREADY THE JAIL IS FULL.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME STORIES. I DON'T BELIEVE, AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, THE POLICY SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY THE HEADLINES THAT IN TURN ARE DRIVEN BY WHAT IS LEAKED. WE SHOULD KNOW THAT THINGS ARE WORKING AS THE COMMISSIONER SAID. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRACK, SAY, WHEN THERE IS A CASE THAT PEOPLE ARE ARGUING THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO DIG IN AND SAY NOT JUST THE FORENSIC AUDIT, BUT DID ANYTHING GO WRONG, AND IF SO HOW DO WE CHANGE IT? AND JUST KEEP US POSTED AND THE MORE CONSISTENT TERM OF DID SOMETHING GO WRONG OR NOT? THAT'S THE QUESTION FOLKS ARE ASKING. YEAH, THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING AS DESIGNED, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO VERIFY ESPECIALLY AS WE TRANSITION TO PRE-TRIAL SERVICES.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS FROM JUSTICE JACKSON FROM 1952 ON THE DECISION ABOUT BAIL. IT IS THAT BAIL CARRIES RISK. IT IS INHERENT IN THE RISK DECISION. AS I TRAIN BOTH JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS AS WELL AS PRETRIAL STAFF, I REMIND THEM THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS RISK INHERENT, IT DOESN'T MAKE THE BAIL DECISION A GAMBLE. KEY CAN BE -- WE CAN BE INFORMED AND OFFER SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS RISK. THAT SAID WE HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD IN MAKING SURE THAT THINGS WORK. WE HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD OF MAKING SURE THAT WHEN THEY DON'T WORK WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO UNDERSTAND WHY. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE TO OR WAIT FOR A NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO DO THAT. WE ARE INSTITUTING ALMOST A POST MORTUM SYSTEM WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING UNIT SO WE CAN LOOK AT THE CASES AND ASK OURSELVES THE VERY BASIC QUESTION. WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WENT WRONG HERE? WHAT SHOULD WE HAVE DONE THAT WE DIDN'T DO? WHOM SHOULD WE HAVE CONTACTED THAT WE DIDN'T CONTACT? WHAT WAS LEVIED ON A DEFENDANT THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN? I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR A NEW SYSTEM TO DO THAT. WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE CURRENT STAFF AND RESOURCES WE HAVE IN PLACE. CAN WE DO IT THROUGHOUT THE AGENCY? PROBABLY NOT WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STAFF, BUT AT LEAST THE ELECTRONIC MONEY -- MONITOR SCG ALCOHOL MONITORING UNITS WE CAN INSTITUTE THAT NOW.

>> LINA HIDALGO: WHEN ABOUT DO YOU THINK WE WILL KNOW ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS SYSTEMIC ISSUES PRESENT? ONE THING OBVIOUSLY IS THE FOLKS WHO HAVE A HIGH BAIL AND PAY AND SOME OF THEM DEAL WITH RAW SEISM DO VISM. WE KNOW MONEY DOESN'T KEEP PEOPLE SAFER. YOU TOLD US THE ARNOLD STUDY AND SAYING THE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL IS GOOD. OBVIOUSLY YOU WILL DO MORE TRAINING.

AT WHAT POINT DO YOU SAY BASED ON THE DATA THE JUDGES ARE IMPLEMENTING THE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BASED ON THE DATA. WE HAVE ELIMINATED ANY SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS TO WHERE WE ARE MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION AS WE CAN, AND THE UNFORTUNATE CASES WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THAT IS THE NATURE OF HUMAN KIND.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT ONLY HAVE THE ACTUAL PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT RESULT, BUT TO MATCH THE RESULT UP TO BAIL DECISIONS.

THE QUESTION IS CAN WE TELL YOU HOW OFTEN, THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE, A LOW-LEVEL DEFENDANT IS RELEASED TO THE LOW-LEVEL CONDITIONS OR WITH A NOMINAL BOND.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE AS LONG AS WE DEFINE WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE.

[03:40:07]

IF WE KNOW WHAT THE LOW-LEVEL SITUATION IS I CAN TELL YOU HOW OFTEN THAT IS HAPPENING.

IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE FINDING SYSTEMIC ISSUES IN THE SUPERVISION, I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE INCORPORATING AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER BOTH ADMIT YEAR AND THE END OF A CALENDAR YEAR. THAT KIND OF REPORTING OUT TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE USED TO. WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN DO IT IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR I DON'T KNOW. IF WE FIND THERE ARE SYSTEMIC ISSUES HAPPENING WHAT WE ARE DOING TO REPORT OUT TWICE YEARLY TO THIS GROUP.

>> THERE IS A DATA TECHNOLOGY TEAM. HE HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THAT OUT OF THE I.T. AND PRETRIAL SERVICES. AND IT IS OVER PRETRIAL SERVICES AND IT IS UNDER ONE OF THE VERY BEST PROGRAMMERS WHO WOULD BE ASSISTING IN THAT ENDEAVOR. THAT IS ALREADY CONDENSED. AND IT IS VERY CONCERNED AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT. THESE ARE SYSTEMIC ISSUES.

IT IS INCOME DENT -- IT IS INCUMBENT AND HERE ARE THE EVIDENCE-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR COVERING THAT AND I AM READING WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

IT IS JUST A SHEAR NUMBER OF PRETRIAL -- OF FOLKS THAT ARE UNDER SUPERVISION ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. IS THAT JUST AN EFFECT OF THE CASE BAG -- CASE BACKLOG.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT CAN BE DONE? CAN WE DO THAT SINCE THAT IS NOT A STANDARD NUMBER? CAN THERE BE SUCCESS WITH THE HIGH NUMBER AND HOW DO WE

BRING THE NUMBER DOWN IF IT IS NECESSARY TO BRING IT DOWN? >> JUDGE, I WILL HAVE KENNY ADD IN ON THIS. I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

I ALSO FEEL IT IS PRETRIAL SERVICES. BECAUSE OF THE BAIL REFORM WE MAY BE OVER CONDITIONING THE PERSON RELEASED THAT REALLY IF WE HAVE A HIGH NUMBER AND VERY, VERY LOW RISK, PERHAPS THE ONLY THING PRETRIAL SERVICES NEEDS TO DO IS AN AUTOMATED TEXT WHEN THE COURT APPEARANCE IS COMING UP. WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO GET THE NUMBERS DOWN AND PART OF IT IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE JUDICIARY ON WHAT DOES WORK AND THE OUT LIEU SWRAITION OF THE P -- UTILIZATION OF THE PSA.

PFM NOTED AND JMI SAW THE INCONSISTENT -- KENNY DID YOU WANT TO ELABORATE ON THAT?

I KNOW Y'ALL ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE. >> YES.

WHAT WE DID SEE WAS -- WELL TWO THINGS ACTUALLY. THE FACT IS THE COURT IS HANDLING A LOT OF CASES. YOU MENTIONED IT WITH THE PANDEMIC THERE HAS BEEN LESS COURT PROCESSING HAPPENING. MORE DEFENDANTS ON THE ROLES WHO ARE NOT MOVING OUT.

IN TERMS OF WHAT THE QUART IS ASKING -- IN TERMS OF WHAT THE COURT IS ASKING THE AGENCY TO DO, IT IS SOMETHING WE DON'T SEE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. WE DON'T SEE THE NEED OF STAFF TO BE IN OFFICE. WE AVERAGED IT OUT TO 90 MINUTES OF A WORK DAY FOR THE TYPICAL PRETRIAL OFFICER TO PREPARE TO BE IN COURT. THAT IS A TIME CONSTRAINT THAT

[03:45:07]

MAKES THE NEED FOR A HIGHER CASE LOAD APPARENT. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO DO INTERNATIONALLY TO REDUCE THAT AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE JUDGES.

ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO HAS SAID THAT CASE MANAGERS CAN REPORT VIRTUALLY.

THAT WAY THEY CAN STAY AT THEIR DESK AND STILL DO WORK. WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE INNOVATIONS. THE NEED THAT THE COURT HAS FOR THE PRESENCE OF PRETRIAL OFFICERS, WHILE NOT UNIQUE TO HARRIS COUNTY, THE LEVEL OF THAT NEED CERTAINLY SEEMS TO

BE SOMETHING UNIQUE TO THE CULTURE. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU,

COMMISSIONER. >> YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON LAYING IT OUT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME CRITICISM AND CONCERN THAT IS COMING EITHER IN THIS BUDGET OR JIM IN YOUR BUDGET, DO YOU MAKE PROVISIONS FOR SOMEONE TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC? THE JUDGE CAN'T TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC CASE.

THEY CALL US AND WE DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS. KENNY MAYBE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY. I DON'T WANT US TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THERE IS NOBODY TO EXPLAIN IT SO WHO DOES THE OUT REACH? IS IT THROUGH A COMMUNITY OUT REACH PROGRAM AND PRETRIAL SERVICES? IS IT JAD? THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR SPECIFIC CASE OBVIOUSLY.

WHO EDUCATES THE PUBLIC SO THAT WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH IN TRYING TO REMOVE THE INEQUITY THAT'S CAME OUT FROM THAT LAWSUIT, WHO ON AN ON GOING BASIS TAKES ON THE TASK OF EXPLAINING THAT TO THE PUBLIC? THIS IS VERY INTERESTING AND NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING, BUT YOU ACCOUNT FOR THAT SOMEWHERE IN THIS BUDGET, BUT

IS IT PRETRIAL SERVICES? >> COMMISSIONER ELLIS, I WILL SAY YES IN REFERENCE TO IT IS REALLY JUST PRETRIAL SERVICES AND JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. WITH MY ROLE OVER THERE AND WITH THE DATA TEAM ASSISTING WITH PRETRIAL SERVICES I NO I THAT WE -- I KNOW THAT IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND IT TIES INTO THE PRESENTATION OF OPENING A TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE. THAT INCLUDES PRETRIAL SERVICES.

AGAIN WE ARE TO THE GOING TO RELEASE ANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE GOT AND HOW THAT IS BEING DONE.

I OWE THAT TO CRIMESTOPPERS AND HAD COORDINATING COUNCIL AND ALL OF THAT.

I KNOW AS PART OF MY DUTIES IN THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO DO AND WE HAVE COORDINATING SO WE HAVE -- RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A PRETTY ANTIQUATED LEGACY SYSTEM. THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER SYSTEMS. WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THAT IN THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND PRETRIAL SERVICES.

KENNY, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? >> ANSWERING THAT ON A MORE NATIONAL LEVEL, IT REALLY DOES DE -- DOES DEPEND. IN WASHINGTON, D.C., MY HOMETOWN, OUR CHIEF JUDGE OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION HAD THAT SORT OF PUBLIC OUT REACH AND PRETRIAL COORDINATED. THEY HAD A CITIZEN MEMBER WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THAT KIND OF AN OUT REACH OR HAD TIES TO THE COMMUNITY GROUPS AND COULD GIVE THAT INFORMATION OUT.

THERE IS NO ONE WAY OF DOING IT. I AGREE THAT KIND OF TRANSPARENCY AND THAT KIND OF KNOWLEDGE GIVEN BACK TO THE PUBLIC IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILD

TRUST IN WHAT IT IS WE ARE DOING. >> RODNEY ELLIS: THANK YOU.

[03:50:05]

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS A PRIORITY. I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF

FUNDING TO DO THAT. >> LINA HIDALGO: YOU HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU ALL.

I THINK WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU COME BACK WITH.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: ARE DISTRICT COURTS AVAILABLE, LUCINDA?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> LINA HIDALGO: LET'S HEAR FROM THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT. I AM GOING TO UNMUTE JUDGE SCHAEFER.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR UNMUTING ME. >> YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR.

>> I THINK CLAY BOWMAN IS ALSO HERE. >> YES, SIR.

UNMUTEING CLAY BOWMAN. GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON,

COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU, JUDGE SCHAEFER. >> LINA HIDALGO: IS THERE

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO COVER OR JUST TAKE QUESTIONS? >> CLAY, WHY DON'T YOU START

THINGS OFF? >> I CAN DO THAT. SO YOUR HONORS, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE COURTS AS IT HAS BEEN FOR EVERYONE.

PANDEMIC RESPONSE IS THE MOST FOR US. THE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES AND CONSTITUENTS SAFE.

WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGIONAL OFFICES. THAT DIRECTION HAS EVOLVED OVER THE PAST MONTHS AS THE COURTS WRESTLE WITH THE HARD QUESTIONS OF BALANCING THE RIGHTS OF ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AGAINST THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES. OUR COURTS WORKED WITH MR. BLOUNT AND MR. STUKEY AND THE COURT OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE RESPONSIVENESS WE RECEIVED FROM OUR PARTNERS HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. IT HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE WAY COURTS OPERATE WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY ON OUR PART TO ENABLE ALL OF OUR COURTS TO CONDUCT HEARINGS WITH PARTIES APPEARING BY TELE CONFERENCE IF POSSIBLE. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE UTILIZATION OF THE REMOTE APPEARANCE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WILL HAVE LASTING EFFECTS AND THEN THE LEGAL PRACTICE REMAINS TO BE SEEN. THE REMOTE OPERATIONS OFFER BUILDING CONGESTION AND GOING FORWARD AND INCREASING FISCAL SECURITY IN THE COURTS.

AND SO WE EXPECT THERE IS DEMAND IN SERVICES WHERE APPROPRIATE.

AS A RESULT OF THE CONSTRAINT WE ARE WORKING UNDER, THE DOCKETS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE ON DOCKET CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT THERE AS WELL. AND THE STATE IS OFFERING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE 11TH REGION IN THE FORM OF VISITING JUDGES TO HELP ASSIST WITH PRETRIAL READINESS IN CASE KAZ. JUST LEFT A MEETING WHERE THEY WERE DISCUSSING THAT. WE HOPE TO GET ASSISTANCE IN THAT REGARD.

THERE ARE A FEW SILVER LININGS. THE JURY OPERATIONS AT THE NRG ARENA WHICH THE COUNTY HAS BEEN VERY, VERY GENEROUS AND GOOD PARTNERS IN HELPING US STEP UP THE NRG ARENA HAS ALLOWED US TO EM PANEL GRAND JURY -- I'M -- I'M -- EMPANEL THE GRAND JURY THERE. IT HELPED TO KEEP THE CRIMINAL PROCESS MOVING.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH -- WELL, THE CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION AND THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER ARE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR WHAT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH CONSTRAINTS ON THE COURT'S ABILITY TO OPERATE.

ONE OF THE JUDGES WAS TELLING ME YESTERDAY, I HAVE BEEN IN THE JOB FOR FOUR YEARS AND NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO SPREAD WINGS AND DO? OF THE THINGS WE ARE CAPABLE OF. IT IS THE COMPLETION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WILL

[03:55:05]

ALLOW THEM TO EXERCISE SOME OF THE CREATIVITY. I HAVE SEEN AMAZING CREATIVITY FROM OUR JUDGES WORKING ON ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF JURY SELECTION IN HOLDING TRIAL UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. JUST AMAZING CREATIVITY IN THE JUDGES WORKING ON THAT.

WE ARE ASKING FOR A COUPLE OF BUDGET ITEMS IN PARTICULAR. ONE I KNOW JUDGE SCHAEFER WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OF IS TECHNOLOGY IN THE CIVIL COURTS.

WE HAVE SOME TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS FOR -- AND THESE ARE THE SYSTEM THAT'S ALLOW LITIGANTS IN THE COURTROOM TO PRESENT THEIR INFORMATION TO IN TRIAL AND TO THE JURORS.

AND WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE ARE ALSO INCORPORATING THE REMOTE APPEARANCE TECHNOLOGY INTO ALL OF THAT. THERE IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT UNDERWAY THAT WILL HELP THAT IN THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM.

WE DO NOT HAVE THAT IN THE CIVIL COURTS. THE CIVIL COURTS ARE NOW OVER 10 YEARS IN THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS SUSTAINING THEM. WE ARE LOOKING FOR EXPENDITURES IN THAT REGARD THAT WILL HELP. JUDGE SCHAEFER WILL TALK ABOUT THAT. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE CAPACITY BOTH TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT PROVIDE THE COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS.

THAT CONTRACT IS SERVICED BY THE HARRIS CENTER. WE ARE ASKING FOR A MODEST AMOUNT TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL EVALUATOR TO HELP WITH THE TIMELINESS AND THE QUALITY OF THE COMPETENCY AND SANITY OF THE EVALUATIONS. FINALLY, WE BEGAN UNDER THE MCARTHUR SAFETY JUSTICE CHALLENGE GRANT, OUR REINTEGRATION COURT PROJECT THAT DEALS MOSTLY WITH REPEATING FIRST OFFENDERS. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROGRAM IS PEER MENTORS AND THOSE INVOLVED IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE RELATED BEHAVIOR GETTING THEM INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER. THE HOUSTON RECOVERY CENTER IS A PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE STATEWIDE AND IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

WE ARE HOPING TO PICK THAT UP AS WE EXPECT THE MACARTHUR SAFETY JUSTICE CHALLENGE GRANT FUNDING TO GO AWAY. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WE KNEW ALL ALONG THAT WAS NOT GOING TO BE A PERMANENT ARRANGEMENT. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS GOING TO SUNSET AND SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS IN THAT AREA.

IF JUDGE SOVER -- IF JUDGE SCHAEFER HAS ANYTHING HE WOULD LIKE TO ADD.

>> YES, I WOULD. FIRST THANK YOU ALL FOR ACCOMMODATING OUR SCHEDULES TODAY BOTH CLAY AND I WHO HAD CONFLICTS EARLIER THAT KEPT US FROM JUMPING INTO THIS CONVERSATION EARLIER. THERE IS A A CONFLICT IN COVID-19 AND MOVING CASES THROUGH THE CRIMINAL COURTS. WE UNDERSTAND IT GETS SOME RELIEF IN THE JAIL POPULATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. WE ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MOVE THESE CASES THROUGH THE DOCKETS SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THAT.

WE HAVE DONE THAT TO SOME DEGREE BY WHAT WE ARE DOING AT NRG ARENA AND PROVIDING FOR A JURY TRIAL SELECTION OUT THERE. IT IS ENOUGH THAT WE THINK SOME CASES ARE GETTING ADJUDICATED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AT NRG.

I WOULD LIKE FOR Y'ALL TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DOCKETS, THE CLOCK DOCKETS WE ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW ARE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID. WE ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM HARVEY. THAT'S REALLY WHEN THE DOCKET STARTED TO GO UP.

IT EXPLODED UPWARD AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 SITUATION. WE UNDERSTAND GETTING RELIEF FROM THE JAIL HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT GOES ON IN THE CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE AND WE ARE

[04:00:03]

TRYING OUR BEST TO MOVE CASES THROUGH THE COURTHOUSE SO WE CAN GET RELIEF THERE.

I DO KNOW THE CRIMINAL COURTS AS RECENTLY AS TODAY THEY WERE MEETING TO TRY TO FIND WAYS ALSO TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE WHO DON'T ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE THERE.

THAT'S SOMETHING CLAY IS WORKING ON AND THE CRIMINAL JUDGES ON THE COUNTY LEVEL AND THE DISTRICT LEVEL ARE WORKING ON. I KNOW JIM BETHKEY IS WORKING ON THAT AS ACTING PRETRIAL DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF JAD. SOME OF THE ISSUES WE ARE DEALING WITH ON THE CIVIL SIDE IS ELECTRONICS IN THE COURTHOUSE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT IS 2005 TECHNOLOGY. IT IS LONG PAST ITS LIFE AND WE ARE HOPING TO GET SOME RELIEF FROM THAT IN THE FORM OF NEW AUDIO ELECTRIC TRINE NICK -- TRON -- ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. SOME OF THAT DEALS WITH COVID-19 AND REMOTE PROCEEDINGS TO INCLUDE AND INTEGRATE THOSE PROCESSES IN WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE. IT WILL HAVE ALL THREE OF THE MAJOR COURTHOUSES. WE ALSO REALIZE ONCE WE GET THROUGH COVID-19 WE WILL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE CASES QUICKLY THROUGH OUR DOCK EDS. ESPECIALLY THE CRIMINAL COURT DOCKETS. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IT IS TERRIBLE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND THOSE ACCUSED AND THEY WANT TO GET THEIR CASES ADJUDICATED AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM. WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE TO FIND A WAY OR WAYS TO RELIEVE THE DOCKETS AND WE MAY NEED COMMISSIONER'S HELP TO GET TO THAT ONCE WE HAVE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH COVID-19 AND ALL OF THE STUFF WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THAT REGARD.

THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I AM OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: JUDGE, THIS IS CAGLE. FIRST I WANT TO SAY HELLO TO THE JUDGE THAT BANGS THE GAVEL THERE. MY OLD FRIEND, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OVER THERE WITH ALL OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE DESIRE FOR THE TECHNOLOGY. I WAS JOKING WITH OUR PRESENTER THAT IT WAS BRAND SPANKING AND EXCITING AND NEW IN 2006 WHEN WE MOVED OVER INTO THE CIVIL COURTS BUILDING. YOU GOT OVER THERE IN 2008. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. JANUARY OF 2009. >> 2009.

IT HAD A FEW ISSUES EVEN BACK THEN. WE HEAR THE NEED FOR TECHNOLOGY AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE WILL TRY TO DO THE BEST TO COORDINATE YOU WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS TO TRY TO HELP. AND THEN THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO INNOVATE IT OVER THERE WITH REGARD TO THE RESTRICTIONS. IF YOU WANT TO ADOPT THE MOVE YOU HAVE TO HAVE CASES GO TO TRIAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WHAT --

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. >> THANK YOU.

>> LINA HIDALGO: BARRING ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND AS ALWAYS FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO ASK JIM TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE WORKING WITH YOU ALL ALONGSIDE THE COUNTY COURTS IN FIGURING OUT THE RESOURCES TO FIGURE OUT THE BACKLOGGED SITUATION. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST ALREADY, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT IS PRESENTED TO US, JIM AND DAVE, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS HAS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN CERTAINLY FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT TO GET IT DONE AND MAKE SURE WE ARE TRAGGING OUR PROGRESS.

TRACKING OUR PROGRESS. >> ANYTHING WE DO I KNOW THEY KNEW EACH OTHER QUITE WELL.

[04:05:05]

WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FELONY ANDMENT COURTS WHEN WE WORK TO GET RID OF THESE EXPANDED

DOCKETS. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, CLAY.

I THINK THE NOTES ARE PRETTY DIFFERENT. I KNOW ON SOME OF THE ISSUES IT IS ISSUES WHERE WE ARE TOGETHER BACKLOGGING THE ISSUES.

THE IMPACT IS FELT IN THE JAIL AND FOR THEM THE IMPACT IS FELT NEVERTHELESS.

I THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT I AM GLAD YOU ARE WORKING ON. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS IT COMES BACK THE PRIORITY, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IS ON THAT.

>> YES, MA'AM. THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES IN THE MISDEMEANOR AND DISTRICT COURTS ARE MEETING TOMORROW ACTUALLY TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES IN BOTH DIVISIONS TO ADDRESS THE NEW STATE GUIDELINES ON COURT APPEARANCE.

AND I THINK THAT WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW FOLKS ARE COMING INTO THE COURTHOUSE AND WHEN THEY ARE COMING INTO THE COURTHOUSE AND WHEN DO THEY NEED TO BE COMING IN AND WHEN DO THEY NOT? LINE

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, YOUR HONORS. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.

>> YES, MA'AM. I AM GOING TO UNMUTE TERESA MAY.

YOU ARE UNMUTED, TERESA. DID YOU ALSO WANT TO UNMUTE GRANT?

>> GO AHEAD IN CASE THERE IS A QUESTION. >> GOT IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET AND PRESENT TODAY IN THE HEARINGS. I HAVE BEEN LISTENING IN AND IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE. I REALLY LIKE THE STRUCTURE. WE PREPARED OUR BUDGET REQUEST WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FUNDING THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION. AS YOU KNOW THE LARGEST PORTION OF CSED FUNDING COMES FROM THE STATE AND A PERCENTAGE FROM THE COUNTY. THE LARGEST PROPORTION GOES TO OUR CORE OPERATIONAL FUNCTION. THE COUNTIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND THE UTILITIES WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THE COUNTY FUNDED FOR US AND IT HAS BEEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND YOU CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US ON THIS IS OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

AS A SIDE NOTE THIS IS THE SAME CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT PRETRIAL SERVICES IS TRYING TO OUGHT MATE TO GO TOWARD. I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS TRANSFORMATIVE. IT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SAVED OUR RESOURCES AND IMPROVED OUR EFFICIENCY. IT ALSO IMPROVED OUR DATA COLLECTION AND WE CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION THAT WAS SO CRITICAL WITH THIS PANDEMIC, BECAUSE WE HAD THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN PLACE AND LAPTOPS FOR THE STAFF, WE AUTOMATED SEVERAL PROCESSES BECAUSE OF THE TECHNOLOGY WE WERE ABLE TO PIVOT TO VIRTUAL REPORTING VERY QUICKLY ON THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC WHICH IS LIFE SAVING FOR BOTH THE STAFF AND OUR CLIENTS. IT IS CRITICAL AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE COUNTY'S SUPPORT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO VIRTUAL REPORTING IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE DEPARTMENT WHERE APPROPRIATE.

OUR CLIENTS TOLD US IT WAS LIFE SAVING FOR THEM BECAUSE TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, CHILD CARE, THERE ARE SO MANY BARRIERS THAT CAN CAUSE ISSUES. THIS HAS BEEN A LIFE SAVER.

[04:10:05]

THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THE COUNTY HAS SUPPORTED IN THE GENERAL REVENUE THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN REALLY CRITICAL TO THE DEPARTMENT. OUR OVERALL MISSION AS A DEPARTMENT IS TO BE A KEY DIVERSION OPTION FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY LEVEL OFFENSES. WE ARE PROVIDING DIVERSION OPPORTUNITIES THAT START WITH A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT. IT IS A FULL RISK REDUCTION PLAN AND TREATMENT PLAN TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS AND ADDRESS THE FACTORS THAT KEEP THE INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN THE SYSTEM. AND FACTOR THAT'S CAN DRIVE RECIDIVISM. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF CHANGING LIVES.

RESTORING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION. THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, THE DESIGN OF THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HELPED US MOVE FROM A VERY PAPER DRIVEN, OUTDATED ANTIQUATED RECORDING SYSTEM OF CRITICAL VARIABLES SUCH AS EVEN RACE AND ETHNICITY, THE WAY IT WAS PROGRAMED IN WAS NOT ACCURATE. IT DID NOT ALLOW FOR A GOOD, SOLID ASSESSMENT OF RACE AND ETHNICITY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CORRECT IN THE NEW SYSTEM AND IT IS A BIG FOCUS OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND MONITORING AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR DATA ARE ACCURATE TO ALLOW US TO DO ANALYSIS EVEN MORE ANALYSIS AND DREYS THOSE ISSUES. ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. EMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PAST YEAR. WE HAVE EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY USING COMMUNITY COLLEGE, HOUSTON RE-ENTRY PROGRAM AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS. IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

IT IS GIVING OUR CLIENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET A CERTIFICATE OR CERTIFICATION IN CERTAIN VOCATIONAL AREAS. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETE THE CLASSES.

THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN GOING ON A YEAR. IT IS A VERY STRONG COMPLETION RATE. ACC TOLD US THAT THE RATES ARE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAVE FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION. IT HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY TO OUR CLIENTS.

A KEY PORTION OF THAT IS THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED SOME FUNDING FOR US TO CONTRACT WITH DEACON WAHL TO HELP WITH DRIVER'S LICENSES AND LEGAL BARRIERS PREVENT PEOPLE TO GET EMPLOYMENT. HONESTLY TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION.

THAT HAS BEEN A CRITICAL SERVICE. THE OTHER THING THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED IS TELE PSYCHIATRY FOR INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS AND A CO-OCCURRING SUBSTANCE PROBLEM. THE TELE PSYCHIATRY SUPPORTS OUR CONTRACT WITH THE HARRIS CENTER WHO IS SERVING OUR CLIENTS IN RESIDENTIAL AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING CRITICAL SERVICES. WE DO HAVE TELE PSYCHIATRY INTEGRATED INTO ONE OF OUR REGIONAL OFFICES IN ADDITION TO OUR RESIDENTIAL FACILITYIES.

IT IS VERY CRITICAL. THAT FREED UP SOURCES TO ADD MORE CASE MANAGEMENT AND ADDITIONAL NEEDS OF THE CLIENTS. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE? THE SECOND BIG PORTION OF THE BUDGET -- PROBABLY THE SECOND LARGEST, IS THE FUNDING OF THE FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH COURT SERVICES.

THEY HANDLE CASES THAT ARE WITH TREATMENT CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION.

THE COUNTY HAS SUPPORTED THE COURT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO CSED TO MANAGE LAST YEAR. IT IS A CRITICAL PROGRAM. IT SERVES INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE

[04:15:01]

AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF RISK AND MOST SERIOUSLY ILL. IT IS AN OPTION THAT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CAN CONSIDER IN LIEU OF A PUSH FOR INDIVIDUALS TO GO TO PRISON.

THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO INTO THIS INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND DIVERT AWAY FROM PRISON THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS A VERY, VERY INTENSIVE PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STRUGGLED SIGNIFICANTLY.

IT IS INTEGRATED WHOLLY WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PEER SUPPORT, OUTPATIENT, SOME TRANSITIONAL LIVING. THOSE ARE THE KEY FEATURES THAT COME IN THERE.

OUR GOALS ARE CONTINUING TO BE FOCUSED ON PROVIDING THE DIVERSION OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT DO NOT NEED TO GO TO PRISON. THEY ACTUALLY NEED HELP, NOT PRISON. AND HELPING OUR CLIENTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE STAR DRUG COURT SERVICES ARE ALSO SUPPORTED PARTIALLY BY THE COUNTY. THE MAJORITY OF THIS IS FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS, SOME THROUGH THE STATE AND SOME THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ALSO FACING -- YOU KNOW, THEY ARE AT THE HIGHEST END OF NEED IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

FELONY CASES FACING VERY SERIOUS PRISON SENTENCES AS WELL.

DRUG COURT HAS FULL WRAP AROUND SERVICES WITH MULTI-SERVICES HELPING PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR LIVES, GET BACK ON TRACK, DECREASE RECIDIVISM, DECREASE INCARCERATION RATES, KEEPING PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR FOCUS ON STAR DRUG COURT IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COURT AND STAKEHOLDERS TO DIVERT MORE PEOPLE TO STAR DRUG COURT AND HELP INDIVIDUALS STAY OUT OF PRISON AND FOCUSED ON LIVING A SUSTAINED, FULFILLED LIFE. THOSE ARE THE THREE PRIMARY PORTIONS OF THE BUDGET FOR THE CSED. CAN YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? THIS IS A GENERAL BREAK DOWN THAT GRIEFS -- THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE KEY THINGS FUNDED THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT AREAS. AS YOU CAN SEE THE CASE MANAGE MEANT SYSTEM WHICH IS THE WRAP PRETRIAL SERVICES IS LOOKING AT IS A SIGNIFICANT PART OF IT.

THE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AS WE HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY TODAY WHICH IS STAYING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND IT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND TO PEOPLE'S LIVES. TELE PSYCHIATRY HAS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT AS WELL AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE OFFICE SECURITY, BUILDING LEASES. DRIVER'S LICENSE RESTORATION PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND FELONY MENTAL HEALTH COURT. YOU CAN SEE IT IS AFFECTING THE SCORE STAFF WHICH IS CASE MANAGERS PRIMARILY. AND A COUPLE OF COUNSELORS.

IT ALSO SUPPORTS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WHICH IS ALL NEEDED FOR OUR CLIENTS.

STAR DRUG COURT, ONE PAID OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. THERE MAY BE TWO IN THERE THAT ARE -- I BELIEVE THOSE ARE COUNSELOR POSITIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL.

OUR TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST IS -- WE ARE THOUGHT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY.

IT IS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. 2.5. THAT SUMS UP THIS PIECE OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. THERE IS ONE MORE -- I THINK TWO MORE SLIDES I WANTED TO TOUCH ON QUICKLY. PART OF THIS PLANNING AND THE BUDGET PROCESS WE UNDERSTOOD AND SHOULD NOTE THAT SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS REQUESTS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED. ONE, WE ARE IN SERIOUS NEED OF A PHONE UPGRADE IN OUR REGIONAL OFFICES. THREE OF THE OFFICES ARE USING A PHONE SYSTEM THAT IS NO LONGER SUPPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

[04:20:05]

IT IS CONSTANTLY SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE -- IT'S FAILING.

WE HAVE ISSUES WITH VOICEMAIL AND A NUMBER OF THINGS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE UPGRADE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT 200,000. THE OTHER THING TO ME THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE BUDGE CARD -- SORRY, THE BADGE CARD AS -- ACCESS SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW ALL OF THE REGIONAL OFFICES HAVE DOORS THAT ARE LOCK AND KEY.

IT IS INY -- IT IS INEFFICIENT AND IT IS NOT SAFE. IT DOESN'T LET US KNOW WHO IS ACCESSING DIFFERENT CORRIDORS. WE GOT AN ESTIMATE ON WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR A CARD KEY ENTRANCE INTO THOSE OFFICES AND IT IS ABOUT $700,000.

THE OTHER THING I WANT TO KEEP ON A RADAR, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS FROM ME BEFORE. WE PUT IT ASIDE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE MAJOR FOCUS ON THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION OF ITASCA SEE -- ATASKASIDA. CURRENTLY THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE NOT ADDED NEW LOCATIONS IN I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.

IT IT HAS BEEN PROBABLY TWO DECADES OR MORE. WE ARE SEEING 18,000 TO 20,000 PEOPLE LIVING IN THE FAR NORTH CORRIDOR. OUR COUNTY HAS CHANGED AND IT IS GROWN. THEY ARE NOWHERE NEAR A BUS ROUTE, NOWHERE NEAR A TRANSPORTATION OF ANY SORT. RESOURCES THEY NEED IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH, JOBS, BASIC CORE SERVICES ARE NOWHERE NEAR FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS. IT IS QUITE A TRIP FOR THEM TO MAKE IT TO THE OFFICES TO COME IN AND REPORT AND RECEIVE SERVICES.

OUR VISION IS WE CAN OPERATE WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EMPLOYER SERVICES AND OTHER RANCHER SERVICES. ADD ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WHERE THERE IS NEED TO PROVIDE FULL WRAP AROUND SERVICES AND SERVE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S ARE NOWHERE NEAR A BUS ROUTE AND LIVE VERY FAR NORTH. THE GROWTH CONTINUES IN THAT DIRECTION. WE ARE SEEING ADDITIONAL GROUT IN THE SOUTHEAST SECTION.

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE -- THERE IS NEED FOR ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THERE AS WELL.

THE VISION FOR US IS NOT JUST TO BE A PROBATION OFFICE. IT IS AN OFFICE WE CAN INTEGRATE WITH THE CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS AND WRAP AROUND OUR CLIENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. THAT'S THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION. ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION AND I WANT TO THANK THE COURT FOR COMPLETING OUR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE BUILDINGS YOU HAVE APPROVED TO BE COMPLETED AND INSTALLED THAT WERE ON OUR CAMPUS EARLIER THIS YEAR WAS COMPLETED IN JULY. THAT ALLOWED US TO MOVE 93 PEOPLE OUT OF THE JAIL THAT WERE WAITING FOR MENTAL HEALTH BEDS AND TO BE SERVED BY THE HARRIS CENTER.

IT IS CRITICAL WITH THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OUR CAPACITY HAD TO BE REDUCED OUT THERE TO ALLOW FOR QUARANTINE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. THAT ENTIRE PROJECT IS LIFE CHANGING FOR OUR CLIENTS. THE NEW BUILDINGS LOOKS LIKE A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITY WHICH IS WHAT IS NEEDED. IT SAYS A LOT TO THE CLIENTS ABOUT THE CARE FOR THEM AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO US AND HELPING THEM GET BACK ON TRACK.

THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL. THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

THOM THOM TERESA, THIS IS TOM RAMSEY. >> YES, SIR.

>> TOM RAMSEY: I WANT TO AGO -- ACKNOWLEDGE. I UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF

[04:25:03]

WORKING HARD TO GET SOME FOLKS JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT. I IDENTIFIED EARLY ON WE WILL HAVE A JOB FAIR AND I WOULD LOVE TO CONNECT SOME OF YOUR CLIENTS WITH SOME JOB

OPPORTUNITIES. >> WE LOVE THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE WANT TO DO AND WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> TOM RAMSEY: THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU, TERESA SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: MY ONLY NOTE BESIDE THE THANK YOU WOULD BE TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO MAKE USE OF BUDGET THAT CAN BE HELPFUL IN SOME ADDITIONAL METRICS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE WORKING WITH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CLIENTS AND THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW, BUT TO WHAT DEGREE ARE YOU INCREASING EMPLOY ABILITY. THAT KIND OF THING CAN FOCUS ON THE OUTCOME.

I THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF VALUABLE PROGRAMS AND NOT JUST TO IMPROVE THE PROGRAMS, BUT

ALSO TO INFORM OTHERS IS IMPORTANT. >> GUNNEL -- JUDGE, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE. THAT IS ONE METRIC THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY -- IT HAS BEEN A MOVING TARGET AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THE PANDEMIC. I AGREE WITH YOU IN TAKING IT A STEP FURTHER IN TERMS OF REPORTING OUT AND IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS AND IN SUPPORT OF WHO IS GETTING JOBS AND HOW THAT IS OCCURRING. I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING ON AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO AND WE WILL IMPLEMENT IT IN THE

METRICS MOVING FORWARD. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

>> I AM GOING TO UNMUTE D.A. KIM OGG. YOU ARE UNMUTED.

AND ALSO VIVIEN KING. YOU ARE UNMUTED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME FEEDBACK.

>> I UNMUTED BOTH OF YOU. ARE YOU BOTH SPEAKING ON THE SAME LINE?

>> WE ARE. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ON WHICH ONE, VIVIEN'S OR

KIM'S? >> ON OGG'S? >> YES.

>> I AM GOING TO MUTE VIVIEN. LET'S TRY IT AGAIN. >> GREAT.

I DO NOT SEE MY PHOTO. CAN YOU SEE ME? >> NO, YOU DO NOT --

>> LINA HIDALGO: WE CAN SEE YOUR PRESENT -- YOUR PRESENTATION.

>> WELL, IF I CAN JUST BE TOLD HOW TO SHOW MYSELF I WILL. OH, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING?

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE ARE HERE. >> LINA HIDALGO: LUCINDA, IF THEY TAKE DOWN THE PRESENTATION WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEE HER?

>> NO, I CAN PROMOTE HER. ONE MOMENT. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU.

>> YOU CAN TURN ON YOUR VIDEO. >> TERRIFIC.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS. KIM OGG JOINED BY VIVIEN KING, FIRST ASSISTANT CHIEF OF STAFF. WE HOPE EVERYBODY IS HEALTHY AND HAVING A GREAT NEW YEAR. I HAVE PREPARED A PRESENTATION THAT MEMORIALIZES OUR MISSION, DUTY AND GOALS WHICH WE WILL SHARE WITH HARRIS COUNTY GOVERNMENT LEADERS.

IT WILL SPOTLIGHT HOW WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING OUR MUTUAL GOALS WITH 87 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THEN WE WILL FOCUS ON OUR BUDGET REQUESTS. MS. SILVA, IF I CAN ASK YOU TO ADVANCE CERTAIN SLIDES. WE WON'T GO IN ORDER, BUT WE WILL START WITH THIS ONE.

THE VISION THAT OUR OFFICE IS TAKING IS TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY SAFEST HARRIS COUNTY IN AMERICA. THE MISSION IS TO MAKE IT SAFE.

WITH EVIDENCE-BASED PROSECUTION AND EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THIS MEANS GUARANTEEING A FAIR PROCESS TO OBTAIN A JUST RESULT TO THE VICTIM, THE

[04:30:01]

ACCUSED AND THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY CASE. IT IS THE STATUTORY DUTY OF EVERY PROSECUTOR NOT JUST TO CONVICT, BUT SEE THAT JUSTICE IS DONE.

OUR GOALS WHICH ARE IN LINE WITH THE COUNTY GOALS. ONE, ACHIEVE THE JUST OUTCOMES IN THE CRIMINAL CASES BASED ON THE EVIDENCE. TWO, PRIORITIZE THE IDENTIFICATION AND PROSECUTE OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAVE LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THREE UTILIZE PROSECUTE FOR Y'ALL -- PROSECUTORIAL OFFENDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUR TREAT ALL CRIME VICTIMS AS WELL AS THOSE ACCUSED K DIGNITY. FIVE, APPROPRIATELY REDUCE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. USE OF THE CRIMINAL COURTS IN JAIL. FOR THOSE ACCUSED OF NONVIOLENT OFFENSES WHO SUFFER WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. SIX IMPROVE SERVICE TO LAWEN FORCE MEANT IN THE APPREHENSION OF SERIOUS, VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND FUGITIVES.

SEVEN, INCREASE PUBLIC TRUST IN COMMUNITY SAFETY BY ADVANCING COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND OUT REACH PROGRAMS. AND EIGHT, CONTINUE TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE SYSTEM EFFICIENCIES. COULD YOU GO TO SLIDE TWO, MS. SILVA? OR THE NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU.

OUR FIRST GOAL, ACHIEVING JUST OUTCOMES IN CRIMINAL CASES BASED ON THE EVIDENCE.

THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAS APPROXIMATELY 369 PROSECUTORS AT ANY ONE TIME. WE SERVE 60, THAT'S RIGHT 6-0, COURTS.

22 FELONY COURTS, 16 COUNTY MISDEMEANOR COURTS, 16 JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS, RICK, THE DRUG COURT, AND THE VETERANS COURT AND SOME OTHER SPECIALTY COURTS.

APPROXIMATELY 136,000 CASES ARE PENDING. 136,000.

APPROXIMATELY 30,000 OF THOSE CASES ARE NONARREST CASES. NONARREST IS JUST LIKE A CASE FOR A PERSON WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN IN CUSTODY. THEY HAVE TO BE WORKED AND WE NEED OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THEY ARE ARRESTED AT ALL TIMES DURING THE PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS BEFORE THEY RUN OUT. THE PENDING CASES ARE DIVIDED WHERE A PENDING CASE FOR AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE AND ALMOST EVENLY BETWEEN THE FELONY AND THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS. THERE IS ABOUT 45,000 CASES PENDING IN BOTH SYSTEMS. THERE ARE 5,000 JUVENILE CASES PENDING.

SLIDE NUMBER THREE. GOAL NUMBER TWO, PRIORITIZE THE PROSECUTION OF VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY. BRIEFLY WE HAVE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN DIVISION TO WORK -- I'M SORRY. TO CATCH AND PROSECUTE CHILD RAPISTS BOTH ONLINE AND ACTUAL. OUR SEX CRIMES AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING DIVISION HAS WORKED TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF HUMAN TRAFFICKERS WHO ENGAGE IN MODERN DAY SLAVERY.

AND FINALLY OUR MAJOR OFFENDERS DIVISION SUPPORTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING THE MOST SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, WITNESSES WHO ARE RETALIATED AGAINST AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS. SLIDE 4. GOAL NUMBER THREE, UTILIZE PROSECUTE FOR Y'ALL DISCRETION TO DECREASE THE FOOTPRINT OF NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, THE MARIJUANA DIVERSION PROGRAM WENT INTO EFFECT ON DAY 47 OF MY FIRST TERM. IT WAS PROCEEDED BY THE 10 YEARS PRIOR TO OUR ADMINISTRATION WITH 10,000 MISDEMEANOR MARIJUANA CASE CASES. WE REDUCED THAT TO 2800. IT IS DOWN TO LESS THAN 50 IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL MARIJUANA CASES FILED EACH YEAR. THAT'S 10,000 FEWER OFFENDERS COMING THROUGH OUR SYSTEM EACH YEAR. 10,000 FEWER OFFENDERS MAKING

[04:35:03]

GETTING A JOB DIFFICULT. WE REDUCED TRACE CASES WHICH IN THE YEARS PRECEDING THIS ADMINISTRATION NUMBERED BETWEEN 2,000 TO 4,000 CASES EACH YEAR.

OUR PTI WHICH IS PRETRIAL INTERVENTION AND PARTICIPATION IN RICK, THE REINTEGRATION COURT DIVERTS APPROXIMATELY 6,500 PEOPLE A YEAR BY GIVING THEM TREATMENT AND SOME TYPE OF PUNISHMENT THAT DOES NOT LEAVE THEM WITH A PERMANENT CRIMINAL RECORD WHICH CANNOT BE HIDDEN OR NONDISCLOSED. WE HAVE SIX JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAMS WHICH IS NOT JUST THE NUMBER OF JEW NILES IN CUSTODY, BUT PENDING IN THE SYSTEM HAS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY. THAT'S BEEN THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP AND WORK OF JOHN JORDAN AND DENISE TOM KIN. AND FINALLY WE HAVE FIVE DIVERSION PROGRAMS JUST FOR THE MISDEMEANORRERS THAT EQUALS 10,000 OFFENDERS A YEAR. GIVING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT THE SYSTEM WITHOUT A PERMANENT CRIMINAL RECORD. THE PRE CHARGE PROGRAMS ARE THE MARIJUANA PROGRAMS IN THE CASES WE NO LONGER ACCEPT, CERTAIN TYPES OF TRACE CASES, EPT SEPTEMBER RAW -- ET CETERA. AND THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS ARE ALL DESIGNED TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THE SYSTEM WITH A RECORD THAT THEY CANNOT -- THAT THEY CAN NEVER ESCAPE. SLIDE NUMBER 5 PLEASE. I THINK THE DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF THE GAP THAT EXISTED FOR 30 YEARS IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT FOR THE LOW-LEVEL OFFENDERS IS OUR MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION PROGRAM WHICH WE OPERATE THROUGH THE ABLE ASSISTANCE OF THE HARRIS HEALTH CENTER.

THE HARRIS HEALTH CENTER HAS SEEN MORE THAN 3500 PEOPLE BE DIVERTED PRE-CHARGE ALL WITH PAST MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY AND ALL I CAN PED UP BY THE POLICE AND ARRESTED, BUT NEVER TAKEN TO JAIL. INSTEAD THROUGH THE DIVERSION PROGRAM WAS SENT FOR TREATMENT AND FOR CONTINUED OUT REACH WITH WRAP AROUND SERVICES. THE RE -- RECIDIVISM RATE IS MAKING HEADLINES. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

FOR YEARS WE BATTLED THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT ANY SOLUTIONS.

SO WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THAT. SLIDE NUMBER -- CAN WE GO TO GOAL NUMBER 7, MS. SILVA? OUR SEVENTH GOAL WAS COMMUNITY OUT REACH.

THAT DIVISION HAS STEADILY INFORMED NEIGHBORHOODS AND OUR FAITH COMMUNITY, NOB -- NONPROFIT PARTNERS ABOUT OUR SERVICES ESPECIALLY DURING COVID.

A VERY CONFUSING TIME FOR CRIME VICTIMS, WITNESSES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE COURTHOUSE ITSELF. NUMBER EIGHT.

BY THE WAY, COMMUNITY OUT REACH HOSTS MAKE IT RIGHT. FOR OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, CONGRATULATIONS, SIR, THRILLED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR INTEREST IN DIVERTING -- GIVING PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES AT JOBS AND EMPLOYERS WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S HALF OF THE PURPOSE OF OUR MAKE IT RIGHT PROGRAM. THE OTHER HALF IS TO HELP PEOPLE CLEAN UP THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS. ADDITIONALLY OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS BOLD IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET UNNECESSARY RESTS AND CONVICTIONS OFF THEIR RECORDS. OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT AND WE CAN TO. WE CAN TOO. NUMBER EIGHT, CONTINUE TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE OUR SYSTEM FAIR AND MORE EFFICIENT.

WE ARE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT IS COMPLETELY PAPERLESS.

THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT IS THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND EFFORT OF ALL OF OUR LEADERSHIP. BUT MOST ESPECIALLY JOANNE AND GARY.

THIS ALLOWED US TO TRANSITION EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME WHICH GIVEN THE ENORMOUS CASE LOADS THEY FACE AND THE OLD PAPER SYSTEM THAT WE ALL WITNESSED FOR DECADES, IT JUST COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED. BECAUSE OF THAT WE HAVE A HIGH IMPACT FROM COVID.

FORTUNATELY WE HAVE NOT HAD CONTAMINATION IN THE OFFICE FROM EMPLOYEE TO EMPLOYEE

[04:40:03]

WHILE AT THE WORKPLACE. EMPLOYEES HAD TO COME IN REGULARLY.

ALTHOUGH WE KEEP THE POPULATION IN ANY OF OUR FIVE FACILITIES AT A MINIMUM.

ALWAYS IT HAS BEEN UNDER 40%. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WE RELAXED THE PROVISIONS.

IT IS THIS TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO DO THAT. FINALLY, WE NEED HARRIS COUNTY TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE COURTS AND THE SHERIFF HAVE ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY THEY NEED TO CONTINUE REMOTE TESTIMONY BY WITNESSES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TRIALS.

THE ANSWER OF COURSE TO BACKLOGS IS PROPERLY DISPOSING OF CASES IN A JUST WAY.

WHEN INDIVIDUALS WANT A JURY TRIAL, THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY ENTITLED TO ONE. IF WE COULD RETURN TO SLIDE TWO, MS. SILVA.

GO ONE BACK. ONE BACK. HERE WE ARE.

THIS IS IT. OUR BUDGET REQUEST. IT IS A NOMINAL BUDGET REQUEST, AND WE ASKED FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN TWO MAJOR AREAS.

ONE IS OUR INTAKE AREA. AS YOU KNOW, INTAKE IS DRIVEN BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CALL POLICE FOR SERVICE WHEN THEY WITNESS A CRIME OCCURRING.

AFTER POLICE RESPOND TO THE SCENE THEY CONTACT US TO DESCRIBE THE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE, THE CHARGE THEY WISH TO BRING, AND WE REVIEW THE CASE FOR PROBABLE CAUSE.

UPON ACCEPTANCE OF THE CASE WE PRESENT THAT CASE TO THE MAGISTRATES OF 1517 HEARING ALLS THEY -- UNLESS THEY ARE PROVIDED A BONDED FROM APPEARANCE.

IT SERVES THE FUNCTION NOT JUST OF SCREENING CASES, BUT PROVIDING OFFICERS CRITICAL ADVICE IN TERMS OF WHAT EVIDENCE TO GATHER AND WHAT WITNESSES TO INTERVIEW AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT FOR A COMPLETE CASE TO THE COURTS. INTAKE HAS -- WE RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 100,000 CALLS A YEAR. IT SHOWS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE DECLINED OVER 60,000 CASES. WE FILED FEWER CASES WHEN THE BACKLOG IS GREATER THAN EVER. THERE ARE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE BACKLOG IS THERE. AS LONG AS WE ARE DEALING WITH AS MANY AGENCIES AS WE ARE, THE BACKLOG THAT WE'VE GOT WHICH BEGAN BEFORE HARVEY AND WHICH COVID HAS MADE WORSE WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO STAFF THE INTAKE. THAT'S OUR REQUEST.

IT IS FAIRLY NOMINAL. THE AMOUNT IS 1.692 IN TERMS OF OUR INTAKE ASK.

WE ARE ALSO ASKING TO MAKE SIX VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATING ASSISTANTS.

IT IT HAS ALLOWED US TO INCREASE OUR VICTIM SERVICE EMPLOYEES FROM 5 TO 24 THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT THAT COMES THROUGH, BUT THEY TOLD US THEY WILL THOUGHT CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THE VICTIM UH SIS -- ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS. THE SERVICES ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY, THEN IT IS THEIR HOPE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD PICK UP THOSE POSITIONS.

CLEARLY THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE RECOMPED IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS $30 MILLION IN REST -- RESTITUTION FOR CRIME VICTIMS. INSTEAD OF CONTACTING APPROXIMATELY 1800 PEOPLE A YEAR WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES OR PROPERTY CRIMES, WE NOW CONTACT ABOUT 15,000 CRIME VICTIMS EACH YEAR. WE BELIEVE THOSE SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY. WE HOPE THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO THIS COURT TOO.

TOTAL ASK IS 1.840052. 1MILLION 840THOUSAND. AND THE LONG-TIME CIP NEEDS, WE ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE FOR INTAKE ONCE THE OLD JAIL IS

[04:45:03]

DEMOLISHED. REALLY BEFORE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.

TWO, WE ARE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE AT 500 JEFFERSON SO THAT AS OUR EMPLOYEES RETURN WE CAN APPROPRIATELY AND SAFELY HOUSE THEM AND SEAT THEM.

RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TEMPORARY QUARTERS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHILE WE AWAIT CONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE THEM IN A BULLPEN CUBICLE SITUATION.

WE NEED TO SPREAD THAT APART AND BUILD ADDITIONAL OFFICES SO THAT THE WITNESSES CAN BE MET WITH SAFELY. FINALLY WE WILL NEED TO BE RETURNED TO THE COURTHOUSE.

IT IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT THE COURTHOUSE IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOUSE ALL OF THE EMPLOYS OF THE D.A.'S OFFICE AS WELL AS THE OTHER AGENCIES IN THERE PREVIOUSLY.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE PLANS ON HOW THAT'S TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AND HOW THIS COURT WILL HOUSE ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY OUR

776 EMPLOYEES. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. DID YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL

COMMENTS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION? >> THAT'S IT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. >> R. JACK CAGLE: A QUESTION FOR THE D.A. IF I MAY.

>> LINA HIDALGO: GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER CAGLE AND THEN COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

>> R. JACK CAGLE: D.A. OGG, GIVE US A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND.

YOU GLOSSED OVER IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT YOU WERE DOING UNDER THE VICTIMS OF CRIME PROGRAM. CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT EXACTLY THESE FUNDS DO WHEN WE ARE UTILIZING THEM FOR THESE VICTIMS OF CRIME AS THEY ARE INTEGRATED

OR ENFORCED? >> THANK YOU. AS YOU KNOW VICTIMS ARE SELECTED BY CRIMINALS. WE DON'T SELECT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

THEY ARE STATUTE EARLY TO -- STATITORILY ENTITLED TO CERTAIN RIGHTS UNDER THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE. THEY MUST BE PROVIDED WITH SERVICE AND INFORMATION AND A SPECIAL WAITING ROOM IN THE COURTHOUSE. THESE ARE PRETTY NOMINAL THINGS WHEN YOU THINK THEY SUFFERED RAPE OR THEIR FAMILY HAD SOMEBODY MURDERED OR THEY SUFFERED SOME OTHER TERRIBLE CRIME. OUR DUTY UNDER THE LAW IS TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THESE RIGHTS, BUT THAT WE PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS FOR THEM. WE PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION AND WE MAKE SURE THERE IS THE NEED FOR COMPENSATION WE HELP THEM FILL OUT THEIR FORM.

THE OTHER STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IS VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS MUST BE MANAGED THROUGH OUR OFFICE THERE USED TO BE A REAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS.

MANY TIMES THE VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS NEVER WENT TO THE COURTS OR THE HIGHER COURTS AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. THIS IS NOT JUST A TRAGEDY. THIS IS UNLAWFUL.

OUR VICTIM SERVICE PROVISION IS DESIGNED TO HELP GET PEOPLE THROUGH THE WORST EVENTS IN THEIR LIVES. NOT ALL OF WHICH ARE VIOLENT. STEALING SOMEBODY'S LIFE SAVINGS, TAKING THEIR IDENTITY, HOLDING THEM HOSTAGE FOR ELECTRONIC INFORMATION.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE TRAGIC THAT HAPPEN TO AVERAGE PEOPLE.

AND OUT OF THE 24 VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS, THEY TRY TO HELP THOSE FOLKS THROUGH THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. COMMISSIONER CAGLE, THEY ARE SO FRUSTRATED WITH THE SYSTEM ITSELF. WITH THE DELAYS AND WITH THE LACK OF TRIALS AND WITH SO MANY THINGS THAT THIS IS HARDLY ENOUGH TO OFFER PEOPLE IN THEIR SUFFERING. IT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND WE HOPE THE COUNTY WILL PICK UP

THESE SIX POSITIONS THAT WILL BE UNFUNDED IN OCTOBER. >> COMMISSIONER CAGLE, IF I CAN ALSO CHIME IN. THIS IS VIVIEN. THE TOUR WAS IMPORTANT WHEN WE INVITED ALL OF THE JUDGES AND STAFF BECAUSE WE WENT FROM A PAPER SYSTEM TO AN AUTOMATED

[04:50:03]

SYSTEM. SO BEFORE, LIKE IF SOMEONE WAS ROBBED AND THEIR ADDRESS CHANGED BECAUSE THEY WERE SCARED TO LIVE IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IT WAS WRITTEN ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND PUT IN A FILE. WE CREATED AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WHERE IT IS ELECTRONIC NOW. THE NEXT DAY AFTER A ROBBERY WE GET THEIR E-MAIL ADDRESS, SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION AND WE HAVE CREATED THESE FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE VINE SERVICE. THEY WOULD BE GIVEN THIS LONG INFORMATION SHEET THAT WAS E-MAILED TO THEM. EVEN IF THEY ARE TOO DEVASTATED ON THE DAY OF THE TRAGEDY THEY CAN GO BACK AND REFER TO IT AS THE CASE GOES ALONG. WE SHOWED YOU THAT AUTOMATED SYSTEM, AND IT WAS GREAT WE DID THAT AFTER THE HURRICANE BECAUSE NOW ALL OF OUR PEOPLE CAN COMMUNICATE.

SO WHEN TIM AND DAVID AND I GET COMPLAINTS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT NOTHING IS GOING ON WE CAN LOOK IN THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES VICTIM COORDINATED ASSISTANCE HAS CALLED THEM. WE HAVE 22 FELONY COURTS AND 16 MISDEMEANOR COURTS.

THAT'S 38 RIGHT THERE. WE ONLY FROM 24 VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS.

WE NEED TO FUND SOME THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND. >> AND ONE OTHER FACT THAT IS PRETTY SHOCKING TO THE PUBLIC. THERE IS OVER 1400 MURDERS PENDING. 1400 MURDERS WHERE CRIME VICTIMS ARE WAITING FOR THEIR DAY IN COURT TOO. 1400 CASES WHERE THOSE ACCUSED ARE EITHER OUT ON BAIL OR SITTING IN JAIL AND WANT THEIR DAY IN COURT. THE NEED TO CONTINUE JURY TRIALS TO ALLEVIATE THE COURT BACKLOG IS CRITICAL. THIS IS THE HEART OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. IT IS A RIGHT THAT IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO THE ACCUSED, BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE FOREVER I'M ACCOUNT PAD BY

THE -- IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL ACT OF THE ACCUSED. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER

GARCIA? >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU, JUDGE.

MADAM D.A., GOOD TO SEE YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

HOPE YOU AND JACK ARE DOING WELL. YOU ACTUALLY TOUCHED ON THEM QUICKLY. I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD DIG A LITTLE DEEPER IN IT.

YOU ARE ASKING US TO START TO FUND POSITION THAT'S WERE CURRENTLY GRANT FUNDED?

>> IN THE ASK ON THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR, YES, COMMISSIONER.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. AND PART OF THE WORK OF THE ADVICE -- VICTIM ASSISTANCE STAFF IS TO PARTICIPATE OR MAKE SURE THAT THE CRIME VICTIMS ARE ENGAGED ON THE CRIME VICTIM'S COMPENSATION FUND. DO YOU HAVE ANY ANALYSIS SAYS -- AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING INTO HARRIS COUNTY ON BEHALF

OF OUR VICTIMS? >> I CAN REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WHO PAYS AND MANAGES -- THEY MANAGE THE CRIME VICTIM FUND. WE KNOW OUR RESTITUTION CENTER WHICH IS PART OF OUR VICTIM SERVICES EXPANSION HAS COLLECTED AND DELIVERED $30 MILLION OF REST -- RESTITUTION IN FOUR YEARS. $30MILLION.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: NICE. >> THAT IS TO BE CREDITED TO VIVIEN KING'S HARD WORK WITH OUR EXISTING STAFF. THE INTATE SITUATION IS OF COURSE DIFFERENT.

THOSE ARE NOT GRANT FUNDED. WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES GOING ON.

>> ADRIAN GARCIA: GOOD DEAL. SECONDLY IN TERMS OF THE CRIME VICTIM STAFF IN PARTICULAR, I KNOW YOU HAVE A DIVERSE STAFF AND THEY ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH VICTIMS AND YOU WILL HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE LANGUAGE -- MULTIPLE LANGUAGE COMPETENT, SPANISH SPEAKING IN

PARTICULAR? >> 75% OF OUR VICTIM COORDINATORS SPEAK ANOTHER

LANGUAGE AND MOST OF WHICH ARE SPANISH. >> ADRIAN GARCIA: THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: COMMISSIONER RAMSEY?

>> TOM RAMSEY: OGG, IT IS GOOD TO SEE AND YOU HEAR YOU. I AM GOING TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS YOU ARE DOING ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH ANDY KAHN AND WHAT HE IS DOING THERE WITH CRIMESTOPPERS. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY THROUGH YOUR OFFICE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN. THE OTHER PART IS I VISIT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS IN THE COUNTY KNOWING THAT HOMICIDES ARE UP.

I SUSPECT A SIMILAR NUMBER EXISTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.

IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT Y'ALL STAY ON TASK IN TERMS OF BRINGING THOSE FOLKS TO

[04:55:01]

JUSTICE IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY. THERE IS A LOT OF FEAR OUT THERE AND YOU PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IF THAT. I CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS OUT THERE THAT WE ALL WANT.

>> COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, ARE YOU HITTING THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR VICTORY, AND JUST AS WE DID LAST YEAR AND HAVE MANY TIMES BEFORE, WE WILL INVITE YOU AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO SEE MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS. THE JUVENILE PROGRAMS ARE GOING REALLY WAIL. INTAKE IS AN OPERATION THAT IS 24/7, 365 DAYS A YEAR. THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IS PROCESSED THROUGH THERE IS REMARKABLE . OF COURSE OUR TRIALS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, BUT WE HOPE IN WORKING WITH THE JUDGE THAT'S WE CAN CONTINUE TO SAFELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN JURIES. THIS IS HOW WE MOVE OUR BACKLOG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU.

>> HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US. >> LINA HIDALGO: AND JUST TO NOTE, DAVE ON THE GRANT FUND, I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED BY PFM IF THERE WAS A RESERVE IN THE FUNDING.

I WOULD ASK DAVE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THAT. AND THEN THE OTHER PIECES AS WE GO ALONG. YOU KNOW, WE WILL FOLLOW-UP D.A. OGG IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I THINK THE GOALS ARE COMMENDABLE AND YOUR WORK IS ALWAYS COMMENDABLE. THE FOCUS ON THE METRICS I AM WONDERING, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING PFM WAS ABLE TO FIND, BUT BASED ON THE INCREASES WE GAVE LAST YEAR, ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES DIVISION, WHAT EXACTLY DID THAT YIELD TO? SAME QUESTION, RATHER THAN HAVING SIMPLY WE HAVE PROCESSED THESE MANY CASES, IT IS HOW EXACTLY ARE WE ACHIEVING JUST OUTCOMES AND HOW EXACTLY ARE WE REDUCING INVOLVEMENT FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS WHEN COMPARED TO BEST PRACTICES.

IS 10,000 A LOT COMPARED TO BEST PRACTICES IN THE POPULATION? IS 10,000 A LITTLE? THOSE ARE SORT OF MY QUESTIONS AND I WILL HAVE MY STAFF FOLLOW-UP. I APPRECIATION YOUR PRESENTATION AND I APPRECIATE

YOUR WORK. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR QUESTIONS. WE DID SEND THE ANSWER TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION, BUT AT RISK OF PUTTING YOU ALL TO NAP, WE WILL SEND IT OVER.

THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. AS YOU KNOW HARRIS COUNTY IS FOCUSED AND THEY CARE ABOUT THE AIR THEY BREATHE AND THEY CARE ABOUT THE WATER THEY DRINK, AND THEY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF COMPANIES AND THE COMMERCE. KEY -- WE CARE ABOUT THE COMPANIES THAT FOLLOW THE RULES FROM THE UNSCRUPULOUS COMPANIES THAT PUT PROFIT OVER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OFTEN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE AROUND THEIR

FACILITIES. >> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU. >> LINA HIDALGO: NEXT WE HAVE THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

>> I AM GOING TO UNMUTE ALEX BUNIN. ALEX, YOU ARE UNMUTED.

>> THIS IS ALEX BUNIN, THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

JUDGE AND COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO BEGIN BY APOLOGIZING IF THERE IS ANY BACKGROUND NOISE BECAUSE I AM IN THE CJC AND WE ARE UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION.

IT IS FAIRLY QUIET, BUT MURPHY'S LAW SAYS THERE IS LIKELY TO BE SOME POUNDING.

DECEMBER 6TH WAS MY 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE COUNTY.

AND IT WAS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

FOR OUR FIRST EIGHT YEARS -- WELL FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS WE WERE UNDER A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION. AFTER FOUR YEARS THE COUNTY PICKED UP 100% OF OUR FUNDING. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GROWTH IN THE OFFICE. WE STAYED WITH THE GRANT. IT WAS AFTER THE 2018, 2019

[05:00:05]

BUDGET THAT WE DOUBLED IN SIZE. THE COURT ORDERED THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DO A REPORT AND JIM BETHKE RETURNED A REPORT IN DECEMBER THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED.

IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. THE QUESTION WAS CAN THIS OFFICE GEAR UP TO TAKE 50% OF ALL OF THE APPOINTMENTS? CAN IT BE DONE IN TWO YEARS? WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE HALF OF THE APPOINTMENTS AND YES IN FACT IT CAN BE DONE IN TWO YEARS.

THE BUDGET REQUEST YOU ARE SEEING FROM ME THIS YEAR IS MY INTERPRETATION OF HOW MUCH I COULD DO IN THAT FIRST YEAR. IT IS NOT EXACTLY SPLIT IN HALF, BUT IT IS WHAT I FEEL LIKE WE COULD ACCOMPLISH DURING OUR FIRST YEAR. WHAT YOU CAN SEE FOR INSTANCE IS A REQUEST FOR 63FDE'S. MOST OF THIS IS ALL PERSONNEL COSTS.

I I WAS ASKED YESTERDAY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. CAN YOU HAIR 60 MORE PEOPLE IN ONE YEAR? WHEN WE DID DOUBLE OUR BUDGE NET 019, WE FILLED 65 NEW INFORMATION -- NEW POSITIONS. ARE YOU GOING TO HELP CHANGE THAT? IT HAS BEEN STUDIED IN THE PAST YEAR A FOLLOW-UP REPORT AND THE 10-YEAR REPORT WAS AN ASSISTANCE FROM THE TEXAS MEADOWS AND IT WAS THAT WE PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE AND MORE CLIENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO GO TO PRISON AVOIDED A CRIMINAL RECORD ENTIRELY.

MORE THAN CLIENTS OF APPOINTED OR OTHER APPOINTED LAWYERS. OUR CLIENTS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE NO BUILT BY GRAND JURIES OR HAD THEIR CASES DISMISSED. THERE HAVE BEEN HIGHER ACQUITTALS THESE DAYS. OUR MENTAL HEALTH DAUGHTERS -- OUR MENTAL HEALTH LAWYERS AND WE ARE REPRESENTING THE MOST ACUTELY AND MENTALLY ILL OR INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED PERSONS, THOSE RATES TRIPLED OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN CONVINCING PROSECUTORS THAT WE COULD PROVIDE PLACEMENT AND TREATMENT.

THE CONDITION IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM. AND WHAT THIS ASK IS TO INCREASE OUR FOOTPRINT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE 6TH AMENDMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THE COUNTY MUST APPOINT A LAWYER FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEM.

IT IS JUST WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DO IT. FALLLY -- NATIONALLY IT IS ALL AGREED THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE DO A BETTER JOB.

IF YOU DIG INTO THAT REPORT IT IS NOT ME SAYING IT, IT IS JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION SAYING THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

I REALIZE THAT IT IS A BIG ASK. IT IS AN $11 MILLION INCREASE AND WE ARE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR AND LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE TO REACH THE 50% LEVEL. THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IF YOU WANT TO IMPROVE JUSTICE AND THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE WILL NEED MORE LAWYERS TO TRY MORE CASES AND WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THE WORK THAT THE PRIVATE LAWYERS CANNOT DO.

FOR INSTANCE, WE REPRESENT PEOPLE IN THEIR INITIAL BAIL HEARINGS.

[05:05:05]

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE PROVIDE CONSULTATION IN CASES -- IN CRIMINAL CASES WHERE A NONCITIZEN IS FACING COST. THAT NEVER EXISTED.

WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO ATTACH CLIENTS TO TREATMENT AND HOUSING AND CLEARING RECORDS AND OBTAINING BENEFITS. WE CALL THAT HOLISTIC DEFENSE.

THAT'S A TERM THAT STARTED IN THE 1990S AT THE BRONX DEFENDERS.

IT BASICALLY MEANS WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US AND CHARGED WITH A CASE THERE IS REASON THEY ENDED UP IN THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM. AND THERE ARE REASONS WHY THEY WILL FAIL COMING OUT OF THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM IF THINGS ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY CAN BE DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF RECOMMENDATIONS. I THINK MOST OF WHAT I AM TELLING YOU HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU IN WRITING EITHER IN THE REPORT OR OTHER DOCUMENTS I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU.

I HAVE GIVEN YOU THE REPORT OF 2013. THE REASONING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I WOULD BE BETTER ANSWERING QUESTIONS YOU HAVE A -- HAVE ABOUT A VERY LARGE AND PARTICULARIZED BUDGET. I ACCEPT ANY QUESTIONS.

>> LINA HIDALGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. BUNIN. DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE

COMMISSIONERS? >> R. JACK CAGLE: CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH AGAIN THE HOLISTIC SERVICES APPROACH? IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS DOING OR SHOULD BE DOING. MAYBE INSTEAD OF CREATING A ADDITIONAL EXPANSION IN YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT YOU SHOULD BE COOPERATING WITH THEM ORIE

FERRING TO THEM. -- OR REFERRING TO THEM. >> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS. THEY ARE DOING THIS AT PRETTY MUCH THE END OF THE CASE.

SOMEONE HAS REACHED A RESOLUTION AND THEY WILL BE PUT ON PROBATION AND THEY WILL GET SERVICES WHEN THE CASE IS OVER. I AM TALKING ABOUT DEALING WITH PEOPLE THE IN -- THE INSTANT WE ARE APPOINTED THEIR CASE.

GETTING THEM OUT ON BAIL. ONE OF THE THINGS STUDIED ABOUT HOLISTIC SERVICES IS OUTCOMES ARE BETTER WHEN HOLISTIC SERVICES ARE APPLIED DURING THE REPRESENT -- REPRESENTATION. WHILE PROBATION OFFICES ARE NOT HPD AND SHERIFF DEPUTIES, THEY ARE STILL LAW ENFORCEMENT. THERE SO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RELATIONSHIP OF A LAWYER WHO HAS CONFIDENTIALLY AND CAN DISCUSS THINGS WITH A CLIENT AND GET THEM INVOLVED WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF FURTHER PROSECUTION OR RAM MA PHO LOCATION. PROBATION OFFICERS ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

IT IS NOT REDUNDANT. WHEN THERESA TALKS ABOUT RESTORING CRIMINAL RECORDS, YEAH, THERE IS PLENTY OF BUSINESS TO GO AROUND. EVEN IF SHE TRIED TO DO AS MANY AS SHE COULD, SHE COULD NOT GET THEM ALL DONE. WE CAN DO THAT DIRECTLY FOR OUR CLIENTS SO IT IS NOT REDUNDANT. EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY HER OFFICE AND BY OUR OFFICE. IT IS NOT REDUNDANT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: ALEX, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A LOT AS THE JUSTICES PUT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN FILL THEM. IT IS A CHICKEN AND EGG AND SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

>> HE MIGHT HAVE STEPPED OUT, BUT WHAT I SAID WAS WHEN WE DOUBLED IN SIZE WE ADDED 65 -- WE FILLED 65 POSITIONS. THIS IS A REQUEST OF 63. I KNOW WE CAN DO THAT.

>> LINA HIDALGO: OKAY. AND THEN THE OTHER NOTE I HAD HERE IS JUST -- OH, TRAINING.

[05:10:01]

THAT WAS THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO QUA -- ASK YOU ABOUT IF YOU DIDN'T ALREADY COVER IT. DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING -- YOU ARE

BRINGING IN PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT TRAINING? >> I MET WITH ALL OF OUR DIVISION CHIEFS AND EACH ONE HAS A VERY SPECIFIC AND COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM.

WE ACTUALLY EXCEEDED EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE PROSECUTION.

WE ARE VERY PRO ACTIVE ABOUT TRAINING OUR PEOPLE AND THE BAR IN GENERAL.

>> LINA HIDALGO: I WOULD ASK AND I ASK DAVE AND JIM TO WORK WITH YOU ON THIS, BUT PLEASE WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO US, THE FINAL APPROVAL, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE METRICS BASED ON OUTCOMES. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL UNLESS THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION, IT IS JUST OUTPUTS. IT IS SORT OF A SIMILAR THING THAT I WAS BRINGING UP TO THE -- TO D.A. OGG. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE WE ARE TURNING OUT. WE KNOW THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFER STATISTICALLY BETTER REPRESENTATION AND BETTER OUTCOMES ANYWAY.

THAT IS DISPUTED FROM THE STUDIES, BUT THERE ARE SOME OUTCOMES BASED AND INFORMATION YOU CAN TRACK ESPECIALLY AS YOU GROW QUICKLY TO KEEP TABS ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

>> JUDGE, LET ME JUST MENTION THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR IS A NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE CASE WE HAD WAS CLUNKY. WE HAD IT SINCE WE STARTED 10 YEARS AGO. IT IS REGULAR CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUFF, BUT IT DID NOT HAVE -- FOR INSTANCE, WE WEREN'T TRACKING HOMELESSNESS AMONG OUR CLIENTS.

WE WEREN'T TRACKING A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY. AND SO I THINK NEXT COURT YOU WILL BE GETTING THE CONTRACT FOR OUR NEW SYSTEM THAT WILL BE MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE.

>> LINA HIDALGO: YEAH. WE CAN SEE EXACTLY IF WE WERE DELIVERED.

AND TO WHAT EXTENT WE ARE DOING WITH THE RIGHT REPRESENTATION AND SO I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS OFFICE OF MANAGED

ASSIGNED COUNSEL. >> I AM GOING TO UNMUTE MR. HARDIN.

I MAY NOT BE AND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO COMMISSIONER RAMSEY AND I AM

HAPPY TO GET TO KNOW YOU AS I GET TO KNOW EVERYONE ELSE. >> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

>> IT WILL FURTHER HELP HIM ON HOW THIS OFFICE WENT ABOUT. BEFORE WE BEGIN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEW. EVEN THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT AT FIRST GLANCE YOU CAN SEE THIS AS THE COLOR SIMILAR TO WHAT HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS. AND IT IS HOW HARD IT HAS GIVEN YOU AND THE COURTS OF LAW HAVE WORKED TOGETHER. SO WE WANT TO CREATE STAIRS OF HOPE FOR CLIENTS NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. GIVEN WE JUST HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS IS OUR OFFICIAL NAME IS OFFICE OF MANAGED ASSIGNED COUNSEL.

AS SUGGESTED WE ARE CO-FUNDED. THEY ARE ON A DECLINING SCHEDULE. THE PRIMARY FUNCTION AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS BE AN

[05:15:05]

INDEPENDENT AGENCY FOR PURPOSES OF MANAGING APPOINTMENTS.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS CURRENTLY THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE MISDEMEANOR CASES WHICH WE WILL BE SERVICING ARE HANDLED BY THE CRIMINAL COURTS AND THE COUNTY COURTS OF LAW.

NOW THE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE HANDLED BY OUR OFFICE AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY.

BY THE WAY, THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE COMING UP WITH THE RANDOM ASSIGNMENT OF CASES AND HOW THEY DISTRIBUTED NOT JUST PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT PART IN MAKING SURE THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ARE QUALIFIED, BUT AND TRAINED AND DEVELOPED REGARDLESS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE LEVEL, BUT ALSO COMING UP WITH A RANDOM WILL OF ASSIGNMENT.

A PURPOSEFUL SYSTEM WHERE THERE IS AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF CASE ACCOUNTING WITHIN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR MISDEMEANOR CASES. THAT'S ONE THING I WANT TO ELABORATE ON WITH THAT PRIMARY FUNCTION. THE SECONDARY FUNCTION IS INCLINED SUPPORT AND MENTOR SHIP AND TRAINING. WE WILL BE SERVICING THE MISDEMEANOR CASES. THE REASON I SAID MENTALLY ILL AND ACCEPTING OF APPEALS, AS I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE GRANT AND DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE OF THE GREATER SENSE OF NUMBERS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SYSTEM WE WILL DISCUSS BRIEFLY WILL BE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THAT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHAT ABOUT HOLISTIC SERVICES? I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT GIVEN THE ISSUE THAT'S WE SEE AND GIVEN THE ISSUE THAT'S WE SEE AS FAR AS THE COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES. WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE AND THE INVESTIGATION IS GOING TO BE THROUGH CONTRACTING. ONE POSITION IS THE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR AND WE WILL BEA CONTRACTING SERVICES -- WE WILL BEACON TRACTING SERVICES -- BE CONTRACTING SERVICES OUT. ONE THING THAT WILL SEPARATE US AS FAR AS THE FUNCTIONS WE INTEND TO ADD IS SATELLITE OFFICES.

THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP US LOCATE A BUILDING IN WALKING DISTANCE TO THE COURTHOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY OUR GRANT WILL ACCOMMODATE 18 POSITIONS AND WE WILL LIKE TO HELP THE SATELLITE OFFICES. NOT EVERYONE HAS AN OFFICE IN WALKING DISTANCE.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE QUICK ACCESS TO CLIENTS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COVID RESTRICTIONS WILL IMPACT THAT. NOW TRIAL SUPPORT.

YOU HEARD FROM THE BACKLOG FROM MY CHIEF OFFENDER AND MY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WE ARE AWARE OF THAT AS WELL. WE ANT -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE CASES THAT ARE HELPING THE ATTORNEYS DEVELOP THEORIES. NOT ONLY WHAT WE WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED, BUT AN OFFICE WHERE CLIENTS FEEL LIKE IT IS A PROCESS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY WILL HAVE A REPUTATION IN EFFECT. WHAT DO I MEAN ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION? IF THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN ATTORNEYS AND CLIENTS OR ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES OR ATTORNEYS AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T EXIST, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MITIGATE THOSE ISSUES.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR OUR ATTORNEYS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. JUST BRIEFLY WHO WE ARE, I DEFINITELY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR MISSION AND OUR VISION AND VALUES ARE THERE. OF COURSE WE CAME UP WITH AN ACRONYMN WE -- ACRO ANYMORE WE INTEND TO USE. HOWEVER YOU DETERMINE HOW AT THE ARE SAVING A LIFE OR WHETHER IT IS REINVESTING HOPE IN A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WORKS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS. WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR? SINCE WE BEGAN IN NOVEMBER THANKS TO COFFEE AND STARBUCKS I HAVE HAD SOME SLEEP LESS NIGHTS. I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE AS WELL.

[05:20:03]

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS MAKE MODIFICATIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS APPROVED. SOME OF THE GRANT MODIFICATIONS ARE AGREED UPON AND DISCUSSED AMONG SEVERAL JED'S AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE HIRED AN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR TO HELP WITH THE BUDGETING. HOPEFULLY THE NEXT TIME I DO THIS IT WILL BE SMOOTHER WITH AN OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR'S HELP. WE ARE POSTING FOR TWO POSITIONS THAT ARE ALREADY APPROVED. THE MISDEMEANOR DIVISION CHIEF IN TRAINING, JUDGE HIDALGO, IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION YOU ASKED ABOUT TRAINING.

SOMETHING MAKING US UNIQUE IS THERE IS A REASON THERE IS A DUAL POSITIONING THAT WAS PART OF THE AMENDMENT. WE WANT INTERNAL TRAINING AND I AM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT CLE PRESENTATIONS. ACTUAL TRAINING THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

WE WILL DISCUSS AS FAR AS WE CONTINUE TO OPERATIONS. IT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE OTHER OFFICES AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL SET OUR OFFICE APART.

AS IY LIEUD TO -- AS I ELUDED TO, THAT IS -- I DEFINITELY WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS BUILD RESOURCES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE GRANT FUNDED AND THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS THE STAFF.

WE ARE SERVICING 180 TO 200 DETERRENTS ON THAT LIST. THAT MAY EXCEED THE DEMAND.

SO WHAT IS ONE WAY WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY TO BRING IN WORK? THAT IS TRYING TO HAVE AN EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM. IT IS TO HELP DEVELOP A COURSE FOR CREDIT SITUATION. AND WE HAVE TALKED TO THE COLLEGE -- THE DEAN OF COLLEGES THERE IN THE YOU HAVE THE -- THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON DOWNTOWN AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES. WE DEFINITELY WANT TO EXPLORE THAT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND SEE IF IT IS EFFICIENT DOWN THE LINE.

WE LAUNCHED OUR WEBSITE WHICH IS GOING INTO A LOT MORE DETAIL OF WHAT OUR OFFICE WILL DO AND WHAT OUR OFFICE WILL PROVIDE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WHAT IS NEXT? ACTUALLY WE COMPLETED OUR GRANT MODIFICATION SO IT WILL BE REMOVED. WE HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED THAT AND HOPE TO MOVE IN OUR OFFICE SPACE IN MID-FEBRUARY AND WE WANT TO COMPLETE OUR STAFF CARDS.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS SOMETHING I HAVE SEEN ON THE AGENDA.

THAT'S PARTIALLY BECAUSE WHEN THE BUDGET PREPARATION WAS MADE I REALIZE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN DEADLINES THAT PASSED THAT EXISTED BEFORE I ASSUMED MY POSITION.

I WANTED TO AT LEAST MAKE THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND YOU, JUDGE HUH GAL GO -- JUDGE HIDALGO AWARE THAT IT IS AN ASK THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR OFFICE NO -- OFFICE NOW.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL PRIORITIZE IN THE DIVISION OF OUR OFFICE GOING FORWARD.

OF COURSE, OUR OPERATION -- OUR PLAN OF OPERATIONS WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THE GRANT AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AND HOLD OUR RESPONSIBILITIES HIGH AS FAR AS GETTING THIS DEPARTMENT OFF THE GROUND. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS AND COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT YOU ARE NOT, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT -- GIVEN THAT YOU ARE THE COMMISSIONER ON, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR YOUR PURPOSES THAT THE GRANT WAS SPELLED OUT TO THE SPECIFICS OF HOW IT IS FUNDED.

THE PREVIOUS GRANT PERIOD WAS OCTOBER 1ST TO JULY 31ST.

AND THAT IS ONLY BECAUSE THE POSITION WAS NOT FILLED UNTIL OCTOBER 2020.

I WAS APPOINTED ON OCTOBER 13TH. THAT'S WHY THE GRANT WAS INITIALLY EXTENDED. AS OF YESTERDAY, AND THANKS TO YOUR APPROVAL THE GRANT PERIOD WAS EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 30TH WHICH IS WHEN THE OFFICE STARTED TO BE FUNCTIONAL. WE ARE CLOSER TO WITHIN THAT FIRST YEAR PERIOD BY THAT EXTENSION. AND IT ALSO HELPS SAVE MONEY WHICH I AM GOING TO GET INTO A LITTLE LATER AS TO WHY THAT WAS IMPORTANT. WE ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. AS I MENTIONED THE DECLINED SCHEDULE WHICH IS MENTIONED WITH 80% BEING TIBC. THAT IS THE DECLINING SCHEDULE.

AND THAT IS -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS MENTIONED. IT MAKES THE ASK A LITTLE MORE CLEAR. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO THIS NEXT ONE -- THIS EXISTS AND THIS IS FROM OUR GRANT. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS INCLUDED. SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE SAY WE ARE GRANT FUNDED. ONE THING I WANTED TO GET INTO FOR OUR FIRST ASK THE FRINGE BENEFIT AREA OF 16,400. THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE GET INTO OUR ISSUE OF WHAT WE WILL

[05:25:07]

CALL A BUDGET SHORT -- SHORT FALL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER THAT THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN THE MEETING YESTERDAY.

WE REQUESTED THE GRANT PERIOD APPROVED. THE REQUEST FOR GRANT MODIFICATION WHICH I RESPECT THAT THE FIRST DECISION WAS WITHOUT A DECISION SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WERE ADVISED TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS WHICH I -- WHICH I INTENDED TO DO YESTERDAY OR TODAY. NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS FOR YOUR VIEWING PURPOSES. I KNOW THIS IS A LOT MORE, BUT I WANTED TO BE SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT THE JOBS WERE AS THEY EXIST WITHIN THE AMENDED 18 PERSONNEL GRANT.

BY THE WAY, THE ORIGINAL GRANT HAD 19 POSITIONS AND THIS AMENDED GRANT HAS 18 POSITIONS. YOU ASK WHY GIVE UP ONE POSITION? IT HELPED UP ELEVATE THE SALARIES TO WHAT THE CURRENT MARKET RATE WAS FOR THE SALARY GIVEN THE MARKET WAS. THE REST ARE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND CHANGING OF TITLES TO SERVICE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE MORE VISUAL I WANT TO MAKE SURE AND INCLUDE A CHART.

I KNOW IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO READ, BUT THIS IS THE CHART OF THE STRUCTURE WE HAVE CREATED. JUST TO KIND OF BRIEFLY ELABORATE, THE 50 COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS THERE, WE ARE LOOKING AT A TEAM -- THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE USES A TEAM AND BEING A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER NOT ONLY IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE MODEL. YOU HEARD THE REPUTATION THAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE HAS AND I BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE. I BELIEVE IT TO BE VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IN AS WE TRY TO CREATE A DEPARTMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE REFLECTED WHAT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS.

THIS 50 COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY THERE IS 180 TO 200 COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ON THE LIST. I USE THE NUMBER 200 AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE WILL IT IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO PREDICT A CASE OF PARENT IN CASE DISTRIBUTION ONCE WE START TO BECOME FUNCTIONAL, WHICH IS WHY WE CHOSE TO EMPLOY THE TEAM METHOD.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.WHAT IS OUR BUDGET?IN SHORT, THE BUDGET SHORTFALL WITH THE ORIGINAL GRANT AMOUNT AND FUND ONE NON- GRANT POSITION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.

THE RECRUITING COORDINATOR POSITION.

WHAT DO I MEAN BY SHORTFALL? IN HAVING SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN CIBC AND HARRIS COUNTY BUDGETING DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, WE NOTICED THERE WAS AN OVERSIGHT IN THE COST AND BENEFITS. THAT IS BECAUSE THIS GRANT.

WE FIGURED OUT WHY. THIS IS MY FINANCE BACKGROUND COMING OUT. THE ORIGINAL GRANT WAS IN 2019 AND USED A FLAT RATE OF BENEFITS FOR EACH YEAR OF THE FOUR-YEAR GRANT ORGAN THE COST OF FRINGE BENEFITS BASED ON WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS IS WHAT WE ALLUDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS MEETING BEFORE. WHICH WAS APPROVED.AND THAT IS THE CURRENT GRANT AMOUNT Ã SORRY CANNOT LOOKING THROUGH MY NOTES. 23.86 PERCENT.

AND THERE IS A FLAT RATE THAT I'M NOT SURE WHAT, I HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED WHAT WAS USED. BUT IT WASN'T BETWEEN 3.8 PERCENT IS ACCURATELY REFLECTED.

I MADE A CHART TO KIND OF SHOW WHAT THIS WILL MEAN.

THE PROBLEM IS INITIALLY HAS BEEN SOLD BUTGIVEN WE HAVE ALREADY AMENDED THE GRANT TO NOVEMBER 30 , WE HAVE YOUR SCALE BACK TO 10 MONTHS BASED ON THE CURRENT RATE PERIOD.

WHAT THAT IS GOING TO DO, IN THIS CHART YOU SEE YEAR ONE, TWO, THREE AND FOUR. THE NUMBER I WANT TO POINT YOU TOWARD IS THE DELTA. THE DELTA IS THE ÃTHIS IS THE COST BENEFIT OF COURSE PORTION BASED ON THE DECLINE SCHEDULE.

YOU SEE ON YOUR TWO YOU GET NEGATIVE BASED UPON THE PROJECTION, BUT IT WILL BE ONLY BASICALLY A TWO MONTH SHORTFAL , WHICH WE BELIEVE THAT WILL BE COVERED.

AS FAR AS WHERE WE SEE THE PROBLEM IS.AS FAR AS USING THE FLAT RATE VERSUS THE ACTUAL RATE.

DOES THIS MEAN WE WANT TO HAVE THIS FUNDED NOW? NOT NECESSARILY. THAT MEANS WE WANT TO MAKE THE COURT AWARE OF WHERE WE ARE HEADING GOING INTO YEAR THREE

[05:30:09]

AS FAR AS THE COUNTY MATCH PORTION AS THE DECLINE SCHEDULE PREDICTS. NEXT SLIDE.

NOW, OF COURSE THERE ARE A FEW ASSUMPTIONS AND IT IS NOT REALLY ASSUMPTIONS. AS INTERPRETATIONS OF THE GRANT. IT ASSUMES 18 PERSON STAFF HAS BEEN HIRED WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR AND ASSUMES EACH PERSON HAS DIFFERENT START DATES, WHICH WE INTEND TO HIRE.

AND ASSUMES THERE IS NO ROLE OF OVERSPENT OF YEAR ONE USES A CREDIT AND AS A NO I DO NOT SEE ANY THAT ALLOWS US IN THE GRANT TO DO SO AND IT ASSUMES THE TOTAL GRANT AMOUNT AS WELL AS EACH YEAR DOES NOT CHANGE, MEANING WE KEEP ON THE SAME DECLINE STRUCTURE AND IT ASSUMES THE BUDGET INDIRECT COST IS NOT INCLUDED, WHICH AS YOU SO WITHIN A PREVIOUS SLIDE INDIRECT COST IS ZERO AS FAR AS STATED IN THE GRANT.

WE JUST WANT TO IDENTIFY AN ISSUE COMING.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH THAT ISSUE IS.IT IS IN FRINGE BENEFITS. THAT WE DO NOT SEE THIS BEING AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE.HE EXTENSION WHY IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE. TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE OVERSPENT, WHICH AGGREGATE WE FROM YEARS 2 TO FORWARD THE NEGATIVE NUMBER BEGINS IS 197 66655. THE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS WE HAVE COME UP WITH, NOT THAT WE ARE TRIED IN THE COURT HOW TO ACT.

THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS WE BRAINSTORMED BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE BUDGETING DEPARTMENT IS HAVING INDIRECT COST IN YOUR ONE OFFSET THE SPIN THROUGH THE AUTONOMY TO READ BUDGET WITHIN OUR GRANT OR FUNDING IT COMPLETELY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HELPED US THE EXTENSION OF THE GRANT PERIOD. BECAUSE IT WAS APPROVED YESTERDAY, THE EXTENSION IS GOING TO HELP SOLVE IT TO WHERE MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE ARE GIVING A PRESENTATION OR A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD.UT I AT LEAST WANTED TO LET THE COURT KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BEFORE WE BECOME OPERATIONAL SO IT DOESN'T APPEAR SHOULD THE REQUEST COME UP NEXT YEAR WE ARE ASKING FOR MONEY FOR INEFFICIENT USE OR WHATEVER FROM OTHER CALLS THAT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THAT.

OMETHING WE NOTICED IS OFFSET FROM THE INFANCY OF THE GRANT.

THE SECOND MOUSE GETS MORE IMMEDIATE.

THIS IS COMING UP ON THE LAST FEW SLIDES OF THIS PRESENTATION. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

A NEW POSITION WITHIN THE OFFICE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO MAKE IT CLEAREVEN WHEN I WAS APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION . I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO BE BIG. ON OCTOBER 13 AND LISTENED TO CITIZEN AFTER CITIZEN TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY BY IN.

I EVEN HEARD COMMISSIONER ELLIS EARLIER TODAY TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AS FAR AS TO THE MEDIA.

WHO WILLANSWER FOR THIS POSITION.

HE WILL ANSWER TO QUESTIONS . BY THE WAY, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH JIM ABOUT THIS FOR THIS POSITION WE THINK WOULD BE A CURE TO THAT. IN ADDITION TO WRITING THE DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THAT? WE ARE SEEKING THE POSITION FOR THE VERY THING TO GET COMMUNITY BY IN AND HOW YOU REPRESENT COURTS.

THE REASON WHY I SAY THAT IS A LOT OF TIMES THE COMMUNITIES VOICES ARE LEFT OUT IN THIS IS WHY THE IDEA THE FENCE COMES IN. MANY YOU MAY SAY THIS SOUNDS LIKE A COMMUNITY ASK, WHEN REALLY YES, IN THEORY.

BUT IT WILL PROVIDE A DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE.

IN THAT DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE WILL BE A FORM OF MITIGATION IN UTILIZING THE COMMUNITY WITH CONFIDENTIALITY BEING ASSUMED TO HELP BUILD REPRESENTATION FOR OUR CLIENTS.

MAYBE THERE IS COLLECTING THINGS THAT TELL A STORY, A TRUE NARRATIVE OF WHAT THAT CLIENT HAS GOING TO.

WHETHER IT'S PROBATION VIOLATION, WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER WITHIN THE DISK THE NEAR CASES.

MAYBE IT IS USING THE POWER OF THE MEDIA TO ADVANCE A CLIENTS NARRATIVE. MAYBE IT IS USING A LOT OF THESE. THE DEFENSE IS THE WAY TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES ARE GOING.

NOT THAT WE ARE A PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE, WE ARE A COMPLEMENT TO APUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SEEKING THIS POSITION , I HAVE GONE THROUGH TO IBC. AND IT IS VERY EXCITING AND THEY'RE VERY SUPPORTIVE ABOUT IT.

THE PROBLEM IS IS TOO FAR SOUTH TO USE AN AMENDMENT.

TO HAVE THIS POSITION OR TO ADD IT ON.

SO FOR THIS REASON I WAS ADVISED TO COME TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AS A DIRECTLY FUNDED POSITION FROM THE COUNTY. WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE AN INSTRUMENTAL POSITION. AS CARE FOR THE COMMUNITY IS ONE OF OUR PILLARS WE ARE BASI .

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I DID CREATE A JOB DESCRIPTION.

IS TRANSMITTED TO THE HARRIS COUNTY TO EVALUATE FOR PURPOSES. 75 TO 85,000 OF RESEARCH AND TO BE MORE SPECIFIC SOME OF THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THE RANGE IS A VERY BROAD TERM ANYWHERE FROM 55,000 TO90,000.

BUT GIVEN THIS IS A DUAL ROLE POSITION , WE LOOKED AT A FAIR SALARY AND BEING 75 AND 85,000. NOT AS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE THAT WE BELIEVE HAS DIRECT CLIENT COMPONENT IS ALSO RECRUITING COORDINATOR. ONE THING WE WANT TO GO TO HIS

[05:35:06]

YEARLY APPOINTMENTS, WHICH MEANS THE STRUCTURE OF THE COURT APPOINTED LIST CAN CHANGE YOUR YEAR.

CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO HOME FOR ATTORNEYS WHO DIRECTLY, WHO GRADUATE FROM LAW SCHOOL TO GO.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY END UP BEING STUDIES UNDER MORE EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS. THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO GO TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO GO ANYWHERE. I'M NOT DISCOUNTING THOSE EXPERIENCES. HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO BUILD MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS, TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT GO TOWARD THE ELIGIBILITY TO BE IMMEDIATELY ON THE COURT APPOINTED LIST.

THAT WILL HELP DO THAT BY GOING TO LAW SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE WEIDENTIFY THE RIGHT CANDIDATES .

THERE WILL BE A RECRUITING PROCESS THE MEDIA THERE WILL BE A MEDIA COMPONENT TO IT AS WELL.

HE WILL BE HELPING PUT ON THE COMMUNITY EVENT, THEY WILL BE DOING ALL OF THAT AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WANT TO KNOW THEY IMPLEMENT EQUITABLE PRACTICES THAT INCLUDE AND PROMOTE.

AND MENTIONED IT DOESN'T EXIST ELSEWHERE.

THIS IS ONLY THE FOURTH OFFICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.NDER THE TWO COUNTIES WE HAVE. THERE ONLY THE SECOND ASSURE THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE NEXT TO TRAVIS COUNTY.

IT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE BACK OFFICE.

IT DOES EXIST ONE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE AND I CAN FOR THEM. AS FAR AS IN THE FORM OF THE TWO POSITIONS. DOES THE DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE COMPONENT AND IT EXISTS IN THE POSITION OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS MEDIA COMPONENT.

WE KNOW IT EXISTS, WE PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO THE BUDGETING OFFICE AS WELL FOR THEM TO FOLLOW WITH THEIR RESEARCH. IT DOES EXIST AND IT DOES BRIDGE THE GAP THAT IS SO NEEDED IN A PUBLIC INTEREST.

SO WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? ONE OF THE BENEFITS BEYOND WHAT I STATED. IT PROVIDES YET ANOTHER DIRECT CLIENT SERVICE, WHICH WILL BE AN IMPORTANT METRIC WITH THE INVESTIGATION AND ALONG WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER FACTORS TO SHOW WE ARE VALUABLE BUT IT ALLOWS HARRIS COUNTY TO LEAD THE NATION IN A NEW BLUEPRINT. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING.IN FACT, SOME ARGUE WE ARE ALREADY HERE FOR THE REASON WHY OTHER PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE DO NOT HAVE IT IS MOST OF THEM ARE NOT FUNDED. A LOT OF PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES USE VARIOUS POSITIONS TO CREATE THIS THAT CAN'T BE DIRECTLY FUNDED. THE CLOSEST I'VE SEEN COME TO IT IS OUR LIENS PUBLIC DEFENDANT OFFICE THAT IS THE USE OF TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO DO, SOMETHING THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE NATION.

NOT JUST HAVE THE BEST MAC OFFICE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WANT TO HAVE THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE NATION.

THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD LOVE TO DO.

ANOTHER THING IS ENHANCE THE CREDIBILITY OF ENHANCED ATTORNEYS.HE HEARD THE CHIEF TALK ABOUT THE REPUTATION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE VERSUS THOSE ATTORNEYS.

I AGREE WITH THEM TO SOME DEGREE.

SOME OF THAT MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY BECAUSE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS PROVIDE A POOR REPUTATION.

IT MAY BE SOME PERCEPTION. OWEVER, WE WILL MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING ISSUES ON BOTH TOWARD WHETHER IT IS PERCEPTION OR REALITY AND IT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE LIVE UPDATES.

WILL ALSO BE A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THIS JOB AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO DO THAT. WE STARTED DEVELOPING THE WEBSITE WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH TRANSPARENCY AWARE WHAT WE ARE DOING EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

AND IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO MAINTAIN RECRUITMENT FOR OUR COURT APPOINTED AS WE ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED WITHIN THE DEFENSE PLAN. FINAL SLIDE.

THAT WOULD CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.

A SUMMARY OF THE LEARNING THE COURT TO THE BUDGET SHORTFALL AS IT EXISTS WITHIN BENEFITS AND ALSO FOR THE IMMEDIATE ASK OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COORDINATED.

HOWEVER, I DID WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE CONTACT INFORMATION AS IT EXISTS FOR OUR OFFICE CURRENTLY.

AND I CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU, IF YOU HAVE THE SPARE TIME, TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND HOPEFULLY YOU MADE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS. WHATEVER THAT IS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE TO ELABORATE, TO TALK, TO SPEAK. YOUR INPUT IS VALUABLE TO US.

AND JUST THE IDEA THAT YOU ENDORSED THIS OFFICE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IS ALREADY LEADING THE NATION IMPORTANT ALL THE WANT TO DO IS ADD ON TO THE GOAL TO LEAD THE NATION IN CREATING FANTASTIC OFFICE THAT IS GOING TO BE SECOND TO NONE.

AND BENEFICIAL TO OUR CLIENTS WHO NEED THIS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.

! THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT

[05:40:01]

PRESENTATION AND UPDATE. DOES THE GRANT HAVE CLEAR METRICS IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU WERE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT

FOUR YEARS? >> THE METRICS ARE NOT AS CLEAR. IT'S A 23 PAGE GRANT FOR THE METRICS ARE NOT AS CLEAR, BUT THAT'S ONE THING WE WANT TO IDENTIFY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO IS SHOW ITS COST SAVING AND THE WAY WE INTEND TO DO THAT IS USED THE COST OF THE CASE AND COMPARE IT TO THE RESULTS THE SERVICES WILL BRING. I AM IN ENDORSER OF THE SYSTEM THAT THE CHIEF DID AND THAT IS GOING TO HELP US ISOLATE THAT.

BUT WE WANT TO ADD A CUSTOM POINT FOR THOSE OF SOME OF THE PET METRICS WOULD WANT TO TRY TO USE IN DOING THAT.

ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE POSITION I MENTIONED, THEY ARE GOING TO HELP WITH AS FAR AS THE INTANGIBLE METRICS AND GETTING THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND HAVING THEM INVOLVED ON THE IMPACT OF

OUR SERVICES. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON YOU HAD THE SOCIAL WORKERS LINED UP IN THIS NEW POSITION YOU ARE ASKING FOR.ND I WONDER, IS IT FAIR TO EXPECT THE OFFICE TO MODEL ITSELF AFTER BRONX DEFENDERS LIKE ALEX BRATTON WAS TALKING ABOUT? IS AT THE LEVEL SUPPORT AND BACK OFFICE CAN PROVIDE? OR IS THAT ONLY AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICES FOR

WHATEVER STRUCTURAL ISSUES? >> I CERTAINLY THINK IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.

THE REASON YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HESITATION AMONG VOICES SIMPLY BECAUSE I'M AWARE OUR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO NEVER CROSS THE LINE TO WHERE THEIR SERVICES WILL BE IN LINE WITH THAT. AND TO AVOID COSTING THE COUNTY OR ANYBODY ELSE MORE MONEY IS A PENALTY.

BUT I DO THINK WE ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE INTERNAL STAFF THAT MAY ALLOW US TO DO THAT. SO YES, I DEFINITELY THINK WE ARE CAPABLE OF BEING ON THAT LEVEL.

AND ESPECIALLY AS WE EXPAND INTO FELONIES AND JUVENILE

SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE. >> GREAT.

THANK YOU. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY. IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WHAT NEXT UP ARE THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

>> YES, JUDGE. I'M GOING TO UNMUTE THE REPRESENTATIVE JUDGE ERIC CARTER.

CARTER, YOU ARE UNMUTE IT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON RICK CAN

EVERYBODY HEAR ME? >> YES, SIR.

>> IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE SEEN AS WELL? IS THAT PERMITTED? BUT YES, SIR.

ONE MOMENT. AND ALSO GOING TO UNMUTE JUDGE HOLLY WILLIAMSON. JUDGE, YOU HAVE BEEN MADE A

PANELIST AS WELL. >> WONDERFUL.

AND YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.> GOOD AFTERNOON. JUDGE HIDALGO AND COMMISSIONERS, AND JUDGE WILLIAM CARTER A PLACE ONE AND RESIDE IN JUDGE OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

ALTHOUGH I AM THE JUDGE THAT HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING TO YOU ALL TODAY, I'M JOINED BY SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING IN PRESIDING JUDGE JUDGE HOLLY WILLIAMSON.

JUDGES DAVID PETRONELLA AND DELGADO, ANGELA RODRIGUEZ AND I KNOW SEVERAL OF THE JUDGES ARE ALSO ONLINE SHOULD JUDGE HIDALGO OR COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE JUDGES LINCOLN GOODWIN, MARISSA CORDOVA AND SHARON BERNIE. OF COURSE JUDGE ANGELA RODRIGUEZ AND HOLLY WILLIAMSON AS WELL TO AND OF COURSE WE DO HAVE OUR THREE NEWEST COLLEAGUES, JUDGE ISRAEL GARCIA, VICTOR AND WANDA ADAMS AND TOLD HER ALL ON THE LINE AS WELL SHOULD THE COURTS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE JUDGES INDIVIDUALLY. AND ALSO JOINED BY MR. ED WELLS, COURT MANAGER FOR THE JUSTICE COURTS.

AND IF IT PLEASE THE COURT, AND TO HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT WHICH I WILL READ TO YOU. BUT I INVITE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE WHILE I GO THROUGH AND GIVE THE PRESENTATION.

I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS ENCOURAGED US TO TAKE US TO TAKE A DEEP LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENTS AND HOW WE OPERATE OUR GOALS AND CHALLENGES. AND I HOPE TO TOUCH ON THESE DURING THE PRESENTATION WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I AM HERE AS A REPRESENTING 16 INDIVIDUAL UNIQUE DEPARTMENTS

[05:45:03]

THAT ARE ALL OF THE 16 HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS.

WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING WE ALL APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANT AND DIFFICULT TASK YOU HAVE AHEAD OF YOU AND OPTING NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. WE RECOGNIZE FUNDS ARE NOT UNLIMITED AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY DEPARTMENT IS HERE OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS ASKING FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMS OF MONEY TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR STATED PURPOSES.

FUNDING THE OPERATION OF OUR COURTS FOR THE REASON DISCUSSED HEREIN AND IS A NECESSARY EXPENSE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDINGS AFFECT NOT ONLY THE COURTS AND THE COUNTIES REPUTATION, BUT THE RIGHTS OF ALL OUR CITIZENS TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR COURT SYSTEM.

FOR MOST HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS THE JUSTICE COURT IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INTRODUCTION THEY MAY HAVE TO OUR AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM. WILL THERE BE A CRIMINAL DEFENSE CHARGED OF A TRAFFIC OFFENSE OR A CIVIL LITIGANT ATTEMPTING TO WRITE A WRONG. WE AS A JUSTICE COURTS NEED CERTAIN RESOURCES TO SAVE THE PUBLIC ÃTO SERVE THE PUBLIC BY DISPENSING JUSTICE THAT IS FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, TIMELY AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. NOW FOR SOME DATA.

I MUST SAY OUR COURTS, JUST LIKE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN CONSTITUENT HAVE BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AS FAR AS THE DATA GOES, OR METRICS FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR CANNOT BE TAKEN INDICATIVE OF A QUOTE UNQUOTE NORMAL CASELOADS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE ENTIRETY OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET YEAR HAS BEEN DURING A PANDEMIC CONDITIONS. FOR THAT REASON THE FOLLOWING STATISTICS, WHICH ARE LARGELY STATE-BASED STATISTICS ARE BASED ON THE TWO YEAR PERIOD FROM MARCH 1, 2019 THROUGH NOVEMBER 30 OF 2020, THAT BEING THE MOST RECENT MONTH FOR WHICH WE HAVE COMPLETE DATA STATEWIDE.

DURING THE STATED PERIOD OF TIME AND PROUD TO SAY THE FIVE HIGHEST VOLUME JUSTICE COURTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WERE ALL HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.EIGHT OF OUR HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS WERE AMONGST THE TOP 13 HIGHEST FOLDING COURTS IN THE STATE.

11 OF OUR COURTS WERE IN THE TOP 50 HIGHEST VOLUME AND EVEN THE SMALLEST VOLUME JUSTICE COURT HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY WAS ONLY 139TH OUT OF THE TOTAL OF 802 JUSTICE COURTS IN THE STATE IN TERMS OF CASELOADS.OR COMPARISON, HARRIS COUNTY, I'M SURE THE CONDITION IN COURT KNOWS MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY 16.3 PERCENT OF THE STATES POPULATION, WHICH IS ALMOST TWICE THAT OF DALLAS COUNTY. WE HAD OUR COURTS, THE JUSTICE COURTS IN HARRIS COUNTY UNTIL 19.3 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL JUSTICE COURT FILINGS IN THE STATE, WHICH IS MORE THAN THREE TIMES THAT OF DALLAS COUNTY. TARRANT COUNTY BY COMPARISON IS THE THIRD-LARGEST POPULACE COUNTY HANDLE ONLY THREE PERCENT TOTAL ACROSS THE STATE. OF THE 12 MOST POPULOUS COUNTIES IN TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS OF THE SECOND HIGHEST PER CAPITA FILINGS ONLY BEHIND MONTGOMERY COUNTY. I TELL YOU ALL OF THIS TO EMPHASIZE OUR HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE COURTS ARE BUSY.

ARE JUSTICE COURTS HANDLE A LARGE VOLUME OF CASES THE GREAT VARIETY, SERVED A VERY LARGE POPULATION.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO DO JUSTICE BY STRIVING TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MATTERS BEFORE OUR COURTS POURED ALL WHILE ENSURING FAIR NOTICE AND MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HEARD AS PART OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO WHICH THE MAJORITY COMMIT TO WHICH THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS. OUR COURTS STRIKE TO ENHANCE PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SERVE THE PEOPLE HARRIS COUNTY BY DISPENSING EFFICIENT INFORMATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE ADMINISTRATION JUSTICE BY TRADING ALL PERSONS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS WITH FAIRNESS AND RESPECT.

THIS UNDERTAKING REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT OF OUR COURTS AND SEEK YOUR CONTINUED AND RENEWED SUPPORT OF OUR OPERATIONS AND GOALS.

HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY THE JUSTICE COURTS HAVE SEEN 765,524 NEW CASES FILED FROM MARCH 29 ÃMARCH 20 19 TO PRESENT-DAY TO THE CASELOAD IS COMPRISED OF 71 PERCENT CRIMINAL FINE ONLY MISDEMEANOR CASES.

16.4 PERCENT, 64.4 PERCENT OF CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS ARE THAT CLAIM ACTION, 11.3 PERCENT OF DETAINER OR REPAIR AND REMEDY CASES. 1.3 PERCENT OF OTHER CIVIL ADMINISTRATIVE OR TRUANCY MATTERS.

THOSE OTHER MATTERS MAY INCLUDE PERHAPS A LANDLORD TENANT ISSUES WERE A LANDLORD ILLEGALLY LOCKS OUT A TENANT OR TURNS OFF THE UTILITIES. PERHAPS HEARINGS TO DETERMINE

[05:50:02]

IF A DOG IS DATERS OR ANIMALS HAVE BEEN CRUELLY TREATED OR IF THERE IS PROBABLE CAUSE TO A VEHICLE, OCCUPATIONAL DRIVERS PETITIONS, DEVIOUS HEARINGS UPON DENIAL OF DRIVERS OR HANDGUN LICENSES. AND HEARINGS TO DETERMINE OWNERSHIP OF STOLEN PROPERTY. FROM FISCAL YEAR 2018 THROUGH 2019 TO THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2019 2020, OUR COURT SAW AN OVERALL DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FILINGS DOWN 7.4 PERCENT PROVED LARGELY DUE TO A 14 PERCENT DECREASE IN CRIMINAL FILINGS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE SAW AND 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS AND THAT CLAIM FILINGS AND A SIX TOP FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN EVICTION FILINGS.

GOING TO THIS BUDGET YEAR, WE EXPECTED A SIMILAR TREND TO CONTINUE. HOWEVER, OBVIOUSLY NOT QUITE WHAT HAPPENED. SINCE MARCH 2020 WE HAVE SEEN AN OVERALL 40 PERCENT DECREASE IN FILINGS.

THAT IS 40 PERCENT DECREASE COMMIT REPRESENTATIVE OF 40 PERCENT DECREASE IN CRIMINAL FILINGS, 22 PERCENT DECREASE IN CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS AND A 61 PERCENT DECREASE IN EVICTION FILINGS FROM THAT IS ALL DATA COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME FOR THE YEAR PRIOR, MARCH TO DECEMBER THE PREVIOUS BUDGET YEAR. WE KNOW AN ATTRIBUTE THAT DECLINED TO THE PANDEMIC. WITH FEWER CITIZENS BEING OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SHIFTING FOCUS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES AND WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN CRIMINAL FILINGS. WITH THE SAME RESTRICTIONS THAT HAVE LED TO SIMILAR REDUCTIONS ON THE CIVIL SIDE.

INTERESTINGLY, THIS IS ALL HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE JURISDICTIONAL INCREASE THAT TOOK PLACE IN SEPTEMBER FOR OUR COURTS, WHICH DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF CONTROVERSY JURISDICTION FROM 10,000 TO 20,000 DOLLARS OF AN AMOUNT IN A DISPUTE. AND QUOTE UNQUOTE NORMAL TIMES WE WOULD'VE EXPECTED THAT TO CREATE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN CIVIL FILINGS IN OUR COURTS WOULD AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SEE THE CASELOADS RETURNED TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THE GROWING BACKLOG OF CASES AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN OUR FILINGS BECAUSE OF THE JURISDICTION INCREASE. IN THE PAST A BETTER GLIMPSE BACK IN THE PAST THE JUSTICE FACE DISASTERS.

I RECALL NOT LONG AGO THE TWO LARGEST COURTS, TWO OF OUR LARGEST COURTS WERE EITHER OUT OF COMMISSION OR OPERATING AT A LIMITED CAPACITY DURING THE MONTHS FOLLOWING HURRICANE HARVEY, 10 ALCOHOLICS WAS ACTUALLY WORKING OUT OF A FORMER PIZZA PARLOR. AND STILL MANAGED TO SERVE THE P PEOPLE HARRIS COUNTY. EVEN FACING THOSE CHALLENGES, WE HISTORICALLY ABDUCTED AND MAINTAIN SERVICES WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INTERACTION OR CONVENIENCE TO THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY. TYPICALLY WE TREND TOWARD A GREATER THAN 100 PERCENT CLEARANCE DISPOSITION RATE, MEANING AS A JUSTICE COURT CONSISTENTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OF CASES AND DISPOSE OF MORE CASES IN A GIVEN TIME PERIOD, WE HAVE NEW CASES BEING FILED.

THE CHALLENGES THIS YEAR IS WE'VE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO BRING CASES TO THIS POSITION, NEVERTHELESS, OUR CLEARANCE RATE REMAINS AT A 90 PERCENT FIGURE.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS HIGH FIGURE THEIR CREATIVE DOCKETING THE INCREASED USE OF VIRTUAL MEDIATION TO NEGATE THE NEED FOR FUTURE TRIALS AND CREATING PROCESSES FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS TO COMMUNICATE AND NEGOTIATE OFF DOCKET WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHICH RESULTS IN MORE PLEA BARGAINS AND DISMISSALS AND DISPOSITIONS. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THEJUSTICE ÃACCESS TO JUSTICE TO ALL . RELAXED AND REVISED POLICIES AND CREATIVE STAFFING PUT OUR FOCUS HAS SHIFTED TO NOT ONLY FAIR AND PARTIAL TIMELY AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, BUT SAFER ALL FOR OUR STAFFS. AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.

OUR NEIGHBORS. AS WE ALL NAVIGATE THIS PANDEMIC TOGETHER. FOSTERING PUBLIC TRUST AND ENSURING INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THE COURTHOUSE FEELING THEY WERE TREATED FAIRLY AND WITH RESPECT, THOUGH THEY MAY NOT AGREE WITH THE SUBSTANCE OF OUTCOME IS ESSENTIAL TENANT TO PROCEDURAL JUSTICE WHAT OUR COURTS STRIVE TO PROVIDE IN ALL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES. WHILE OUR COURTS CURRENTLY TRACK THEDATA REQUIRED OF US FOR SUBMISSION TO THE TEXAS JUDICIAL COUNCIL . THAT DATA LOOKS AT OUTPUTS.

[05:55:11]

THIS BUDGET PROCESS HAS ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR US TO TRACK AND ANALYZE ADDITIONAL DATA POINTS TO CREATE MORE OUTCOME MEASURES. I'VE HEARD THIS DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT ALL THE BUDGET PROCEEDINGS AS I HAVE LISTENED.

AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR US TO BASED ON SUGGESTIONS PROVIDED BY YOUR OFFICE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PFM, WE CERTAINLY HOPE TO PROVIDE MORE ROBUST PERFORMANCE METRICS AND FUTURE BUDGET CYCLES WHILE WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE MANY OF THE METRICS YOU HAVE SUGGESTED, WE WELCOME THE ABILITY TO COLLECTADDITIONAL OUTCOME DATA .

HOWEVER, WE SEEK THE HELP OF SOMEONE WITH FIRST THE POLICY EXPERIENCE TO DETERMINE WHAT DATA IS HELPFUL.

SECOND THE BEST MEANS NEGLECTED AND THIRD THE TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE TO GO INTO OUR CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND EXTRAPOLATE THAT DATA. IS ONE OF THE FEW ADDITIONAL REQUESTS WE'VE MADE THIS YEAR, THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE SUPPORT AND JOINT MR. WELLS REQUEST TO FUND THE POSITION IN COURT MANAGERS OFFICE FOR AN SQL REPORT DEVELOPER TO ASSIST OUR COURTS TO BETTER UTILIZING THE ODYSSEY DATA TO PROVIDE PERFORMANCE-BASED METRICS, ANALYZE THE DATA AND ENCOURAGE THEM BASED ON SAID DATA WHILE STILL PROVIDING A STRONG BASIC REPORTING FOR COURTS INTERNAL USE AND PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

THAT BRINGS US TO OUR COLLECTIVE GOALS.

YOU WOULD NOTICE IN ALL GOALS IN OUR 16 INDIVIDUAL BUDGET BACKUPS, THEY MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART WE ALL SHARE THREE MAIN GOALS. FIRST, TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE AND ADMINISTER THE EFFICIENCY OF THE COURT.

WE HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH INCREASING OUR INTERNAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND EXPANDING OUR COURTS WEBSITE TO BE MORE USER-FRIENDLY WHILE EDUCATING AND ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC AND ATTORNEYS TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES AND WE EXPENDED A NOTE DEFENDANTS OPTIONS TO RESOLVE THEIR CASES AND ACCOMPLISH.

WE ENCOURAGE ELECTRONIC FILING TO THE E-FILE TEXAS PLATFORM .

TRANSITION TO AN ONLINE PORTAL WHICH LITIGATES CAN DILUTE IMAGES OF COURT RECORDS OTHERWISE NOT CONFIDENTIAL.

IN LATE SPRING WE HOPE TO BEGIN A PILOT PROGRAM WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

AS A SERVICE AND SMALL CLAIMS CASES, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO BUILD ON THE TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR IN-PERSON COURT APPEARANCES OR MULTIPLE COURT APPEARANCES.

OUR CHALLENGE WILL BE INCREASING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES. AS WE OFTEN DO WITH LARGE POPULATIONS OF LITIGANTS. LITIGANTS WHO ENTER DO NOT HAVE RELIABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY OR PERHAPS WE HAVE DISABILITY PREVENTING THEM FROM SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING THE TECHNOLOGY. EVEN WHEN THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IS OVER, WE ANTICIPATE CONTINUED INCREASED RELIANCE ON TECHNOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES IN WELCOMING.

WE ALSO STRIVE TO IMPROVE BOTH COURT ADMINISTRATION AND EFFICIENCY THROUGH RECRUITING, TRAINING AND MAINTAINING DEDICATED CLERKS TO STAFF. BASED ON THE PRE-PANDEMIC FILING SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTY, EACH OF OUR 313 CURRENT CLERKS WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 1600 CASES PER PERSON PER YEAR. ESPECIALLY DURING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS SUCH AS THIS INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION EACH CASE IS IMPERATIVE. THE COVID-19 HAS HAD ON ALL INDIVIDUALS. THE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION TAKES TIME AND CANNOT BE AUTOMATED.

CLERKS NEEDED TO RESPOND TO CONFUSED AND OFTEN OVERWHELMED LITIGANTS THAT OF NUMEROUS OTHER STRESSORS IN THEIR LIVES COURTS MUST SEND NOTICES TO ADDITIONAL NOTICES TO LITIGANTS THAN EVER BEFORE IS CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE US TO CONTINUALLY MAKE CHANGES TO DOCKETING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES.

WHILE WE ARE SYMPATHETIC AND SENSITIVE TO INDIVIDUAL SPHERES APPEARING IN COURT AND WE ARE ALL LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE MEANS TO COMMUNICATE WITH LITIGANTS TO DO WHAT IS SAFEST FOR ALL. THAT SAID, WE CANNOT SIMPLY CLOSE OUR COURTS TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT AS THE PUBLICS RIGHT TO ACCESS THE COURTS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

OUR STAFFS ACROSS OUR 16 DEPARTMENTS MAY DIFFER GREATLY IN SIZE, BUT COLLECTIVELY WE HAVE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING GROUP AND DEDICATED AND FLEXIBLE EMPLOYEES AND ALL THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR HELP.

[06:00:07]

LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS, JUSTICE COURTS STAFFING AND WORKLOAD STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE COURT IN 2016 AND BASED ON PRE-PANDEMIC CASELOADS, OUR COURTS COLLECTIVELY HAD A DEFICIT OF 31 CLERKS TO ADEQUATELY HANDLE OUR VOLUME OF CASES.

FOR THE 16 COURTS ARE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR FOR NEW POSITIONS. AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE EACH OF THESE COURTS WAS SHOWN BY THE STAFFING STUDY DAMAGE DEFICIT FISSION SUFFICIENT TO RELEASE SIX FULL-TIME AND ONE PART-TIME STAFF POSITIONS ARE FOR THE MOST PART THE ONLY ADDITIONAL REQUEST BY THE JUSTICE COURTS.

SOMETHING NEW YOU MAY NOTICE ALSO IN THE COURT BUDGET SUBMISSIONS IS THAT SEVERAL OF OUR COURTS ARE MOVING TOWARD HAVING A COMMUNITY OUTREACH LIAISON.

SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IT IS TO BRING THE COURT AND THE COMMUNITY CLOSER. TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BY IDENTIFYING AND CREATING PROGRAMS THAT RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITIES AND PRECINCTS.

FOR INSTANCE, YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS OR HOUSING CONCERNS.

AND SOMETIMES TO INITIATE AND SOME WANT TO INITIATE CONTACT AND MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSTITUENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE, AFTER ALL, THE PEOPLE'S COURT.OUR SECOND GOAL IS THIS EFFORT ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR SECOND GOAL.

WHICH IS TO CONTINUALLY ADVANCE THE PUBLICS PERCEPTION ÃTHE PERCEPTION OF AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR JUSTICE COURTS.OUR EFFORTS WITH THE WEBSITE AND PLANS TO DEVELOP A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE WILL HOPEFULLY IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITY WITH THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE CURRENT LEGAL INFORMATION, REDUCE CONFUSION COMMIT DURING TIMES OF DISASTER AND OTHER TIMES. AND TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUED CONTACT AND LITIGATION IN THE CORPORATE WE ALSO WISH TO PROVIDE SECURE HEALTHY AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR CITIZENS AND STAFF CONDUCTING BUSINESS AT OUR COURTHOUSE THROUGH TO THE END, IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN OUT TO VISIT OUR INDIVIDUAL COURTS OR ANNEXES, WE WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY INVITE YOU JUDGE HIDALGO AND THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO VISIT ANY TIME.

WE WOULD LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OURDIFFERENCES .

THAT IS WITH THE VISUAL ANNEXES.

YOU WILL NOTICE OUR BUILDINGS ALL DIFFER GREATLY IN AGE, LAYOUT, SAFETY TECHNOLOGY AND SHARE DOCUMENTS.

WHILE WE DO OUR BEST TO BE DILIGENT IN PLANNING FOR AND USING EXISTING FUNDS TO FINANCE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS AND COURT OFFICES, SOME PROJECTS NECESSITATE FUTURE FINANCIAL ATTENTION FORGET ANOTHER SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE MADE REQUESTS TO THAT REGARD ÃIN THAT REGARD.

FINALLY, OUR THIRD GOAL IS TO SAFEGUARD EQUAL ACCESS TO OUR COURTS AND PROCEDURAL FAIRNESS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. WE ULTIMATELY HOPE TO RESUME COURT DOCKETS AND SERVICES TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS SO AS TO REDUCE THE GROWING BACKLOG OF CASES, THE TIME TO DISPOSITION AND CASES IN THE NUMBER OF COURT APPEARANCES NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE RESOLUTION OF BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL MATTERS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE STRIVE TO TREAT ALL COURT USERS WITH COURTESY, RESPECT AND NEUTRALITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH THIS IF I MADE.

THE COUNTIES JUSTICE AND SAFETY GOAL IS TO PROMOTE SAFE, HEALTHY, THRIVING COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESTORATIVE AND EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT FOSTER PUBLIC TRUST, PREVENT VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA, REDUCE RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES AND MINIMIZE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EXPOSURE WERE AT ALL POSSIBLE. I WOULD SUBMIT TO THIS COURT THAT THE JUSTICE COURTS ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO SUPPORT THAT GOAL. AS WE ARE THE COMMUNITY COURTS.

LOOKING AT THE 1.$2 BILLION ALLOCATED TO THE DEPARTMENTS FOR WHICH YOU ARE HEARING TODAY IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 2021, OR 16 JUSTICE COURTS HAVE 16 SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS COLLECTIVELY ACCOUNT FOR ONLY $28 MILLION. YET WHILE WE ACCOUNT FOR THE 20 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET, WE PROCESS THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT AND NUMBER OF CASES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AS THE COURTS, WE MUST BE PROACTIVE AND ABLE TO BE REACTIVE IN OUR BUDGETING PRACTICES WOULD BE MUCH ANTICIPATE NEEDS AND SEEK EFFICIENCIES WHERE WE CAN AND WE MUST ALSO BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST AS WE HAVE SEEN THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. FOR OUR NEEDS MUST CHANGE AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ADAPT. GIVEN WE ACCOUNT FOR 2.3 PERCENT OF THE OVERALL JUSTICE AND SAFETY DEPARTMENTS BUDGETS THAT ARE COMPOUND GROWTH RATE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS ONE OF THE LOWEST OF ALL DEPARTMENTS BUT ONLY 2.8

[06:05:06]

PERCENT DESPITE THE NUMEROUS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES AND CHALLENGES WITH WHICH WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. I WOULD CONTEND AND RELATE TO THE COURT THAT I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE PUBLICS MONEY.

WE ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WE PROCESS THE CASES BROUGHT TO US FAIRLY, EFFICIENTLY, TIMELY AND ACCESSIBLE.

I SINCERELY HOPE OUR BUDGET SUBMISSIONS GIVE YOU ANY PAUL'S AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TODAY.

WITH THAT I OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES I'M SURE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGE CARTER.

>> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> JUDGE, BARRING ANY COMMENTS FROM MY CALLINGS I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND ALL THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR ADJUSTING AND CONTINUING IN THE FACE OF THIS PANDEMIC. AND I APPRECIATED YOUR COMMENT ABOUT WORKING WITH BUDGET ON THE OUTCOMES.

I THINK YOU GUYS ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO OBSERVE WHERE THERE ARE GAPS THAT WE CAN ADDRESSED, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH SUPPORT FOR YOUR WORK OR OTHER PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED.

SO I KNOW THE TEAM HAS OFFERED FEEDBACK ON WAYS TO KEEP TRACK OF OUTCOMES.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING CERTIFICATE OR PROGRAM SHOULD WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS DIDN'T RECEIVE A CITATION AFTER 12 MONTHS WE KNOW IT IS WORKING.THE INTERPRETERS I KNOW , THAT IS AN AREA WHERE I'M HOPING WE EVENTUALLY WILL HELP HAVE A UNIFORM SYSTEM SO YOU GUYS ARE NOT LACKING IN SUPPORT. SO LET US KNOW.

PLEASE LEAN ON JIM AND DAVE IN THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT AS YOU DEVELOP THOSE OUTCOMES. AND AS FAR AS BUILDING, DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE REQUEST BEING PASSED ON TO BUDGET? I KNOW THEY ARE WORKING WITH CIP. HAVE YOU GUYS MADE THOSE

CONNECTIONS? >> I'M SORRY, YOU ARE BREAKING UP THEIR. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION?

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE MAY BE SOME STRUCTURAL BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES OR CHALLENGES YOU MAY FACE?

>> A FEW OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MADE REQUESTS IN LINE WITH THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS. NO FOR EXAMPLE JUDGE JOE STEVENS HAS REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL TWO ROOMS. I BELIEVE HE WANTS TO RAMP UP HIS MEDIATION EFFORTS.

AND NEEDS ADDITIONAL SPACE. THEY ARE LIMITED IN HIS PARTICULAR ANNEX TO ACHIEVE THAT.

I KNOW JUDGE ADAMS AS WELL THROUGH ONE OF OUR NEWEST COLLEAGUES IS IN AN ANNEX THAT COULD USE SOME ATTENTION.

AND MODERNIZATION. AND I IMAGINE THAT IS REFLECTED

IN HER PARTICULAR REPORT. >> THANK YOU.

>> JUDGE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, WHAT I DO WANT TO OFFER MY APPRECIATION TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC AS IT RELATES TO EVICTIONS. I WANTED TO MY HAT TOYOU GUYS .

WE ARE LOOKING TO DO MORE. I'M DOING SOME RESEARCH AND I WILL COME BACK AND PRESENT IT TO YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TO SEE WHAT MORE YOU CAN DO. BUT THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH THE EFFORTS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHTS. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LEVERAGED RESOURCES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED, I WANT TO THANK

YOU ALL FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION, COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

>> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE JP JUDGES.

ONE OF THE EXTRA SAND THINGS FOR ME IS THAT BUDGET HEARINGS WAS BITTERSWEET BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES I GOT TO SEE MY OLD JUDICIAL COLLEAGUES. YOUR HONOR, THIS COURTS OF APPEALS AS IT WERE. WE HAD TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW AS WELL AS WE USED TO DO JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS.AND I GO DON'T GET TO SEE THE CREW COME IN.

[06:10:01]

THEY USUALLY CAME IN AND ASKS AND I AM SAD AND I DON'T GET TO SEE ALL OF YOU ALL IN THIS FORMAT AT THIS TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW ONES THROUGH THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU ARE DOING. JP JUDGES ARE MORE THAN JUDGES, THEY ARE COMMUNITY LEADERS TODAY ARE THOSE JUDGES THAT IS THE CLOSEST TO BE PEOPLE AND THEREFORE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE MORE THAN JUST RULING AND PRESIDING OVER CASES. HELPING CONNECT TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO THANK YOU JUDGE CARTER. AND SAY HELLO TO YOUR BROTHER AND MOST OF ALL, SAY HELLO TO YOUR DAD FOR ME.

YOU WILL TAKE CARE. >> THANK YOU FOR THEKIND WORDS . WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SEE EVERYBODY IN PERSON AGAIN SOON AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE PROBATION.

>> I'M GOING TO UNMUTE HENRY GONZALES.

YOU ARE ON MUTED, SIR. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON JUDGE HIDALGO, COMMISSIONERS AND WELCOME COMMISSIONER RAMSEY THROUGH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM OPERATES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF TITLE III OF THE TEXAS FAMILY CODE. SERVICES MANDATED BY THE FAMILY CODE FOR JUVENILE PROBATION APARTMENTS CAN BE BROKEN DOWN BY FIVE MAJOR FUNCTIONS HEAR THE FIRST IS TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND TIMELY PRE-COURT, COURT AND POST COURT SERVICES FOR JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IS THE ENTRY POINT FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WE RECEIVED REFERRALS FROM LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 THROUGH 16 CHARGED WITH THE CLASS B MISDEMEANOR AND ABOVE. FOR JANUARY THROUGH NOVEMBER.

I'M GOING TO USE GENERATOR NOVEMBERS NUMBERS BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS DUE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE YEAR END YET.

SO FOR THAT TIME FRAME OF 2020, 2412 YOUNG PEOPLE WERE REFERRED FOR A TOTAL OF 3565 CHARGES. FOR THE SAME TIMEFRAME IN 2019, IT WAS 4469 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE REFERRED WITH A TOTAL OF 6000 80 CHARGES. NATURALLY COVID-19 FORCED A SHIFT IN PRACTICE FOR ALL THE ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM BEYOND OUR DEPARTMENT RESULTED IN THE DROP OF REFERRALS. EFFORTS TO TRANSFORM LOCAL JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BEEN UNDERWAY SINCE 2018 AND IT WAS SPARKED BY NEW LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM IT WOULD INCLUDING A NEW JUVENILE COURT JUDGES, AN ENTIRELY NEW JUVENILE BOARD CHAIRED BY A NEW JUVENILE BOARD CHAIR, JUDGE A DOG WILL. AND NEW LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT THROUGH 2019 SOLIDIFIED THE DIRECTION WE WERE GOING CREATING A WELL DEFINED PATH.

AND THEN CAME 2020 PANDEMIC THAT DERAILED MOST OF THE PLANS. BUT COVID-19 NUDGED THE SYSTEM TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING BUSINESS WHILE STILL PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

LOCAL JUVENILE DEPARTMENTS ARE MANDATED TO PROVIDE SECURE DETENTION SERVICES TO YOUTH AGES 10 TO 17 YEARS OF AGE THROUGH THE USE OF DETENTION AS A TOOL TO MONITOR YOUTH CHARGED WITH OFFENSES PENDING COURT IN HARRIS COUNTY HAS SHIFTED TO WHERE THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION FOR DETENTION CENTER WAS 175 YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOVEMBER 2019 AND DROPPED TO 127 FOR THE SAME TIME PERIOD THIS YEAR WITH NOVEMBERS AVERAGE BEING 110. THE USE OF DETENTION ALTERNATIVES CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS SUCH AS MY BROTHERS KEEPER CENTER FOR URBAN TRANSFORMATION AND HOUSTON REVISION STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF YOUTH RELEASE FROM DETENTION DURING THE

PANDEMIC. >> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IMPLEMENTED THE PROGRAMS THAT CREATED EXIT RAMPS FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WOULD LIST THE 10 PETITIONS FILED THE JUVENILE COURT FOR IN THIS WITH THE DECLINE REFERRALS YIELDED TO SIGNIFICANT PROCEEDINGS.

IN 2019 3478 YOUTH RECEIVED RANGING FROM CASES BEING DISMISSED ALL THE WAY UP TO CERTIFICATION.

. FOR 2020 THE NUMBER DECREASED TO 1325 YOU. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.1/3

[06:15:07]

FUNCTIONAL DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE SUPERVISION IN THE COMMUNITY TO YOUNG PEOPLE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE DISTRICT COURTS.

THERE AND THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2019 THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF 2218 YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER SOME FORM OF SUPERVISION IN HARRIS COUNTY. IN NOVEMBER 2020 THAT AVERAGE WAS 979. DEPARTMENT IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE POST ADJUDICATIVE RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY FACILITIES.

CURRENTLY WE OPERATE TO POST ADJUDICATIVE FACILITIES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AND THE YOUTH VILLAGE.

IT WILL REDUCE THE CAPACITY IN EACH OF THE FACILITIES AND WITH COVID THERE HAS BEEN MORE OF A REDUCTION IN BETWEEN JANUARY AND NOVEMBER 2019 AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION AND COUNTY POST ADJUDICATIVE FACILITIES WITH 201 YOUNG PEOPLE GO IN TO THE SAME TIME PERIOD FOR 2020 THE AVERAGE WAS 112 AND 69 FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN 2019 WE DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN ONE OF THE THREE POST ADJUDICATIVE FACILITIES. OUR PLAN IS TO REPURPOSE THE FACILITY IS A COMMUNITY-BASED DAY TREATMENT CENTER FOR JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENTS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CONFERENCE OF CHILD CARE SERVICES COMPRISED OF THREE PRIMARY SERVICE AREAS. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC TESTING, HEALTHCARE AND PLACEMENT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.HANK YOU. THERE ARE OTHER FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES THAT WE CARRY OUT THAT ARE NOT MANDATED BUT BELIEVED TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE WE SERVE.

ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS IS THE OPERATION OF A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL. THE MOST RESTRICTIONS EDUCATION FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE PLACED IN DETENTION CENTERS AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IS PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THE FACILITY IS IN. CURRENTLY OUR FACILITIES ARE IN THREE SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THE DETENTION CENTER WITHIN H ISD, LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IS IN THE KATY DISTRICT THE YOUTH VILLAGES IN THE CLEAR CREEK DISTRICT. UP UNTIL THE 1990S THESE DISTRICTS DID PROVIDE THE EDUCATION FOR HOURS FACILITIES.

IN SOME CASES THIS WAS DONE BY SENDING TEACHERS INTO THE FACILITIES AND OTHERS STUDENTS WERE SENT TO THE ZONE SCHOOLS.

IN THE 1990S THE GALVESTON COUNTY TAXPAYERS FROM CLEAR CREEK ISD LED THE WAY FOR A LAWSUIT AGAINST HARRIS COUNTY TAX ÃAGAINST HARRIS COUNTY OVER PROVIDING RESOURCES TO TEACH STUDENTS IN THE FACILITY. IT PROMPTED THE THEN JUVENILE BOARD TO APPLY FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL TO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY FACILITY.

THE CHARTER WAS APPROVED BY THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND OPEN FOR THE 1998 SCHOOL YEAR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.