Sep 03, 2024 Commissioners Court Budget Hearing

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE BRIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

AS A REMINDER, THESE ARE THE BUDGET HEARINGS FOR.

WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK.

JUST A QUICK REMINDER ON THE ON THE FORMAT.

THERE WILL BE A THREE MINUTE INTRO BY THE DEPARTMENT HEAD OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.

THE TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT AND THE BALANCE OF THE TIME DIVIDED BETWEEN THE THE FIVE OFFICES.

WE'RE GOING TO ROTATE THIS YEAR.

WHO STARTS? WE'LL ROTATE THROUGH.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

[Office of County Administration]

THIS IS DEANNA RAMIREZ.

I'M THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE TAG TEAMING THIS BUDGET HEARING.

DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR LEAH BARTON IS IN THE FACILITY, AND I'M ISOLATING AT HOME.

I WANTED TO START WITH HOW OUR WORK ALIGNS WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK'S GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

AND SO HERE ARE THREE EXAMPLES.

JUST AS INNOVATION IS A MAJOR AREA OF WORK FOR OCA, WE HAVE INTERNALLY ALLOCATED $1.3 MILLION TO THAT LABOR BUDGET AND HAVE A ONE TIME CARRYOVER REQUEST OF $1.2 MILLION FOR THE JAIL GOVERNANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WORK THAT IS ONGOING.

WE ALSO LEAD IN SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS WITH THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.

CLIMATE JUSTICE PLAN AND THE SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT ALL UNDERWAY.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE ON BRINGING THE FULL STRATEGIC PLAN, INCLUDING INITIATIVES TO COURT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

AND THEN OUTSIDE OF OCA, WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING THE SETTING OF BASELINE FRAMEWORKS FOR COUNTYWIDE FUNCTIONS THROUGH HR TRANSFORMATION, PROCURE TO PAY, AND NEW IT GOVERNANCE PROCESSES.

AND FINALLY, AFTER THIS BUDGET HEARING, LEAH WILL BEGIN HER INTERIM DEPARTMENT HEAD DUTIES AT PUBLIC HEALTH TO ENSURE A SMOOTH LEADERSHIP TRANSITION.

LEAH. LEAR. THANK YOU DEANNA.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

AS AS ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ SHARED, WE'RE FOCUSED ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ON THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN AND OTHER COUNTY WIDE SUPPORT.

JUST OVER HALF OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARD THAT COUNTY WIDE SUPPORT, AS WELL AS DIRECT COMMISSIONERS, COURT SUPPORT THROUGH THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND AGENDA TEAM ACTIVITIES. JUST UNDER HALF OF OUR BUDGET GOES TOWARD WHAT WE CONSIDER RESTRICTED FUNDS FUNDING FOR THE O'DONNELL EFFORTS, FUNDING FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS, WHICH HAS BEEN RESERVED IN A POOL, AND FUNDING FOR COUNTYWIDE BUILDING SECURITY EFFORTS.

AS WE LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL REQUESTS WE SUBMITTED, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHARPEN OUR PENCILS.

AND SO YOU HAVE A LIST OF OUR ORIGINAL REQUESTS WITH THEIR STATUS.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THREE FTES.

TWO EQUITY SPECIALISTS AND ONE COMMUNICATIONS INDIVIDUAL.

BY REALLOCATING PCNS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE HAVE FOUND EFFICIENCIES.

WE HAVE TAKEN SOME OF OUR PROPOSED OFFSETS IN ORDER TO SELF-FUND THOSE REQUESTS.

WE STILL HAVE KEY REQUESTS, ONE OF WHICH IS TO SHIFT FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO THE DATA FELLOWS TOWARD TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE, AS WELL AS TO ADD AN ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.

WE THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE CENTRAL OVERSIGHT OF THINGS LIKE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LIKE OUR GIFT REGISTRY, LIKE ANY FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THAT'S A FUNCTION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD.

WE THINK IT'S CRITICAL.

AND OPEN TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

WHERE TO START WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

AND THE COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT TO YOU ONLINE.

YES. I'M HERE.

GREAT. WE'LL GET TO YOU NEXT.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON.

AND DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BARTON, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS, BUT JUST TO FOCUS ON THE COMPLIANCE PIECE, WHICH I SAW WAS VERY A RECENT ADDITION.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN FURTHER WHY YOU THINK IT WOULD BE BEST SITUATED IN OCA VERSUS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE OR ANOTHER AREA? WE'RE NOT MAKING THE THE A PERMANENT DECISION OR ASKING FOR A PERMANENT DECISION ON WHERE IT SHOULD BE LOCATED.

WE THINK THAT OCA IS A GOOD PLACE TO INCUBATE IT, TO GET IT STARTED, TO DO THE BASELINE RESEARCH FOR IT.

AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SET UP SUCH A FUNCTION? AND THEN WITH TIME AS AS WE GET THE FUNCTION ESTABLISHED, COME TO COURT FOR APPROVAL AND THEN BE ABLE TO STABILIZE IT.

AT THAT POINT, WE THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA.

MAYBE IT MAYBE GOES TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, MAYBE IT GOES TO HR, MAYBE IT GOES TO PURCHASING.

THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT AREAS WHERE IT COULD WHERE IT COULD FIT.

[00:05:03]

THANK YOU. AND IS IT PER TIME.

SO I HAVE ADDITIONAL. OKAY.

SO NEXT THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION. IN TERMS OF THE GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH YOU KNOW IS AN AREA OF DEEP INTEREST TO ME.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE CURRENT CAPACITY AND WHY YOU WOULD PRIORITIZE THESE PARTICULAR ADDITIONS OVER OTHERS? I KNOW THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT IS IT ABOUT? CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW YOU PLAN ON GROWING THIS TEAM? YES. SO OUR ORIGINAL REQUEST WAS FOR JUST OVER $700,000 IN SUPPORT FOR GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

WE KNOW THAT'S A CRITICAL FUNCTION BECAUSE AS WE SAW IN THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN, IT INCLUDES OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE INDIRECT COSTS TO CAPTURE MORE GRANTS AND TO CAPTURE OUR CURRENT GRANTS MORE FULLY.

WE SAW IN THAT EFFORT THAT WE WEREN'T SPENDING OUR FULL AWARD AMOUNTS.

WE ARE ADDING TWO ROLES.

INCLUDED IN THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET FROM OMB.

WAS WAS JUST OVER $500,000 OF THAT ORIGINAL $700,000 REQUEST.

AND SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT EFFORT.

AND WITHIN THE GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS TEAM, WE SEE AN EVOLUTION WHERE WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE FRONT END OF THE FUNNEL RIGHT NOW, THE FRONT END OF THE PIPELINE, SECURING MORE GRANTS. THE NEXT FUNCTIONS THAT WE'LL ADD WOULD BE MORE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, NOT FOR THIS YEAR, BUT BUT FOR THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS, FOCUS ON COMPLIANCE SUPPORT AS WELL.

THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF THE DATA FELLOWS ORIGINAL SUBMISSION VERSUS THIS PIVOT, CAN YOU HELP EXPLAIN THE WHY BEHIND IT AND WHAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY COST? SO FROM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THE, THE DATA FELLOWS THE FIRST ITERATION DURING THE, DURING THE ARPA FUNDING PERIOD WAS SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE FOLKS, THE 4 OR 5 DEPARTMENTS THAT GOT THE DATA FELLOW WERE ALL OFFERED THEM THE POSITION, WHICH IS WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE JUST AS PRESSING AND HIGH NEED FOR US.

WITH THE IDEA IS TO, TO PIVOT, TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUPPORT FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PERFORMANCE TEAM.

AS WE'RE IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY NEED THEIR HELP ON THAT.

JUSTICE. INNOVATION JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE PROJECTS ASSIGNED TO IT.

AND YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE STAFFING THE CDJC AND THEY'RE JUST SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THERE TO, TO DO GOOD WORK AND JUSTICE INNOVATION.

SO PART OF THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, DATA FELLOWS WORK REALLY WELL.

WE THINK IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM.

IT'S JUST TRYING TO PRIORITIZE AMONG ALL THE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAT ARE COMING AT US.

THANK YOU. MY LAST QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE SECURITY ENHANCEMENT REQUEST.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH TO THE EXTENT IT'S PERMISSIBLE? SURE. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE PRIOR FACILITIES SECURITY ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE DONE ACROSS THE JP COURTS, AND IN REVIEWING THEM, WE'VE SEEN OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND SO UNIVERSAL SERVICES AND ENGINEERING ARE LOOKING AT SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES THERE.

AND THEY'LL BRING THOSE FORWARD AS A SEPARATE INVESTMENT MEMO.

BUT WE ALSO SAW A NEED FOR STAFFING IN MOST JP COURTS.

THE BAILIFF IS IS THE PRIMARY PERSON PROVIDING SECURITY, WHICH LEAVES THE REST OF THE COURT BROADLY, YOU KNOW, UNSUPERVISED.

SO THOSE FACILITY SECURITY ASSESSMENTS RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE SCREENERS, THAT WE USE THE SAME KIND OF METAL DETECTION PROCEDURES THAT WE DO HERE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT. AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION, OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION WAS BASED ON FULL STAFFING FOR, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF FULL, FULL WEEK. WE KNOW THAT NOT EVERY JP COURT MEETS EVERY DAY.

SO THIS OPTIMIZED PROPOSAL IS BASED ON MORE SPECIFIC STAFFING, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THOSE COURT SCHEDULES.

THIS VALUE RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTS A FULL YEAR OF STAFFING.

WE KNOW IT WOULD TAKE TEAMS SOME TIME TO RAMP UP.

SO ASSUMING THAT FOLKS WOULD BE UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF DECEMBER, WE PROBABLY NEED SOMETHING MORE LIKE THREE QUARTERS OF THIS REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WANTED TO MAKE TRANSPARENT THE FULL YEAR AMOUNT SINCE IF WE STARTED THIS EFFORT, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD NEED GOING FORWARD.

AND TO BE CLEAR BY TEAM MEMBERS, DO YOU MEAN WITH SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CONSTABLES.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANY? I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD GET INTO MANY MORE DETAILS ON ON THE SECURITY ITEM IN OPEN COURT.

SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE HAPPY TO TO EXPLAIN IT OFFLINE INDIVIDUALLY WITH, WITH COURT MEMBERS AND, AND OR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE NEXT

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION AND APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU AND ALL OF YOUR TEAM.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHO IS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY.

YES, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU FOR THE DETAILED PRESENTATION.

JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, BUILDING OFF OF WHAT YOU'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT? I WOULD SEE A VALUE ADDED OBJECTIVE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE WOULD BE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I, I'M GETTING A LOT OF DETAIL RELATED TO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

I THINK I WOULD USE WHAT CHOW IS DOING OVER IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF, OF IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCEMENTS.

IN FACT, I THINK EVEN STAFF REDUCTIONS AND IMPROVED SERVICE SPEAK TO SPEAK JUST A MINUTE ON THE APPROACH OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE AND BUDGET WISE, IN TERMS OF INCREASING EFFICIENCIES ACROSS THE BOARD.

YEAH. YES, SIR.

THIS IS DIANA RAMIREZ.

SO I THINK ON ON THE EFFICIENCIES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT WE WERE WORKING ON AND SINCE, SINCE I WAS APPOINTED TO, TO THIS POSITION WAS REALLY GOING IN AND SEEING WHAT WE HAD INTERNALLY AND, YOU KNOW, SHUFFLING, SHUFFLING FOLKS AROUND, MAKING SURE WE HAD PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT, THAT WE WEREN'T QUITE DOING.

THAT WE ARE DOING NOW.

SO I THINK FROM CONSIDERING THAT WE REALLY HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY NEW POSITIONS YET, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLOCATE POSITIONS TO JUSTICE INNOVATION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLOCATE POSITIONS TO TO THE EQUITY TEAM.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLOCATE THE THE OLD COUNTY, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ANALYST'S OFFICE AND OFFICE OF JUSTICE SAFETY STAFF.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS JUST PUT EVERYBODY IN TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS REALLY NEEDED.

SO THE EFFICIENCIES INCLUDE IN OUR, IN OUR GRANTS TEAM LOOKING AT THEY'VE ACTUALLY FOUND WHERE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WERE ALL THERE WERE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS COMPETING FOR THE SAME GRANT, AND NO ONE KNEW THAT THE OTHER DEPARTMENT WAS COMPETING FOR IT.

SO WENT IN AND STARTED WORKING WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE DEPARTMENTS CAN WORK TOGETHER AND WHO WOULD REALLY MADE SENSE TO APPLY.

SO THERE ARE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THE LAST, YOU KNOW, YEAR AND A HALF TO, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

SAME THING WITH, WITH OUR DATA FOLKS.

GET EVERYBODY IN THE SAME RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS DIVISION MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND WORKS TOGETHER WITH UNIVERSAL SERVICES THAT WE'RE NOT OFF DOING THINGS IN SILOS.

SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THAT TYPE OF WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD TO ASK FOR MORE FUNDING.

WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO FUND IT INTERNALLY.

WE'RE JUST GETTING TO THE POINT NOW WHERE YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO JUST ADD A FEW FOLKS HERE AND THERE FOR SOME OF THE, THE NEW THE, THE NEW INITIATIVES THAT THAT WE'RE, WE BELIEVE ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

YEAH. YEAH. ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, I, I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROGRAMS WE'VE STARTED, SO I THINK WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT STARTING THINGS, BUT WE'RE REALLY BAD AT STOPPING THINGS.

SO I THINK THERE IS SOME INHERENT LACK OF EFFICIENCY.

LACK OF EFFECTIVENESS.

I'VE SEEN IT IN MY OWN WORLD HERE IN, IN PRECINCT THREE, IN TERMS OF YOU GOT TO DO MORE WITH LESS.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF DOING MORE WITH LESS.

I JUST SEE DOING MORE.

THAT'S A GENERAL STATEMENT.

THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM.

THAT IS A NEEDING TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

PROBABLY YOUR CHART.

AND I THINK LEAH BARTON HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB REVIEWING, TAKING CARE OF ARPA.

THAT HAS BEEN A A MASSIVE BILLION DOLLAR ISSUE.

ALTHOUGH I DID NOT AGREE WITH AND DON'T AGREE WITH A LOT OF THE PLACES THE MONEY WAS SPENT.

I THINK I FEEL GOOD THAT WE'RE CROSSING OUR T'S AND DOTTING OUR I'S IN TERMS OF THE MONEY.

[00:15:02]

SO WE'RE WRAPPING UP ARPA.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER ON WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT.

WE'VE GOT 18 MONTHS OR TWO YEARS, GIVE OR TAKE, TO WRAP THAT UP.

ARE YOU FEEL DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN WRAPPING UP ARPA OVER THE NEXT THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

IF WE DON'T DO IT IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

SO DO YOU THINK WE'RE PROPERLY WINDING DOWN THE THINGS WE NEED TO WIND DOWN, STOP DOING THINGS THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT WE STARTED UNDER ARPA. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON JUST THE DOING WITHOUT ARPA GOING FORWARD? BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MAKING SURE THAT WE TRANSITION THAT PROPERLY.

YEAH. YEAH.

GO AHEAD. OKAY. YOU CAN START AND I'LL FINISH.

YEAH. COMMISSIONER.

THANK YOU. AND JUST TO YOUR PRIOR POINT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM THAT DELIVERED 1.3 MILLION IN SAVINGS LAST YEAR.

WE ARE ON TRACK TO REDUCE OUR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 40%, WHICH WILL COME WITH COMMENSURATE SAVINGS.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED SUPPORTING THE FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN INITIATIVES, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HELP OUT THERE.

THERE'S OTHER PROJECTS CONTRACT LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT KICKING OFF WHICH WOULD WHICH SHOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WE WANT TO BE THAT DRIVER OF EFFICIENCY AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL REVENUE, ADDITIONAL GRANTS.

BUT BUT ON ARPA, I THINK YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S THREE KIND OF CATEGORIES OF, OF THINGS HAPPENING.

ONE, AND WE SEE IT IN THIS BUDGET YEAR IS SHIFTING WORK INTO THE GENERAL FUND WHERE THAT'S WHERE IT BELONGS.

YOU KNOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY, JAIL OUTSOURCING IS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS THAT'S IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN WITHIN THE JUSTICE INNOVATION TEAM TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE REDUCE OUR JAIL POPULATION.

SO WE REDUCE THAT JAIL OUTSOURCING.

OVERALL. I THINK WE ALSO SEE THINGS LIKE HERE IN OUR BUDGET, YOU SEE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND CONTRACT EXPIRING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THAT HAS BEEN A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAM, BUT IT'S EXPIRING.

AND SO THAT'S CERTAINLY A CHOICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE AS TO WHETHER TO CONTINUE IT.

BUT IT WAS SET UP TO END AND IT IS ENDING.

WE HAVE SHIFTED TOWARD A MORE STRATEGIC APPROACH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WE HAVE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATION FUND KICKING OFF.

THAT WAS ADVICE OF OF STEERING COMMITTEE TO SHIFT FROM A KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MORE STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT.

BUT BUT THOSE CONTRACTS WILL ROLL OFF I THINK, WHERE WE NEED MORE WORK AND WHY I'M EXCITED ABOUT HAVING ADDITIONAL GRANTS ROLES IN OUR BUDGET IS ON THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE POTENTIAL TO CONTINUE INTERNALLY.

I'M HEADED OVER TO PUBLIC HEALTH, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ARPA FUNDED ROLES IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND SO THINKING ABOUT WHICH OF THOSE NEED TO CONTINUE AND WHETHER WE CAN SECURE DIFFERENT GRANTS FOR THOSE IS GOING TO BE A KEY FOCUS IN THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT I HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT US BEING ABLE TO COMMIT THOSE FUNDS ON SCHEDULE OR SPEND THEM ON SCHEDULE.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME BACKUP METHODS IN PLACE IN TREASURY WILL ALLOW US TO ALLOCATE TO SHIFT FUNDS ACROSS PROJECTS NEXT YEAR IF NEEDED.

AND WE'VE MADE KIND OF STRATEGIC USE OF THE FLEX FUND TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US THAT RELIEF VALVE AS WELL.

YEAH, JUST ON THE HIGH LEVEL, COMMISSIONER.

YEAH. I ECHO LEE'S SENTIMENTS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE DO HAVE THE THE PROCESS, THE APPROVAL PROCESS.

SO IT DOES GO THROUGH ALL THE COURT OFFICES AND IN IN THE MEANWHILE, WE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE STIKO RECOMMENDING, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET MAY BE.

IF IF THE COURT WANTS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT THAT, THAT THE FUNDING CONTINUE IN THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL JUST I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH A WITH A COUPLE OF CONCERNS.

IF WE ADOPT THE BUDGET, INCREASE REVENUE, BUDGET, INCREASE THE 8% IF WE ADOPT THAT, THAT'S A $268 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE OVER WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR.

SO YOU'RE IN THE CATBIRD SEAT.

YOU'RE IN THAT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SEAT THAT YOU SEE 268 MORE DOLLARS ARE FLOWING INTO THE COUNTY COFFERS THAT WERE NOT THERE LAST YEAR.

SO BEING SURE THAT WE ARE, IN FACT, INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE BASE SERVICES, AND I'VE ADVOCATED THAT WE NEED TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.

WE'RE STATUTORILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COURTS.

WE'RE STATUTORILY RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE CARE OF ROADS.

[00:20:01]

AND MY LAST COMMENT IS I READ OUR CHARTS.

I'M SORRY, I AM A NERD.

AND WHEN I LOOK AT SEVEN DIRECT REPORTS TO LEAH AND LEAH'S HAS HEADED OVER TO DO SOME GOOD MISSIONARY WORK IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH I AGREE WITH YOU.

I TOLD YOU THAT FRIDAY.

I YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT IN TERMS OF IT HAPPENS IN MY ORGANIZATION WHERE I GET REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AND I OVERWHELM THEM.

SO LEAH DIDN'T ASK ME TO SAY ANYTHING.

SHE'S SHE'S A GYRODYNE KIND OF A KIND OF A GAL, BUT THAT'S A CONCERN TO ME.

THAT'S KIND OF A BUDGET CONCERN, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT EACH ONE OF THESE OFFICES ARE BOXES REPRESENT.

SO JUST A BIT OF CONCERN ON YOUR ORG CHART.

YES, SIR. AND WE'RE MAKING SURE D AND I WERE TALKING THIS MORNING AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT, THAT WE RELIEVE HER OF THOSE, THOSE SUPERVISORY DUTIES WITHIN OCA SO SHE CAN FULLY FOCUS ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

AND WE'RE WE'RE GOING TO BE DETERMINING THAT OVER THIS NEXT WEEK ON, ON HOW WE RESET OUR INTERNAL REPORTING STRUCTURES, SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. AND HER DIRECT REPORTS HAVE GOOD SUPERVISION.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

SO THE COMMISSIONER ASKED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. I WOULD SAY HOW WOULD YOU RANK BY PRIORITY YOUR SERVICE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS.

LIKE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FUNDING.

AND SO YOU KNOW BIG DECISIONS TO BE MADE THIS YEAR.

YEAH I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK TWO TWO THINGS IT'S IT'S IT'S REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

I MEAN, REALLY HAVING HAVING THE, THE FUNDING MOVE OVER TO TO TAP AND JUSTICE INNOVATION I THINK IS IS CRITICAL.

TO HAVE HAVE US BE SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE TWO PROGRAMS. WE JUST KEEP ASSIGNING FOLKS IN THOSE TWO TEAMS MORE AND MORE WORK.

SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S CRITICAL.

AND THEN HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY IN, IN OTHER TYPES OF OPERATING EXPENDITURES WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TOO, SO THAT WE CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MORE NIMBLE IN, IN ADDRESSING CRITICAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT POP UP.

I THINK THE OTHER ONE IS THE ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.

I THINK THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT THAT'S LONG OVERDUE.

AND AND WE NEED TO FOCUS ON IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST PUT A NUMBER OUT THERE.

IT'S IT'S NOT A MAGIC NUMBER.

IT'S IT'S A NUMBER THAT THAT SAYS, HEY, IF WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP US GET STARTED ON IT, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THAT, IF IT'S ONE PERSON, IF IT'S CONTRACTED DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WORKS FOR THE COURT.

BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE GET A START ON, ON THAT ON THAT BASELINE FRAMEWORK FOR COMPLIANCE.

THAT'S ALL FOR US.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

HELLO. I'M WITH SAM.

COMMISSIONER BRIANNA IS ASKING MY QUESTION, SO I'LL REVAMP THEM FOR THE THE DATA FELLOWS.

SO IS THIS TO MOVE THE REQUEST FOR THE DATA FELLOWS TO THE TAP PROGRAM? YEAH, BASICALLY IT'S NOT TO THE THE DATA FELLOWS AND ACTUALLY LET THAT FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND USE THE FUNDING FOR FOR JUSTICE INNOVATION AND TAP AND THEN SOME, SOME OPERATING BUDGET JUST SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN KEEP THE WORK GOING THAT WE'VE STARTED, ESPECIALLY IN JUSTICE INNOVATION JUST KEEPS GETTING MORE AND MORE WORK.

AND WE'VE INTERNALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLOCATED A BUNCH OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW AND WE'VE GOT YOU'VE BEEN VERY CREATIVE IN, IN USING INTERNAL SALARY SAVINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT AS MUCH SALARY SAVINGS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING ALL OUR POSITIONS HIRED AT THE RIGHT PLACES.

WE'VE DOWNGRADED POSITIONS TO CREATE MORE SALARY SAVINGS.

WE'VE DONE A LOT TO TRY TO DO THINGS WITHIN THE BUDGET.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY SO FAR WE CAN WE CAN TAKE THE THE BUDGET.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ONCE YOU TAKE OUT THE, THE STUFF THAT WE'RE KIND OF THE, THE HOLDERS OF THE THAT ARE COUNTYWIDE THE LANGUAGE ACCESS AND, AND THE, THE SECURITY FUNDING.

AND THEN THE, THE O'DONNELL YOU KNOW, THAT'S $9.6 MILLION THAT SHOWS UP IN OUR BUDGET, BUT WE CAN'T USE IT.

THAT'S ALL RESTRICTED.

SO I THINK IT'S IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT, YOU KNOW, THE THE DATA FELLOWS IS A GREAT PROGRAM AND IT AND IT WORKED.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE OTHER WORK THAT WE HAVE, IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE A LUXURY WHEN WE REALLY NEED TO TO DO MEAT AND POTATOES WORK.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

FOR THE TAP TEAM, WHAT ARE THE ANTICIPATED PROJECTS AND OUTCOMES THAT YOU EXPECT BY ADDING THIS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY?

[00:25:08]

YOU KNOW, ONCE COMMISSIONERS COURT SEES THE THE INITIATIVES, ONCE THE THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, REVIEWS THAT AND WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TO GO TO COURT.

YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF INITIATIVES TO TRACK RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S 80 SOMETHING.

I THINK HOPEFULLY WE CAN WE CAN PARE THOSE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THAT'S A LOT OF INITIATIVES WITH PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES THAT WE NEED TO TRACK.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE TAC TEAM THAT THAT HELPS US DO THAT WITH, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING THE INITIATIVES, SO THAT THAT'S JUST A HIGH LEVEL OF WORKLOAD, THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AND NOT NOT HAVE THEM BE JUST, YOU KNOW, SCRAPPING AND TRYING TO GET WHAT THEY WHAT THEY NEED AND MISSING IT.

AND WILL WE GET THE DETAILS ON THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR THE REQUEST OR IS IT JUST LIKE BROAD AMOUNT OF MONEY? YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.

WE CAN WE CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER AND SEND THEM TO YOU ALL.

OKAY. SO FOR THE EQUITY SPECIALIST, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THERE IS SOME FUNDING TO HELP THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD TO KIND OF INCORPORATE THE EQUITY GUIDELINES AND PLANS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT PASSED IN, YOU KNOW, 2021.

FOR THOSE PCNS THAT WILL BE USED.

DO WE KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM? I THINK HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, FOR COMMISSIONER ELLIS, HE HAS WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE KEPT THE SAME AMOUNT OF PCNS AND FTES FOR THE JUSTICE AREA, EVEN WITH JAD AND ANALYST OFFICE COMBINING.

SO JUST INTERESTED TO KNOW WHERE THOSE POSITIONS ARE COMING FROM AND HOW THAT RELATES TO THE AMOUNT OF JUSTICE, LIKE 100% JUSTICE FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE NOW IN OCA. OKAY? YEAH.

ONE ROLL CAME FROM OUR OPERATIONS TEAM.

OUR CFO, MIKE GIORDANO, IS HERE.

THANK YOU. MIKE. MIKE HAS BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GET HIS TEAM WORKING EVEN MORE EFFICIENTLY.

AND SO SO ONE PERSON WAS ABLE TO TRANSFER THERE.

ONE PERSON DID TRANSFER FROM THE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS DIVISION.

AND THAT IS SOMEONE WHO WHO HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY WORKING ON JUSTICE AND SAFETY EFFORTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO BECAUSE THAT EQUITY TEAM DOES SUPPORT JUSTICE AND SAFETY TYPE EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, SUCH AS THE RACIAL EQUITY SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE CWGC.

OKAY. THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

THANK YOU. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BARTON.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW MANY OPEN PC INS DOES OCA HAVE CURRENTLY? AVERAGE LENGTH OF HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN OPEN, AND WHAT'S THE PLAN TO FILL THEM OR COULD THEY BE ELIMINATED? WE HAVE A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF OPEN PCNS RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A COUPLE ON THE RPA TEAM AS WE'VE BEEN TRANSITIONING THAT WORK FROM THIRD PARTY IN-HOUSE, SO THAT DOESN'T AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

WE HAVE A THREE ON THE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TEAM RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S THE THAT'S OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO GRANTS ANALYSTS ONE ROLE THAT WAS YOU KNOW SADLY CREATED BY BY ERIC CATTO'S PASSING.

SO WE HAVE WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO TO TO FILL THOSE.

THOSE ARE ALL IN ACTIVE INTERVIEWING STATUSES.

THE OTHER ONE THAT I KNOW COMMISSIONER BRIONES CARES VERY DEEPLY ABOUT, AND MANY OF YOU DO IS IS THE DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY ROLE.

AND WE DO HAVE A TOP CANDIDATE THERE AND EXPECT TO TO EXTEND AN OFFER THERE VERY SOON.

AND THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE TO MY NEXT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL FOUNDATIONS.

I THINK WE'RE ALREADY DOING THAT WORK.

AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN EXCITED TO BRING TOM HARGIS INTO THE DIVISION DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS ROLE.

I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB GETTING HIS HEAD AROUND WHAT'S NEEDED IN TERMS OF OVERALL GRANTS SUPPORT OVER THE ARPA WORLD, AND HE'S NOW TURNING HIS ATTENTION TO THAT EXTERNAL WORLD. I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME EXCITING THINGS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DEPARTMENTS.

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY JUST HOSTED AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CONVENING OF FUNDERS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LAST WEEK.

SO WE WANT TO BE DOING MORE OF THAT AND REALLY EXPOSING PEOPLE TO WAYS TO PARTNER EITHER DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY OR WITH FOLKS WITH WHOM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO KEEP WORKING. AND JUST MAKING THOSE THOSE INTRODUCTIONS, WE ALSO WANT TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ACTIVE ON THE NATIONAL SCENE.

RIGHT? IT'S NOT ONLY LOCALLY, BUT BUT THERE'S PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE, WE ALREADY HAVE WITH WITH MACARTHUR AND OTHERS, BUT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW THOSE FOR SURE.

[00:30:01]

SO I'LL TAKE THAT ONE. YEAH.

SO WE HAVE I BELIEVE DOUGLAS IS IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING ON HER BUDGET HEARING FOR AIR FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

WE'RE THINKING IT'S GOING TO TAKE IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A THREE YEAR TRANSITION PERIOD TO GET AIR WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

AND I KNOW THAT MISS DOUGLAS HAD A PRESENTATION AT THE LAST COURT TALKING ABOUT THAT, AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

BUT WE THINK THREE YEARS TO REALLY GET US THERE.

NOT JUST BECAUSE IT TAKES TIME TO, TO HIRE AND AND MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING BEST PRACTICES, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF FUNDING LIMITATIONS.

RIGHT. WE CAN'T JUST HIRE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND FUND A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE AT ONE TIME.

WE NEED TO TO PHASE IT IN.

AND WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT IS IN THE PLACE WE WANT IT TO BE? SO IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE GOING TO HAVE SEVERAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON, ON RECRUITING, ON, ON TRAINING AND ON RETENTION.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE THREE, THREE MAIN AREAS.

AND THEN AND THEN UNDERLYING IT IS ALL A WHOLE CHANGE MANAGEMENT ETHOS WHERE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO, TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE THAT TO, TO STAFF ON A, IN A BETTER, IN A BETTER WAY IN THE FUTURE.

SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THE, THE FOUR PILLARS I BELIEVE THAT, THAT MISS DOUGLAS IS WORKING ON AND BUT SHE HAS ALL THE DETAILS ON IT AND WE MEET WITH HER REGULARLY WEEKLY BASICALLY HER AND THE, THE HR TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE ON TRACK AND SHE'S ON TRACK WITH HER CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS AS WELL.

SWITCHING GEARS AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THE SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS ARE FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS? SO THE VERY SPECIFIC NEAR-TERM GOAL WE HAVE IS TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR HOUSTON ENDOWMENT FUNDED ANALYSTS WHO ARE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO ASSESS OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS NEEDS, AS WELL AS DIGGING IN VERY DIRECTLY WITH COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HELP.

THEY'RE STARTING WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE ENGAGED WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE THEY'RE REALLY THERE AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.

I THINK THERE'S A MUCH BIGGER QUESTION AROUND LANGUAGE ACCESS WITHIN THE COURTS.

THE COURTS HAVE DEVELOPED A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.

OUR RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS TEAM HAS PREVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, PRESENTED LANGUAGE ACCESS PLANS.

WE HAVE $1.7 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE COURTS EFFORTS.

WE THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COURTS ASK RATHER THAN AN INITIATIVE THAT'S THAT'S DRIVEN AND OWNED AT THAT LEVEL WITHIN WITHIN OCA. SO THE COURTS ASK IS BIGGER THAN $1.7 MILLION.

SO WE'RE REALLY KIND OF BRINGING THAT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION AS PART OF OF THE BROADER LANGUAGE ACCESS EFFORT.

BUT, I MEAN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY CAN ACCESS COUNTY SERVICES.

RIGHT. AND WHETHER IT'S VIA OUR WEBSITE, VIA 311, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHATEVER THEY'RE VIA OUR, OUR, OUR CASE MANAGERS, WHATEVER THEIR TOUCHPOINTS ARE, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN LANGUAGE.

MY LAST ONE HOW CAN WE AS A COUNTY? I MEAN, I'M SORRY, I ALREADY ASKED THAT ONE.

WHAT KIND OF GROWTH, BOTH BUDGET AND STAFF WISE, WOULD WE NEED FOR LONG TERM PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS, FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN? AND HOW MUCH OF THAT GROWTH COMES IN OCA VERSUS DEPARTMENTS? I THINK A LOT OF THE GROWTH WILL GO IN IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF A LOT OF THE WORK IS GOING TO HAPPEN AT DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT LEVELS.

SO, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT'S IT'S MORE OF A TRACKING AND DEPENDING ON SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, THE DECISION ON WHERE A NEW INITIATIVE MIGHT RESIDE HASN'T BEEN MADE.

AND SO THERE ARE DISCUSSIONS GOING ON THERE.

SO IT DEPENDS ON ON WHAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE WANTS TO RECOMMEND THERE AND THEN WHAT COMMISSIONERS COURT DECIDES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THE BUDGET PROCESS.

AND THAT'S AN ANNUAL PROCESS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, I DO NOT EXPECT THAT ALL 85 INITIATIVES AND SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY ALREADY ONGOING. AND THERE'S SOME NEW ONES.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM STARTING, YOU KNOW, IN THE FIRST 1 OR 2 YEARS.

I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, PUSHED DOWN TO LATER YEARS, AND IT'S ALL GOING TO BE ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE COUNTY BUDGET CAN AFFORD IT.

SO I THINK IT'S IT'S A PLAN.

[00:35:01]

SO IT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, BUDGET DIRECTOR RAMOS WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH WE WILL STRIVE TO TO MAKE THE STRATEGIC PLAN SUCCESSFUL, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND KEEP AN EYE ON THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE AND, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT CAN COME AT US PRETTY QUICKLY IN, IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW, HURRICANE SEASONS AND, AND ALL SORTS OF, OF OTHER ISSUES THAT THAT ARISE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

YOU NOW HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 45 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

YES. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RAMOS, I KNOW THAT OMB RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR DATA FELLOWS.

GIVEN THE ROI WE'VE SEEN OF THAT PROGRAM, AND I UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS WITH REGARD TO OUR JUSTICE AND SAFETY WORK.

HOWEVER, I WANTED TO ASK WHY THAT WAS YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

AND DO YOU WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION? DOES IT STILL STAND? SO. SO WE STILL STAND BY OUR RECOMMENDATION, THOUGH WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR FOR ADDITIONAL STAFFING, PARTICULARLY IN OUR JUSTICE AND SAFETY.

THE REASON THAT WE WE'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE AS AN OFFICE IS WE HAVE TO DEVELOP THE DEPARTMENTS.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO BE MORE STRATEGIC.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO BE DATA DRIVEN.

WE'RE ASKING THEM TO ALIGN WITH TO ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT WITHOUT THE DEPARTMENTS HAVING MORE OWNERSHIP, MORE TRANSPARENCY INTO THEIR DATA AND BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ARE ALL ASKING THEM.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RAMSEY HAD NO ADDITIONAL TIME.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES AND 25 SECONDS REMAINING.

I'M GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

PRECINCT ONE.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS REMAINING.

SORRY. JUST ONE QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST POSITION.

WHERE IS THAT PCN COMING FROM CURRENTLY? THAT'S COMING FROM THE SECURITY TEAM.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAVE 12 SECONDS REMAINING.

THANK YOU. COURT OFFICES.

DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BARTON AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

JUST 30S, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TO LISTEN TO OUR, OUR REQUESTS AND BUDGET HEARINGS.

AND WE'RE HERE TO SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO FY 25.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU ALL. SEE YOU FRIDAY IN SIX MINUTES.

THANK YOU. COURT OFFICERS, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

[Sheriff Office]

THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING.

WELL, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONER AND STAFF MEMBERS.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR.

I AM GRATEFUL TO THE ENTIRE COURT AND YOUR STAFF FOR CONSISTENTLY MAKING SMART, RESEARCH BASED INVESTMENTS IN THE PEOPLE AND INITIATIVES THAT ARE PROVEN TO MAKE HARRIS COUNTY SAFE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DEANNA RAMIREZ AND BUDGET DIRECTOR DANIEL RAMOS FOR THEIR WORK AND SUPPORT.

THEIR TEAM HAS A TOUGH AND CRITICALLY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY TO DEVELOP A SPENDING PLAN THAT REFLECTS OUR SHARED VALUES WITH THEIR HELP AND WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT, WE MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR JAIL OPERATION LAST YEAR THAT HAVE PAID OFF.

OUR HARRIS COUNTY JAIL IS NOW SAFER BECAUSE WE ARE HIRING DETENTION OFFICERS AT A FASTER CLIP, AND OUR EMPLOYEE RETENTION RATE IS IMPROVING.

FOR TWO YEARS STRAIGHT, WE HAVE REPORTED SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN THE JAIL MORTALITY RATE, AND WE RECENTLY PASSED A COMPREHENSIVE STATE JAIL HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTION, PUTTING US BACK IN COMPLIANCE.

WE COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THESE STRONG GAINS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. TODAY, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO MAKE ANOTHER BIG INVESTMENT, THIS TIME IN THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PATROL OUR COMMUNITIES AND PUBLIC ROADWAYS.

A MONTH AGO, OUR OFFICE SUBMITTED A BUDGET REQUEST THAT PRIORITIZES ADDRESSING THE PAY DISPARITIES THAT MAKE IT TOUGH FOR US TO HIRE AND RETAIN THE QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT OUR COMMUNITY DEMANDS AND EXPECTS AND DESERVES.

RECOGNIZING THAT WE CANNOT IMMEDIATELY AND COMPLETELY CLOSE A PAY GAP THAT SEPARATES US FROM SOME OF OUR REGIONAL COLLEAGUES HAVE ASKED THE COURT TO EMBRACE A THREE YEAR PLAN THAT STARTS WITH A MINIMUM 7% PAY INCREASE FOR DEPUTIES AND 9% FOR SERGEANTS, LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS.

BECAUSE THE DISPARITY AT THESE LEADERSHIP RANKS IS THE LARGEST.

ADOPTING THIS APPROACH WOULD RESULT IN PAY RAISES RANGING FROM 14% TO 21% FOR OUR PEACE OFFICERS BY 2027.

[00:40:03]

AND I ALSO WANT TO REITERATE MY FULL SUPPORT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR OUR PERSONNEL.

AND WHEN WE MAKE GREAT STRIDES LAST YEAR TOWARD ADDRESSING THE PAY DISPARITIES AMONG OUR DETENTION OFFICERS, WE STILL ARE NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

A 2023 COUNTY FUNDED SALARY STUDY RECOMMENDED A 25% PAY INCREASE, AND LAST YEAR WE GOT ALMOST HALFWAY THERE WITH A 12% RAISE.

THIS YEAR, I ASKED YOU TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP WITH A MINIMUM 4% RAISE FOR DETENTION OFFICERS AT ALL RANKS AND MAKE A COMMITMENT TO RAISE THEIR PAY BY A TOTAL OF 11% BY 2027. I BELIEVE THESE INVESTMENTS AND OUR TEAMMATES ARE CRUCIAL IF WE ARE TO END OUR RELIANCE ON JAIL OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS THAT ARE DRAINING OUR COUNTY BUDGET WHILE CAUSING UNDUE STRAIN ON OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IMPACTED FAMILIES.

FINALLY, WE ARE SEEKING $3 MILLION TO FUND AN OVERTIME PROGRAM TO EXPEDITE THE INVESTIGATION OF OUR GROWING CASELOAD OF CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AGGRAVATED ROBBERIES, AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMES THAT THREATEN OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOU CAN SEE OUR OTHER REQUESTS IN THE DOCUMENT WE SUBMITTED IN JULY.

THOSE PRIORITY ITEMS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SERVE WARRANTS ON PEOPLE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES.

CAN. CAN I WRAP UP? YES. OKAY.

ADDING A SIX PATROL DISTRICT TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

POPULATION THAT HAS GROWN BY NEARLY 1 MILLION SINCE WE ADDED A FIFTH PATROL DISTRICT, EXPANDING CRISIS INTERVENTION RESPONSE TEAMS TO HANDLE THE GROWING NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CALLS FOR SERVICE.

INVESTING IN OUR RECRUITING AND BACKGROUNDS DIVISION TO EXPEDITE THE HIRING AND ONBOARDING OF QUALIFIED JOB CANDIDATES.

GROWING OUR JOB BASED COMPETENCY RESTORATION PROGRAM, BOLSTERING OUR DEPUTY UNIT SO WE CAN HANDLE MORE NON-EMERGENCY CALLS BY PHONE AND FREE UP DEPUTIES FOR HIGH PRIORITY CALLS.

ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG OF BODY WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE AND 911 911 RECORDINGS THAT PROSECUTORS NEED TO MOVE CASES FORWARD AND FUNDING NEW COURT BAILIFF POSITIONS TO STAFF CURRENT AND NEW COURTS TO ADDRESS THE COURT BACKLOG THAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO REMAIN IN JAIL TOO LONG WAITING FOR TRIAL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THANK YOU. SHERIFF GONZALEZ.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER RAMSEY, WHO IS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY.

I BELIEVE IT'S MR. BROOKS. YES. I'M SORRY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. YEAH.

VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR COMING.

YOUR PRESENTATION.

JUST A QUICK, QUICK QUESTION HERE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.

SO YOU YOU DID YOU DID MENTION THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS JAIL OUTSOURCING.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

CLEARLY, THE SOLUTION WOULD BE GETTING MORE DETENTION OFFICERS.

IS THAT THE ONLY THING THAT.

IS THAT THE ONLY ISSUE, SHERIFF, BETWEEN US HAVING TO OUTSOURCE? I THINK THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR IS 51 MILLION.

IF WE HAD MORE DETENTION OFFICERS, HOW MUCH OF THE 51 MILLION COULD YOU MITIGATE? COMMISSIONER, I THINK, FRANKLY, IF WE COULD REALLY EXPEDITE SOME THINGS MORE ON THE ON THE COURT SIDE, I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP MITIGATE THINGS THE MOST.

ANYTHING THAT COULD EXPEDITE CASES, GETTING TO ADJUDICATION.

BECAUSE, FRANKLY, ADDING MORE DETENTION OFFICERS IS JUST A REFLECTION ON THE ON THE SIZE OF THE, OF THE POPULATION.

SO IF THE POPULATION WERE TO GO DOWN, LET'S SAY TOMORROW, WE COULD WE WOULD NOT HAVE A STAFFING ISSUE, WE WOULD NOT BE OUTSOURCING.

BUT BECAUSE THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY REMAINS SO LONG FOR FOR PERSONS ON PRETRIAL DETENTION, THAT'S REALLY WHAT CAUSES A STAFFING ISSUE.

SO IDEALLY THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL SOLUTION FOR EVERYBODY TO REALLY GET THE COURTS MOVING AT A FASTER CLIP.

AND BUT YES, UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, STABILIZING OUR WORKFORCE, WHICH, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN, THANKS TO YOU AND THIS COURT'S SUPPORT, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO IMPROVE RETENTION.

AND SO WE'RE DOING MUCH BETTER THAT PRETTY CONSISTENTLY NOW.

AND WE'RE SEEING A BENEFIT TO THAT.

BUT BUT LONG TERM THE QUICKER WE COULD GET THE COURTS MOVING AND GET CASES DISPOSED OF, I THINK IT WOULD IT WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FOR THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

LET ME ASK ANOTHER FOLLOW UP, SHERIFF, IS DO WE HAVE EMPTY BEDS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DETENTION OFFICERS? NO, SIR. WE PRETTY MUCH MAXIMIZE EVERYTHING.

THOSE THAT THAT WE ARE NOT USING.

IT'S BECAUSE PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT FUNCTIONAL IN THE SENSE THAT SOMETIMES WE DO NEED TO MAKE REPAIRS.

[00:45:06]

IN FACT, WE EVEN HAVE AN INFIRMARY INSIDE OUR JAIL SYSTEM.

AND THERE'S A WAITING LIST FOR THAT SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

SHERIFF GONZALEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR SACRIFICE.

SO MY FIRST QUESTIONS REVOLVE AROUND STAFFING.

COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE HOW MANY FUNDED OPEN PCNS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE? CURRENTLY OPEN PCNS.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 350.

150 WOULD BE ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, WHICH WOULD BASICALLY BE PATROL DEPUTIES, ANOTHER 150 FOR DETENTION OFFICERS, AND THE REST WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL STAFF.

I DO WANT TO SAY, THOUGH, JUST A CAVEAT, THAT WE REALLY WOULDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO FILL ALL THOSE SLOTS EVEN IF THEY BECAME AVAILABLE TODAY.

SO WE DO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 60 CADETS, NEW DEPUTIES THAT WILL BE GRADUATING IN A FEW MONTHS IN NOVEMBER THAT WILL HIT THE STREETS TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS. SO THAT'S ALWAYS A PLUS WHEN WE HAVE A NEW ACADEMY CLASS FINISHING.

AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT BEHIND THEM THAT WILL BE FINISHING IN JANUARY WITH 40 MEMBERS.

SO WE'LL BE ADDING ABOUT ANOTHER HUNDRED SO THAT THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE REPLENISH THOSE THOSE VACANCIES.

SO THERE IS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL TO REPLACE THOSE.

THAT'S NOT ADDING AN INFUSION OF NEW PEOPLE PER SE.

IT'S JUST TO TO HELP FILL THAT, THAT GAP RIGHT THERE.

AND SHERIFF, SO YOU MENTIONED IT A SECOND AGO, THE RETENTION BONUSES THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED, AS WELL AS THE 12% PAY INCREASE FOR OUR DETENTION OFFICERS. WHAT IMPACT HAVE YOU SEEN WITH REGARD TO THE RETENTION BONUSES AND THE SALARY INCREASE? I KNOW IT'S NEVER ENOUGH, BUT WHAT HAVE WE SEEN, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE RETENTION BONUSES AT THOSE DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME? WE DID SEE A NOTICEABLE, NOTICEABLE TREND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AFTER THOSE THINGS WENT, THOSE ITEMS WENT INTO EFFECT.

SO THANK YOU TO YOU AND THIS COMMISSIONER COURT FOR FOR GETTING IT DONE.

WE HAVE SEEN NOW A NET.

WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THEN A NET GAIN IN PERSONNEL.

SO THAT'S A POSITIVE SIGN.

OUR RETENTION RATE HAS HAS IMPROVED.

SO THAT'S ALWAYS A PLUS IS THAT YOU KNOW IT'S A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT.

ANY CORRECTIONS FACILITY IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT NOT ONLY HERE BUT NATIONALLY.

THAT'S WHY SO MANY OTHER ENTITIES SUCH AS TDC AND OTHERS REALLY STRUGGLE WITH STAFFING.

BUT WE REALLY SAW A NOTICEABLE, NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT WITH WITH THOSE ITEMS AND WANT TO THANK YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHY IN MY COMMENTS I MENTIONED THAT WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

THERE WAS A COUNTY FUNDED PAY STUDY THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THAT RECOMMENDED A CERTAIN CERTAIN NUMBERS, AND WE'RE ALMOST THERE.

NOT QUITE THERE, BUT BUT WE'RE PROPOSING A PLAN TO HELP GET US THERE AS WE GO FORWARD.

SO WE DON'T WE DON'T START GOING BACKWARDS.

SO WE COULD TACKLE THIS FROM A VARIETY OF AREAS, INCLUDING STAFFING, HOPEFULLY REDUCING JAIL POPULATION AS WELL, AND THEN OTHER THINGS THAT THAT COULD REALLY IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM OVERALL. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

ONE THING AS IT RELATES TO STAFFING.

ONE PROCESS CHANGE THAT WE'VE MADE WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME AMOUNT OF TURNOVER THERE.

SO WE'RE PROJECTING IT OUT.

SO THEY'RE NOT WAITING FOR THE POSITION TO BE VACANT.

THERE'S A CONSISTENT TRAINING SCHEDULE AND ACADEMY SCHEDULE SO THAT WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF FEEDING FEEDING THE STAFFING MODEL SO THAT ONE DAY WE WILL CATCH UP.

WHEN I THINK WE WE GET A LITTLE BETTER HANDLE ON THE TURNOVER.

BUT THAT WAS A PROCESS CHANGE THAT WE'VE MADE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S NO MORE WAITING FOR A POSITION TO BE TO BE VACANT BEFORE WE START RECRUITING FOR IT. THANK YOU.

DIRECTOR RAMOS. THAT'S DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SHERIFF GONZALEZ, THE NEXT TOPIC IS WITH REGARD TO THE INVESTIGATIVE OVERTIME.

COULD YOU. AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.

CAN YOU DRILL DOWN FURTHER INTO WHAT THE NEED IS AND WHY THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT INVESTMENT? YES. WE GET A HIGH VOLUME OF CASES TO INVESTIGATE.

AND SO THOSE TEND TO BE VERY COMPLEX CASES, VERY TIME INTENSIVE IN TERMS OF PREPARING THOSE CASES FOR COURT, THE PROCESSING OF EVIDENCE, THE INTERVIEWING OF WITNESSES.

SO THEY TEND TO BE VERY, VERY TIME INTENSIVE.

FOR EXAMPLE, EVEN SOME OF OUR HOMICIDES ARE THERE'S A STRONG NEXUS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOMICIDES HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY ARE NOT DUE TO RANDOM VIOLENCE, BUT THEY'RE DUE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WHEN WE DO HAVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE INVESTIGATING THOSE AS QUICKLY, AS THOROUGHLY AND AS SWIFTLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT

[00:50:01]

SO OUR TEAM IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF THOSE.

BUT EVEN THEN. SO, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY BECOMES A STAFFING ISSUE.

YOU CAN ONLY REVIEW SO MANY CASES TO DEAL AGAIN WITH WHAT I SAID, HOW TIME CONSUMING THEY ARE.

AND SO THROUGH AN OVERTIME PROGRAM.

WE COULD SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THAT WORK, GET GET THE TURNOVER OF THOSE CASES GOING A LITTLE BIT QUICKER AND INVESTIGATE IT MORE QUICKER.

AND THEN THEY COULD MOVE ON THROUGH THE THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND NOT KIND OF GET STUCK FOR A WHILE.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO IT'S A TIMING ISSUE AND TRYING TO LIMIT THE TIME THAT THOSE CASES ARE ON A HOLDING PATTERN, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD STAY ON TOP OF THEM.

BUT OUR TEAM IS DOING REALLY GOOD JOB OF REVIEWING THE CASES, STAYING ON TOP OF THEM.

IT'S THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS THAT'S MORE TIME CONSUMING AND EITHER REQUIRES MORE PERSONNEL FOR THAT, MORE INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL OR OVERTIME.

SO WE COULD SUPPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, THE THE TIME INVESTED IN EACH CASE.

AND SHERIFF, WITH REGARD.

THANK YOU. WITH REGARD TO OVERTIME VIPER OR I GUESS VIOLENT PERSON OR TASK FORCE, I PERSONALLY LIKED WHEN YOU CALLED IT VIPER.

BUT WITH REGARD TO VIPER, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHETHER ANY OF THIS OVERTIME FUNDING WOULD BE RELATED TO VIPER, OR IS THAT SEPARATE AND DISTINCT? I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE SEPARATE BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF TWO SEPARATE CHARGES.

ONE IS THE APPREHENSION, BUT ONE OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE DID BUILT INTO THE BUDGET IS SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU WERE YOU'VE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF VIPER, THEY'RE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE GOING AFTER SOME OF THE WORST OFFENDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS JOB.

YOU KNOW, THE LATE DEPUTY ESQUEDA WAS A MEMBER OF THAT TEAM.

AND SO IT'S IT'S IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WORK.

BUT BUT WE NEED THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE TRYING TO LOCATE THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

SO THERE IS SOME MONIES BUILT IN FOR, FOR THAT TEAM.

BUT THE OVERTIME PROGRAM IS REALLY PRIMARILY TO DEAL WITH THE INVESTIGATIVE BACKLOG, BECAUSE UNTIL WE CAN CHARGE SOMEONE OR FULLY INVESTIGATE, THEN WE HAVE A POTENTIAL VICTIM OR SURVIVOR THAT'S WAITING FOR FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, OUTCOME FOR THEIR CASE.

AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, WE STILL HAVEN'T CHARGED SOMEONE TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO, TO BE LOCATED.

SO I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF VIPER AND LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING THAT.

BUT MOVING BACK TO INVESTIGATIONS, JUST PURELY INVESTIGATIONS WITH REGARD TO USING OVERTIME, I KNOW IT'S A KIND OF STOPGAP, IMMEDIATE NEED SORT OF SOLUTION, BUT WHAT IS THE LONGER TERM, MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION TO HANDLING THIS HIGH VOLUME OF INVESTIGATIONS? WELL, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO TO OUR TEAM.

THEY'VE REALLY DRILLED DOWN ON THIS AND HAVE RELOCATED SOME PERSONNEL.

NOW WITH OUR DETECTIVE RANK AS WELL, IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO PIVOT SOME MORE AND TO ADD ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES TO THOSE CASES.

SO WE'RE DOING THAT JUST THROUGH OUR OWN STAFFING MODEL WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.

BUT ULTIMATELY YOU DO WANT MORE INVESTIGATORS.

SO WE COULD REALLY DEVELOP SOME TRAUMA INFORMED TYPE CASES WHERE WE HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH SURVIVORS OR VICTIMS OUT THERE THAT WE COULD BECOME EVEN MORE SUPPORTIVE OF. VICTIM ADVOCATES ARE ALREADY OUT THERE.

THEY DO GOOD WORK, BUT WE ALWAYS COULD DO MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME AGAIN.

NOWADAYS THERE'S SO MUCH EVIDENCE TO PROCESS.

I MENTIONED THE 911 DIGITAL EVIDENCE THAT'S GROWN JUST ASTRONOMICALLY IN THE LAST DECADE WITH THE ADVENT OF MORE TECHNOLOGY, BODY WORN CAMERAS, DASH CAMS AND THE LIKE.

SO ALL THAT HAS TO BE PROCESSED AS WELL.

SO THE MORE PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT, THEN WE CAN LOWER THE TIMES THAT A CHILD HAS TO BE WAITING FOR FOR SOME JUSTICE.

AND SO THAT ULTIMATELY IS WHAT WILL HELP.

BUT WE FEEL WE COULD AT LEAST CLOSE THE GAP A LOT WITH THIS OVERTIME PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, SHERIFF GONZALEZ.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.

PRECINCT ONE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, SHERIFF GONZALEZ.

THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY.

FIRST QUESTION, CAN YOU LET ME KNOW HOW DOES THE PAY DISPARITY DATA INCLUDE BENEFITS OR AND IF SO, HOW ARE THEY INCORPORATED? WE'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT CRITERIA.

WE YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS WHAT AGENCIES WE'RE KIND OF COMPARING TO.

WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR BENEFITS ARE VERY STRONG COMPARED TO OTHERS.

SO BUT BUT WE STILL ARE AT A GAP WITH DANIEL.

I THINK HE COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER TEXAS COUNTIES, WE SHARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.

WE SHARE THE SAME PENSION SYSTEM AND ESSENTIALLY THE SAME BENEFITS.

WHERE WE SEE THE DISPARITY IS OUR BOTH OF OUR HEALTH CARE PLANS ARE, NUMBER ONE, I THINK, NUMBER EIGHT, MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE STATE.

SO YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

BUT GENERALLY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE NATURE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ONCE WE HAVE THEM FOR A FEW YEARS, THEY'RE THEY'RE BASICALLY STUCK WITH US FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR CAREER.

[00:55:04]

ARE WE MAKING ARE WE BEING COMPETITIVE WITH NOT JUST OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT JUST OTHER JOBS, YOU KNOW, NATIONALLY AND GENERALLY SPEAKING.

AND THIS IS JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT, I THINK MILLENNIALS THAT ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE, IT'S IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE IDEAL CAREER PATH FOR MANY NOWADAYS.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO TO TO TRY TO CHANGE THAT NARRATIVE AND REMIND FOLKS THAT IT'S STILL A VERY NOBLE PROFESSION.

AND OUR AGENCY DOES GREAT WORK, BUT MANY AREN'T NECESSARILY LOOKING AT RETIREMENT BENEFITS AT END OF LIFE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU KNOW, 30 YEARS IN, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THAT STARTING PAY UP FRONT TO TO TO DETERMINE WHAT WHAT AGENCIES OR PROFESSION THEY WILL CONSIDER.

THANK YOU. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE TIMING OF THE DISTRICT SIX SUBSTATION? I KNOW YOUR LETTER SAID MID FY 25 AND THEN WOULD BASED ON THAT TIMING WITH THE 1.3 MILLION, BE ABLE TO BE MORE PHASED IN OR A POTENTIAL SUPPLEMENTAL LATER LATER IN THE YEAR.

YES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A A RIBBON CUTTING OR OPENING A SOFT OPENING VERY SOON, POSSIBLY IN OCTOBER.

MICHAEL, DO YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S SET TO KICK OFF? I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT CALENDAR YEAR, IT WILL BE OPENING.

WE'RE VERY CLOSE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S REALLY A GAME CHANGER FOR US, THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT.

SO SO THANK YOU ALL. ROBERT WILL REMEMBER SOME OF OUR STATIONS, STATIONS, HOW SMALL AND DATED THEY WERE.

AND BEING ABLE TO EXPAND OUR FOOTPRINT INTO SOME OF THOSE AREAS IS REALLY GOOD.

SO SO IT SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THAT THAT THE BUILDING AND SOME OF THAT BUILD OUT CONTINUES TO WRAP UP.

AND SO YOU WOULD WANT TO HIRE IDEALLY FOR JANUARY BASED SOMEWHERE AROUND.

YEAH. I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, IS PROBABLY REDEPLOY SOME OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE FROM OTHER AREAS TO FILL THAT STATION, BECAUSE THOSE CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE STILL BEING ANSWERED AS WE SPEAK.

JUST ONE PATROL DISTRICT IS HAVING TO GO FURTHER DISTANCES OUT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE MORE FAR REACHING AREAS OF THE COUNTY.

THIS WILL NOW BE COVERED BY THAT PATROL DISTRICT ITSELF.

SO THERE'S SOME REALIGNMENT GOING ON.

AND THEN AS I MENTIONED, WE DO HAVE A CLASS OF 60 GRADUATING IN NOVEMBER AND THEN ANOTHER ONE OF 40 STARTING IN JANUARY.

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO LAUNCH ANOTHER BASIC PEACE OFFICERS CORRECTION COURSE IN NOVEMBER AS WELL.

THAT WILL BE A NEW CLASS THAT WILL GRADUATE IN 2025.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO THE FROM THE LETTER WE HAVE IN JULY, DOES THAT PRIORITIZATION THE ORDER YOU LISTED IN STILL APPLY.

IS THAT HOW YOU ALL WOULD STILL RANK WHAT YOU WANT FUNDED? YES. OKAY.

AND THEN CAN YOU TELL YOU MAY HAVE IDENTIFIED IT IN YOUR OTHER COMMENTS, BUT CAN YOU TELL US FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHICH ARPA INVESTMENT YOU FELT HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HELPING SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADDRESS VIOLENT CRIME? YES, WE DID HAVE SOME WE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE INVESTED SOME IN SOME CRIME SUPPRESSION AND PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION IN OUR DISTRICT ONE AREA.

WE DID SOME CRIME INITIATIVES OUT THERE WITH A BALANCED APPROACH, NOT ONLY ENFORCEMENT, BUT ALSO INCLUDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND, FOR EXAMPLE CYPRESS STATION HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN ONE OF OUR MOST VIOLENT AREAS, AND IT'S CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. AND THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE WORKING OVER THERE, ALBEIT IT ALSO INCLUDES A CONTRACT PROGRAM OUT THERE WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE MAKING THAT INVESTMENT THEMSELVES. WE'RE SEEING A DRAMATIC TURNAROUND WITH THAT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE INVESTMENTS NOT SO MUCH ON VIOLENT CRIME PER SE, BUT I THINK IT WAS, I THINK SOME MORE MONEY WAS USED FOR FOR VIPER AS WELL.

THOSE HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT.

WE'VE SHARED NUMBERS BEFORE OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF VERY SERIOUS OFFENDERS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING INTO CUSTODY, THAT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

THOSE ARE SOME THAT COME TO MIND AND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CENTER, NOT ON VIOLENT CRIME, BUT THAT'S REALLY BEEN AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR US. YEAH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

FOR THE 911 TAPES YOU NOTED 48 HOUR TURNAROUND.

IF YOU FOR SOME REASON ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THOSE RESOURCES, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK THE TURNAROUND MIGHT CHANGE TO.

YEAH, IT TENDS TO BE LONGER I DON'T KNOW.

LIKE WHAT? LIKE YOU KNOW A SLOWER TIME WOULD BE.

THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPROVED TIME THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.

WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING THOUGH IS, IS SOMETIMES THE COURTS ARE WAITING FOR THAT TYPE OF, OF PROCESSING TO BE DONE.

AND THAT'S WHAT ADDS TO A TIMELINE FOR A COURT TO BE READY FOR FOR TRIAL.

[01:00:03]

WE LIVE IN A DIGITAL AGE.

SO THE LARGER THE VOLUME THEY WANT CALLED, YOU KNOW, TAPES SUBMITTED, ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED FOR A CASE TO BE READY FOR TRIAL, WHETHER IT GOES OR NOT TO TRIAL.

AND SO THAT THAT'S WHAT ENDS UP SOME PROCESSING TIME IN ADDITION TO LIKE THE CRIME LABS AND ALL THAT.

SO AND I MENTIONED LIKE THE INVESTIGATIVE WORK THAT GOES INTO THOSE CASES.

SO IT COULD BE PERHAPS AT TIMES, MAYBE A MATTER OF WEEKS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M ESTIMATING I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT WHAT THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME USED TO BE IN THE PAST.

I KNOW WE'VE WORKED OUR TEAMS WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO CUT THE PROCESSING TIME, BUT WE'D LIKE TO CUT IT EVEN MORE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

HEY, GOOD MORNING SHERIFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR TROOPS DO FOR TO KEEP OUR CONSTITUENTS SAFE.

FIRST QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS IS TO ADD THE SUPERVISOR POSITIONS TO DISTRICT SIX.

AND WE ALL KNOW DISTRICT SIX HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG GAME CHANGER TO YOUR PATROL OPERATIONS.

CAN YOU ELABORATE SOME OF THE IMPACTS YOU HOPE TO SEE WITH THIS IMPLEMENTATION, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE CALLS FOR SERVICE RESPONSE TIMES? YES. SOME OF YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED IN MY OPENING REMARKS MANY OF THE PARTS OF UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY HAVE GAINED SIGNIFICANT POPULATION. THE LAST TIME WE OPENED A STATION, WHICH WAS DISTRICT FIVE.

WE'VE SINCE GAINED A MILLION PLUS RESIDENTS IN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

SO IT'S PAST DUE TIME FOR US TO ADD ANOTHER STATION.

SO THIS THIS PART OF NORTH HARRIS COUNTY WILL REALLY HELP.

BETTER RESPONSE TIMES FOR THAT NORTHERN CORRIDOR.

MANY TIMES WE ALSO HEAR WHERE A LOT OF THE GRAND PARKWAY SEEMS TO BE LIKE A RACEWAY WITH VERY LITTLE VISIBILITY, VERY LITTLE ENFORCEMENT.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE CORE OF THOSE DISTRICTS OUT THERE, DISTRICTS ONE, DISTRICTS FIVE AND ALL THAT ARE MORE, AS YOU KNOW, FURTHER IN CLOSER TO THE TOLLWAY, BECAUSE BACK THEN THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE GROWTH WAS.

SO THIS WILL REALLY HELP US TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE, REALLY BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THAT NORTHERN CORRIDOR OUT THERE.

AND SO IT'LL BE MUCH BETTER IMPROVED SERVICES FOR FOR OUR RESIDENTS OUT IN THAT, IN THAT, IN THAT REGION, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ONE DISTRICT HAVING TO GO TO SOME OF THE FAR REACHES, LIKE I WAS MENTIONING EARLIER, WHERE NOW YOU GOT TO GO FROM SOME OTHER AREAS AND HAVE TO TRAVEL ALL THE WAY TO NORTHERN HARRIS COUNTY, WHERE THERE'S A CALL FOR SERVICE OR FOR ENFORCEMENT.

THANK YOU. REGARDING THE 1.5 MILLION TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVERTIME INITIATIVES, USUALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO UTILIZE OVER TIME INITIATIVES WHEN THERE'S A LACK OF PERSONNEL.

WHAT'S YOUR VACANCY RATE WITH THE INVESTIGATOR OR DETECTIVE RANK RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT? WELL, WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF SHUFFLING RIGHT NOW WITH WHERE WE'RE BECAUSE WE'RE RECLASSIFYING A LOT OF THE INVESTIGATORS TO THE DETECTIVE RANK.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT IN FLUX RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE ADDING SOME PERSONNEL NOT ADDING BUT BUT REDEPLOYING SOME, SOME PEOPLE THAT COULD TAKE ON MORE TRULY INVESTIGATIVE ROLES.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ADDING SOME MORE INVESTIGATORS TO SOME OF THOSE CRITICAL AREAS.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE BUILDING OUT ADDITIONAL SQUADS IN HOMICIDE, CHILD ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, ALL THOSE VERY CRITICAL CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS IN THE PAST.

I KNOW WE WERE PROBABLY DOWN A BUREAU WIDE, MAYBE ABOUT 100.

INVESTIGATORS LIKE TO REALLY, TRULY CLOSE THAT GAP, BUT BUT I COULDN'T REALLY TELL YOU RIGHT NOW UNTIL AFTER WE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE DETECTIVE REDEPLOYMENT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN THERE WILL BE A TEST GOING FORWARD SO THAT THEY COULD TEST INTO DETECTIVE RANKS AND WE COULD SEE BETTER STAFFING ALLOCATION.

WHAT'S NEEDED FOR THAT AREA? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD, MICHAEL? NO. IN TERMS OF ACTUAL INVESTIGATORS, HISTORICALLY, WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MANY VACANCIES, MAYBE 3 TO 5 AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.

BUT NOW THAT WE'VE INCORPORATED OR ARE INCORPORATING THE DETECTIVE RANK, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OVER 200 DETECTIVES.

YEAH. I THINK WHAT HE'S MENTIONING MORE IS, IS TO TO NOT RELY ON THE OVERTIME SO THAT WE COULD HAVE ENOUGH PERSONS FOR IT.

SO, YEAH, THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THE ELITE AREAS OF OUR AGENCY.

MANY PEOPLE WANT TO BE THERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT, CRITICAL WORK.

BUT AGAIN, TO THE QUESTION POSED BY COMMISSIONER BRIONES YOU KNOW, IDEALLY IT WOULDN'T REQUIRE OVERTIME BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT INVESTIGATORS TO DEAL WITH THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS AS PART OF THEIR WORK DUTIES AND NOT REQUIRE OVERTIME FOR IT.

[01:05:02]

AND IF I MIGHT ADD, I THINK WHAT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES, BECAUSE OF THE PROMOTIONAL TRACKS, EVERYTHING DRAWS FROM FROM THE DEPUTY RANK. AND SO REALLY, IT'S NOT SO MUCH HOW MANY INVESTIGATORS WOULD WE NEED, ETC..

THE REALITY OF THE OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DEPUTIES.

WE'RE NOT FEEDING THE MACHINE TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A, A, A FULL STAFFING MODEL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. AND THAT'S WHY THAT ENTRY LEVEL PAY THAT YEAR FOR WHEN PEOPLE REALLY HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO STAY WITH US OR GO TO A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR HPD OR OTHER COMPETITOR.

THAT'S THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT, BECAUSE EVERYTHING DRAWS FROM THE BOTTOM, THE THE THE OFFICER RANKS, THE DETECTIVE RANKS, ANY OF THESE SPECIALTY RANKS.

EVERYTHING COMES FROM A DEPUTY.

THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT, BECAUSE WE DO DEPEND ON OUR DEPUTY RANKS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT INVESTIGATIONS.

BUT IF WE'RE SHORTHANDED, WHICH WE ARE ON PATROL OR OTHER AREAS, IT'S HARD TO PULL FROM THOSE POSITIONS.

SO SO THE TRANSFER MOVEMENT GETS SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE DO HAVE RETIREMENTS THAT HAPPEN AND WE LOSE A LOT OF THE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, LET'S SAY FROM OUR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS, THAT IS VERY SPECIALIZED AREA THAT ONCE THEY WALK OUT THE DOOR, THEY WALK OUT WITH ALL THAT EXPERTISE AND WE HAVE TO THEN REPLENISH AND TRAIN AND PREPARE A NEW INVESTIGATOR.

SIMILARLY TO INVESTIGATIONS, IT TAKES IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE TO DEVELOP AN INVESTIGATOR FULLY, BUT TO BE CONSTANTLY PULLING TO FILL THOSE SLOTS, IT WOULD IT WOULD BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO TO THE PATROL FUNCTION AND OTHER FRONTLINE RESPONSIBILITIES AROUND THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU. SPEAKING OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PATROL.

ONE OF THE RECENT VIOLENT CRIME REPORTS THAT YOUR CRIME ANALYST PROVIDED.

I NOTICED I NOTICED A BIG REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

NON-FAMILY VIOLENCE, VIOLENT CRIMES IN THE SUMMER.

I SAW THAT IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, THERE WAS A 21% REDUCTION COMPARED TO THE JUNE OF LAST YEAR.

THERE WAS IN JULY, THERE WAS AN 11% REDUCTION COMPARED TO JULY OF LAST YEAR.

NOW, HISTORICALLY, USUALLY THE SUMMER MONTHS, YOU USUALLY SEE AN UPTICK IN VIOLENT CRIMES.

SO I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A POSITIVE TREND.

IS THERE ANY REASONS OR STRATEGIES, YOU THINK WHY THIS THIS OCCURRED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS? I WANT TO COMMEND OUR TEAM.

MAJOR'S NANNY, MAJOR SUAREZ, AND OTHERS REALLY DEVELOPED A SUMMER CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVE THAT THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS PAID DIVIDENDS AND JUST VERY PROUD OF OUR TEAM OVERALL.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TOUTED THIS.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD DO IT MORE, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'RE SEEING SOME, SOME DOUBLE DIGIT REDUCTIONS IN A LOT OF SERIOUS CRIMES.

AND EVEN IN OUR HOMICIDE CASES, OUR INVESTIGATIVE TEAM REALLY, TRULY IS SECOND TO NONE.

THEIR CLEARANCE RATE IS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY, VERY CLOSE TO 100%.

THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT LEVEL OF CRIME.

BUT MANY OF THE SERIOUS CRIME CATEGORIES ARE WE'RE SEEING DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY GO UP, SOMETIMES THEY COULD GO DOWN.

SO YOU GOT TO BE YOU KNOW, VERY REASONABLE WITH NUMBERS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'RE UP AND THEY COULD QUICKLY CHANGE. AND SO BUT VERY PROUD OF ALL THE DATA DRIVEN WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

YOU MENTIONED CRIME ANALYSIS.

WE'VE REALLY INVESTED A LOT IN THAT TEAM TO DEVELOP SMART EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES THAT REALLY WORK AND THAT WE FEEL WE'RE REALLY WE FEEL THAT WE'RE WE'RE ON TO SOMETHING AND WE'RE SEEING SOME VERY POSITIVE WORK HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY WISE.

YEAH. THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY THAT TREND CONTINUES.

MOVING ON TO THE TO THE JAIL.

CONGRATULATIONS ON PASSING THE RECENT JOE INSPECTION.

I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG AND DIFFICULT JOURNEY.

I NOTICED THAT DURING THESE INSPECTION INSPECTIONS, THERE'S ALWAYS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED.

WELL, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC LESSONS YOU LEARNED FROM THIS EXPERIENCE? AND HOW CAN WE BETTER PREPARE FOR FUTURE INSPECTIONS? PRECINCT TWO, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

GO AHEAD. SHERIFF. I'LL JUST SAY THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE PASSED THIS INSPECTION.

WE KNOW THAT EACH ONE PRESENTS INDIVIDUAL LESSONS.

AND I DO WANT TO SAY, JUST FOR WHENEVER WE HAVEN'T PASSED AN INSPECTION, SO TO SPEAK, OR WE'RE ON NONCOMPLIANCE, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE FAILED EVERY CRITERIA.

MEMBERS. SUCH AS? COMMISSIONER BRIONES HAS BEEN THERE, HAS HEARD THE FEEDBACK, AND JUST ABOUT WITH EVERY REPORT, THERE IS SOME POSITIVE THINGS THAT DO HAPPEN.

AND OUR TEAM DOES PHENOMENAL WORK.

SO I DON'T WANT TO MINIMIZE THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT THEY DO ALL OTHER TIMES AS WELL.

OBVIOUSLY, SOMETIMES THERE'S CERTAIN ASPECTS THAT WE FALL A LITTLE SHORT.

WE TAKE THOSE SERIOUSLY, AND WE WORK ON A ON A MITIGATION PLAN TO IMPROVE THAT.

AND THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF YOU, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S VERY TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING THE LARGEST JAIL IN THE STATE, THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY, TO PERFORM AT AN A-PLUS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT THAT IS THE EXPECTATION.

[01:10:01]

AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC AND OUR STAFF AND THOSE THAT ARE HOUSED THERE.

RE YOU KNOW, SHOULD EXPECT SO EACH ONE HAS A DIFFERENT LESSON TO BE LEARNED.

SO WE'RE GLAD THAT IT WAS LARGELY POSITIVE THIS TIME.

AND VERY GOOD THING THEY LIKE THE THE ENVIRONMENT, THE CLIMATE IN TERMS OF THE, YOU KNOW, THAT THINGS LOOK TO BE RUNNING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, CONSIDERING HOW HOW LARGE WE ARE WITH, LIKE I SAID, THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.

SO WE'LL LEARN FROM EACH ONE.

AND EVEN WHEN WE PASS, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT DEPENDENT ON THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S IT'S A BOTTOM LINE BUSINESS AND WE HAVE TO TRY TO PASS EVERY SINGLE TIME. THANK YOU.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES.

GOOD MORNING SHERIFF.

GOOD MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH COVERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTIONS FROM THE FROM THE GROUP.

DANIEL, THIS IS REALLY FOR YOU.

I WAS JUST WONDERING, WOULD THIS BE THE PLACE TO DISCUSS CORRECTIONAL HEALTH, OR SHOULD WE WAIT FOR THE HOSPITAL DISTRICTS? I THINK THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I OR THE SHERIFF CAN ANSWER.

WE'RE HAPPY TO. IF NOT, THEN WE SHOULD PROBABLY WAIT FOR DOCTOR FAUCI'S HEARING, I BELIEVE, TOMORROW.

YEAH. AND I WAS JUST GOING TO SEE, TOO, IF THERE WILL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THAT HEARING, POSSIBLY WE CAN MAKE THAT REQUEST TO THE SHERIFF AND GET BACK TO THE COMMITTEE. OKAY, I'LL WAIT THEN.

YES. THANK YOU.

AND YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR FOR ALL Y'ALL'S WORK, GETTING THE JAIL BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.

YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT.

AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WORKING REALLY HARD.

I BELIEVE, AND ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

THE SHERIFF AND ALL OF HIS STAFF ARE A PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PAY EQUITY STUDY.

THAT SHOULD BE FINALIZED IN FEBRUARY.

THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH.

OKAY. CORRECT.

THAT WE'RE AGAIN, WE'RE PRIORITIZING FOLKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAY SCALE.

BUT IF THERE IS A RANK SUCH AS THE SHERIFF'S, WHERE THEY HAVE VERY CLEAR CIVIL SERVICE, THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

OKAY. GREAT.

AND THEN SHERIFF GONZALEZ, YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF, MENTIONED TO OUR OFFICE BEFORE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY INCENTIVIZE, I THINK, ESPECIALLY DETENTION STAFF.

AND PARKING WAS ONE OF THEM.

WE HEAR THAT PARKING IS A IS A BIG CHALLENGE, AND THAT IT'S QUITE A DISTANCE FROM THE JAILS.

AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WORKING, YOU KNOW, 16 PLUS HOUR SHIFTS.

AND THAT'S, I THINK, WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS HAPPENING ON THE SHIFT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M JUST CURIOUS FOR SOME OF OUR LOWER PAID STAFF HOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT INCENTIVIZING IN OTHER WAYS.

YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CAN'T MAYBE INCREASE PAY DRASTICALLY, IMMEDIATELY.

ARE THERE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO? AND SO, DANIEL, I BELIEVE YOU ALL ARE WORKING ON A, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR PARKING SO I CAN TAKE THE WHAT WE'RE WHERE WE'RE AT WITH PARKING.

I THINK, SHERIFF, YOU CAN TAKE THE QUESTION ABOUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO ON THE ON THE PARKING SIDE? YOU KNOW, IT WAS PART OF OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TO ESSENTIALLY EQUALIZE HOW WE DISTRIBUTE PARKING.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A FRANKENSTEIN OF DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE GET FREE PARKING, SOME PEOPLE GET SUBSIDIZED PARKING, SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANY ACCESS TO PARKING AND ARE ON THEIR OWN.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A MODEL WHERE WE'RE ESSENTIALLY GIVING GIVING EVERYBODY AN EQUAL STIPEND OF SOME SORT.

AND THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.

THEY CAN CONTRACT WITH THE PRIVATE LOT.

THEY CAN UBER GET A BUS PASS DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

THAT'S IN DEVELOPMENT WITH THE COUNTY ENGINEER.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT QUESTION COME UP DURING THEIR DURING THEIR HEARING.

IN TERMS OF SOME OTHER STUFF THAT WE'VE COLLABORATED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE SHERIFF ON IS IT'S NOT JUST THE PAY.

WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE CREATED, WE COLLABORATED ON CREATING MORE CAREER LADDERS.

THE DETENTION OFFICERS, THE CAPTAIN POSITION ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, THE DETECTIVE.

WE'RE WORKING REALLY COLLABORATIVELY ON UPGRADING THE FLEET, YOU KNOW, THE EQUIPMENT AND ALL OF THE OTHER EQUIPMENT SUCH AS BODY BODY WORN CAMERAS, THE BODY ARMOR AND THE TASERS, I BELIEVE ARE ALL KIND OF IN QUEUE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING THE COURT THAT WE SWAP OUT A BUNCH OF RENTAL VEHICLES FOR, FOR OWNED VEHICLES THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN BETTER THAN A, THAN A PRIVATE ENTITY MIGHT.

AND AND OUR FACILITIES, WE ARE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY AT WAYS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY BOND WAS AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO BE ABLE TO HELP.

UPGRADE OUR FACILITIES SO THAT OUR FACILITIES MATCH THE QUALITY THAT WE WANT.

OUR EMPLOYEES TO OPERATE AT.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

GREAT. THANK YOU SHERIFF.

I WILL SAY JUST ONE MORE THING.

I THINK DANIEL DID A GREAT JOB OF LAYING OUT SOME SOME OPTIONS OR IDEAS.

ONE THING, AND I'M NOT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE FEASIBLE TODAY, BUT WOULD BE SOME TYPE OF MAYBE COUNTY DAYCARE TYPE FACILITY FOR SOME OF THE THE SHIFT

[01:15:08]

TO 5:30 P.M..

MANY DAYCARES DO NOT EXTEND PAST 630 7:00.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO DO THE JOB.

AND EVEN IF WE'RE WE'RE PAYING MORE FOR THEM TO WORK THAT TYPE OF SHIFT AND HAVE TO RUSH OVER TO A DAYCARE, I THINK AGENCIES IN LIKE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, I THINK MAY HAVE STARTED DOING SOME.

SOME PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH A COMPANY TO PROVIDE SOME DAYCARE ON SITE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY COSTLY.

AND SO THESE ARE ALL COSTS THAT ACCUMULATE.

AND SO. WHILE WHILE PAY IS IS IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE HAVING TO PAY FOR PARKING BECAUSE THERE'S LIMITED PARKING DOWNTOWN.

AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT UNIQUE JUST TO OUR EMPLOYEES, OTHER EMPLOYEES ARE IMPACTED AS WELL.

THEN THEY COME OUT AT DIFFERENT HOURS OF THE NIGHT.

IT'S DARK, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT THE MOST CONVENIENT.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THESE OTHER COSTS AND THEN EVEN THE, THE, THE INCONVENIENCE OF OF AGAIN OPERATING I MEAN WORKING SHIFT WORK WITH THOSE TYPE OF HOURS.

IT'S HARD TO FIND REASONABLE DAYCARE AROUND THOSE TIMES.

YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING THAT.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRIONES DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME REMAINING.

PRECINCT THREE HAS FIVE MINUTES AND 10S REMAINING.

NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, SHERIFF.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE HAS ONE MINUTE AND FIVE SECONDS REMAINING.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT TWO DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME REMAINING.

THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME REMAINING.

SO, SHERIFF GONZALEZ, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

OKAY. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PAST SUPPORT.

TO ME PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS MY NORTH STAR, WHETHER IT BE OUR CORRECTIONS OPERATION OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE THREAT MATRIX OUT THERE IS ALWAYS EVOLVING.

YOU KNOW, WE OPERATE A VERY LARGE FOOTPRINT THAT EXTENDS FROM THE PORT OF HOUSTON INTO GROWING AREAS AROUND UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY.

YOU KNOW THAT WE TRY TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL AND INNOVATIVE WITH OUR APPROACHES TO ALWAYS TRY TO DO A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO TACKLING CRIME.

AND I THINK BY AND LARGE IT'S EFFECTIVE AND WE'RE ALWAYS ASSESSING THAT.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WHETHER IT BE FINDING A MORE CUSTOMER SERVICE OPTION, SUCH AS COMMISSIONER BRIONES, TELL A DEPUTY PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS WITH THAT.

EVEN OTHER OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

WE BELIEVE IN INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION AS WELL AS WE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S NEEDED AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, OUR ROADWAYS CONTINUE TO BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBER OF IMPAIRED DRIVERS AND TRAFFIC CRASHES.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN FATAL CRASHES, WE STILL NEED TO DO BETTER TO OFTEN.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OUR PEOPLE ARE MORE IN DANGER OF BEING ON THE ROADWAYS AND FALLING VICTIM TO OTHER CRIMES IN OUR COUNTY.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUT A DENT ON THAT.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS REQUIRE INVESTMENT.

WE KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY TOUGH JOB, AS YOU CONSIDER AND DELIBERATE OVER SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ALL VERY WORTHY AND HAVE VERY NOTABLE MISSIONS TO, TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR FULL SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANKS TO ALL MY TEAMMATES OUT THERE THAT DO THE HEAVY LIFTING EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHETHER IT BE INSIDE OUR CORRECTIONS FACILITIES, OUT ON PATROL, WE KNOW THAT THE PRICE FOR SERVICE CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY HIGH.

WE LOST DEPUTY ESQUEDA A FEW MONTHS BACK AND AND DEALING WITH THE STORMS AND OTHER THINGS.

SO OUR WORK IS VERY DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE UP TO THE CHALLENGE, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL MY TEAMMATES.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU, SHERIFF GONZALEZ.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE WILL NEXT HEAR FROM THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 11:30 A.M..

THANK YOU ALL. WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR.

[Pretrial Services]

THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

AND DIRECTOR, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

YOU MAY BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.

OKAY. GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PRETRIAL SERVICES.

PRETRIAL SERVICES SUPPORTS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AT THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER DAILY IN THE COURTS, AND SUPERVISION WHEN A PERSON THAT IS ACCUSED OF A CRIME.

UNTIL THE DISPOSITION OF THAT CASE.

IN 2024, THE AGENCY IMPLEMENTED A SAFE PACED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE, REVAMPED THE TRAINING OF STAFF, AND REDUCED THE AVERAGE NUMBER

[01:20:06]

WE HAVE A DEDICATED BUILDING AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THAT INVESTMENT.

THE FUTURE OF DATA ANALYTICS WITHIN THE AGENCY LOOKS BRIGHT THROUGH ARPA FUNDING.

IT'S HAD A SLOW START, BUT THIS SUMMER WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE HEADWAY AND CURRENTLY HAVE OUR DATABASE PROPPED UP AND READY FOR INTAKE OF DATA.

AT THIS TIME, THE AGENCY HAS APPROXIMATELY 47 OPEN POSITIONS, WHICH IS MOSTLY UNDER ENHANCED SUPERVISION.

THAT'S THE DIVISION THAT DOES ALL THE CASE MANAGEMENT OF MONITORS ELECTRONIC AS WELL AS ALCOHOL AND BASIC SUPERVISION WITHOUT ANY DEVICES.

WE HAVE NOT ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COMPENSATE CASE MANAGERS AT A HIGHER RATE, BUT THE AGENCY HAS TAKEN THAT ON.

BUT THIS IS ONLY HELPED SLIGHTLY TO INCREASE OR DECREASE THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES WE DON'T ANTICIPATE TO ALWAYS HAVE EVERY PCN FILLED, BUT AT THE GIVEN TIME, AT THIS TIME WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE COMPENSATION STUDY.

THE BASE PAY FOR PRETRIAL OFFICERS HAS NOT INCREASED SINCE 2016, ACCORDING TO STAFF, BUT THROUGH THE FREEZING AND ELIMINATION OF POSITIONS, THE AGENCY HAS PROVIDED PAY INCREASES AT THIS TIME.

I'M READY FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU DIRECTOR.

WE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR EACH COURT OFFICE TO ASK QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT TWO.

OH, LUCKY I GET TO GO FIRST.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, NATALIE.

HOW DO YOUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OR EXPAND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AND PRETRIAL SERVICES IN TERMS OF EXPANSION, OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I THINK MAYBE FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD I WILL BE HELPING WITH, YOU KNOW, WRITING OF BOND VIOLATION REPORTS.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE MORE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THE BEST WAYS TO SUPERVISE PEOPLE AT THIS TIME.

WHAT WE DO KNOW IS LESS IS MORE.

BUT IT STILL INCLUDES INCLUDES PEOPLE IN TALKING TO PEOPLE AND MAKING SURE THEY KNOW WHEN THEIR COURT DATES ARE AND ASSESSMENTS AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

AT THIS POINT, WE'RE REALLY MONITORING PEOPLE AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

I BELIEVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY AND NOT HAVE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES OURSELVES, BUT RATHER TAKE THEIR EXPERTISE AND THEIR CONNECTIONS AND BE ABLE TO EXPAND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT WE SUPERVISE.

GREAT. AND THAT LEADS WELL TO MY NEXT QUESTION.

IN ONE OF THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR YOUR BUDGET OFFSET, IT SAID YOUR DEPARTMENT IS EVALUATING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OPERATIONAL AND NON-LABOR COSTS TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE AUTOMATION AND TECHNOLOGY CAN REPLACE MANUAL TASKS.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION TO CUT COSTS? SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, AS I STATED IN MY PRESENTATION, WE ARE CREATING A DATABASE.

AND WITH THAT DATABASE WILL DO IS ENABLE US TO DETERMINE WHAT IS WORKING, WHAT IS NOT WORKING, SO WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT IN DIRECTIVE DIRECTED IN OUR EFFORTS.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AND AUTOMATION, CURRENTLY WHEN WE DO A PRETRIAL ASSESSMENT, IT'S CALLED THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT.

MUCH OF THAT IS MANUALLY DONE.

AND IN THE FUTURE, WHAT I, WHAT I ENVISION IS THAT AS WE BECOME MORE CONSISTENT WITH OUR CODING OF TYPES OF COURT APPEARANCES AND MAYBE MISSED APPEARANCES OR NEW LAW VIOLATIONS.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN AUTOMATE MUCH OF THAT ASSESSMENT PROCESS.

THEY'VE DONE IT IN MILWAUKEE.

THEY DO HAVE A DIFFERENT SYSTEM IN THAT STATE WHERE IT'S A STATEWIDE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

SO THE CODING IS MORE CONSISTENT, BUT THEY HAVE AUTOMATED THEIR ASSESSMENT.

AND WHAT YOU CAN DO IS FORECAST OUT WHERE ARE THE CHANGES.

IS OUR POPULATION BECOMING MORE OR LESS DANGEROUS.

AND WHAT IS HAPPENING DURING THAT PRETRIAL PERIOD FROM THE POINT OF ARREST THROUGH DISPOSITION? AND THIS WILL BE MY LAST QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOUR BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THE COUNTY'S GOALS FOR JUSTICE REFORM AND REDUCING RECIDIVISM WITH REDUCING RECIDIVISM?

[01:25:08]

SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS PROVIDE THE COURT MORE DATA AND FEEDBACK TO SAY, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

IF WE DO X, Y, Z, THIS WILL LEAD TO LESS ARRESTS IN THE COMMUNITY OR IF WE'RE PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO A PERSON, WE CAN SAY WE'RE GETTING BETTER OUTCOMES WITH THIS PROGRAM THAN WITH THIS PROCESS.

GREAT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

PRECINCT THREE.

YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

THANK YOU. YOU SAID THAT YOU HAD 47 OPEN VCNS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE WORKING IN THE INSTITUTION? IT IS THE VAST MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I WOULD SAY THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 60 OFFICERS IN THAT DIVISION.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE OPEN PRISONS ARE ACTUALLY CASE MANAGERS.

IT'S THE ONE DIVISION.

EVEN THOUGH WE COMPENSATED A HIGHER RATE, IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE INTO THAT, INTO THAT INTO THAT DIVISION.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THIS WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A PATHWAY FOR PEOPLE TO GO INTO THAT DIVISION BECAUSE IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS TO TRAIN UP FOR THAT DIVISION.

SO WE WANT TO CREATE A PATHWAY STARTING AT THE JPC AND IT'S CALLED THE PRETRIAL SCREENING DIVISION.

THEY CAN UNDERSTAND CRIMINAL HISTORY BETTER, THE JUSTICE PROCESS ITSELF, THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF HEARINGS THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN FROM THAT ROLE, THEY CAN GO INTO THE COURTS.

AND THEN FROM THAT ROLE, THEY CAN THEN GO INTO THESE CASE MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.

IT WILL ALLOW FOR A LOT LESS TRAINING TIME.

I THINK PEOPLE CAN BE OVERWHELMED WHEN THEY'RE COMING INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN IN.

PRETRIAL IS IN CONTACT WITH ALMOST EVERY PORTION OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END.

SO I, I THINK THAT WILL HAVE LESS WILL HAVE LESS TURNOVER IF WE TAKE THIS PATH.

WE HAVE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PCNS FOR THE FOLKS AT THE JAIL SO THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR SERVICES WOULD NOT BE HINDERED AS MUCH.

SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS PROBABLY ANOTHER YEAR.

ABOUT 75% OF OUR STAFF HAS BEEN HERE LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING THAT LONGEVITY.

PEOPLE WILL LEAVE FOR $0.50 OR A DOLLAR.

SURE. I'M NOT SURE WHO MENTIONED IT DURING SHERIFF GONZALEZ'S PRESENTATION, BUT THE PARKING IS A HUGE ISSUE, ESPECIALLY ON GAME DAYS.

WE HAVE A IT'S $30 TO $40 SOMETIMES.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO SEE IF WE CAN FIND PARKING FOR PEOPLE.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU PROVIDE A STIPEND, IT'S TAXED, AND IT KIND OF GETS LOST IN THE SAUCE.

PAUL AND I WERE DISCUSSING IT LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE WAYS TO PROVIDE A ONE YEAR STIPEND SO THAT IT DOESN'T, AGAIN, GET LOST IN THE SAUCE AND THEY CAN PAY FOR A WHOLE YEAR UP FRONT.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL.

WE'RE COMPETING WITH PROBATION AND THEY DO PROVIDE PARKING.

IF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WOULD EVER DECENTRALIZE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE COULD GO OUT INTO THESE OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND PARKING IS IS MORE AMPLE.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT FOUR.

YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI, NATALIE. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS SORT OF GENERAL, HOW IS BUDGET PRIORITIZED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ACROSS SERVICES RELATED TO SUPERVISION, WHETHER IT BE ELECTRONIC MONITORING ETC., VERSUS SERVICES RELATED TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT, WHICH MAY BE, YOU KNOW, COUNSELING IS ARE THERE ANY, YOU KNOW, DO YOU PRIORITIZE BUDGET FOR, SAY, BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATION NONPROFITS? COULD YOU JUST WALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THIS DIVISION? WHEN WE LOOK AT PRIORITIZATION, IT'S IT'S ALWAYS OFTENTIMES IT'S COVERAGE.

[01:30:02]

AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE COURTS TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW CAN WE THERE ARE SOME JUDGES THAT ARE LOOKING TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE WE'RE THERE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING A PILOT WITH ABOUT FIVE COURTS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SAY THAT A PERSON IS COMPLIANT OR NON-COMPLIANT VERSUS A VIOLATION OR NOT A VIOLATION.

TO SEE IS THAT BETTER OR WORSE FOR THE PERSON? DOES IT REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT PERSON HAS TO COME TO COURT IN TERMS OF PARTNERING WITH OTHER AGENCIES? IT'S REALLY WHAT DO WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET? WE WE ARE AN AGENCY THAT WILL MAKE IT WORK.

WHATEVER IS GIVEN TO US, WE MAKE IT WORK.

AND THAT INCLUDES STATE MANDATED, YOU KNOW, ISSUES SUCH AS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT.

ADDITIONALLY, I DO BELIEVE THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THOSE OTHER AGENCIES WILL ENHANCE A PERSON'S ABILITY TO COME TO COURT AND REMAIN ARREST FREE PENDING THEIR TRIAL.

BUT AS FAR AS PRIORITIZING, IT IS WHAT DO WE HAVE LEFT AND WHAT CAN WE USE TO LEVERAGE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS? WE DON'T HAVE THE IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE, NOR DO I WANT TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE, BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES ANOTHER LEVEL OF FUNDING, AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

WE HAVE AGENCIES THAT ARE FULLY CAPABLE WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, TURNOVER IS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THAT'S A CHALLENGE.

DO YOU SEE OTHER CHALLENGES TO DELIVERY OF SERVICES FOR WHICH THE STAFF IS, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED THE STAFF FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER IT BE DATA ANALYTICS OR ESPECIALLY CASE MANAGEMENT. ARE THERE OTHER CHALLENGES TO EFFECTIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITHIN YOUR DEPARTMENT? IF YOU WERE TO HAVE EVEN IF YOU WERE TO HAVE THE STAFF, I THINK IT WOULD BE CHALLENGING.

I MEAN, THE DATA IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S GETTING IT OUT OF OUR OWN SYSTEM.

IT'S SEEING WHAT IS YOU KNOW, WHAT CODING IS, YOU KNOW, ARE THE COURTS USING BECAUSE IT'S INCONSISTENT FROM COURT TO COURT.

AND THAT'S NO DISRESPECT TO THOSE COURTS.

THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THAT THERE.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST CAN WE COME I'LL COME TO THE TABLE ON THE SAME PAGE, SEE WHAT'S BEING UTILIZED, WHAT CODING IS BEING UTILIZED.

CODING ISN'T BECAUSE WE NEED TO DRIVE OUR BUSINESS AND TO PROVIDE THE BEST INFORMATION BACK TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS, WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE COURT.

SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM THAT INFORMATION.

IT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVEN OUR PROCESS IS VERY MANUALLY DRIVEN WHAT HAPPENS IN COURT.

WE HAVE TO ENTER THAT IN MANUALLY FROM OUR OWN CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

WE WE STRUGGLE TO GET THINGS OUT APPROPRIATELY.

SO AS PART OF THIS DATA ANALYTICS PROJECT, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR VENDOR ON, THAT WE CAN GET A MIRRORING SYSTEM THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SAY, WE WANT THESE FIELDS.

WE WANT TO START MEASURING HOW MANY DAYS TO SUCCESS AND HOW MANY DAYS TO FAILURE.

AND THAT'S THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO.

BECAUSE IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD WE PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BY GETTING THOSE PEOPLE ENGAGED IN TREATMENT SERVICES SOONER, FASTER AND AT WITH MORE SUCCESS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION.

COULD YOU TALK NATALIE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THE CREATION OF THE THE SIXTH DISTRICT COURTS? BUT WITH THE THREE NEW DISTRICT CODES COMING UP, HOW IS SORT OF PRETRIAL PREPARING FOR THE TRANSITION? AND, YOU KNOW, HOW IS YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIZING THAT TRANSITION OR ANY ANY CHANGES THAT YOU MAY ANTICIPATE FROM, FROM THOSE THREE CODES GOING LIVE? WELL, FORTUNATELY, OMB RELEASED THAT THE MONEY FOR THAT SOONER THAN LATER.

IT WAS VERY HELPFUL.

WE'VE ALREADY HIRED FOR THOSE NEW ROLES.

WE HAVE BEEN PROMOTING SUPERVISORS, WHICH HAS LEFT SOME VACANCIES.

SO WE'RE BRINGING NEW FOLKS IN.

WE HAVE WE STARTED OUR TRAINING CLASS FOR THAT GROUP.

THEY'VE I THINK THEY STARTED LAST WEEK.

AND SO WE ARE AGAIN, THEY'RE IN TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI. THANK YOU.

ALL OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, SO I'LL JUST ASK THIS.

YOU MENTIONED IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING MORE DATA TO SHOW HOW CERTAIN INITIATIVES ARE WORKING FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ASSIST. I WOULD I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU COULD ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON KIND OF HOW YOU FORESEE GATHERING THAT DATA.

[01:35:05]

THE THE DATA THAT PRETRIAL IS USING IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERED COURT DATA.

SO WE CAN ONLY REPORT ON AGGREGATE DATA.

AND WHAT I ENVISION IS THIS IS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE BASED ON THE LEVEL OF RISK, BASED ON AN ASSESSMENT, A PERSON IS MORE OR LESS LIKELY TO FAIL PENDING TRIAL.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO BE ABLE TO START DRILLING DOWN ON PEOPLE THAT ARE CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES, WHO WHO THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN TERMS OF RISK PROFILES.

AND THEY'RE DOING THIS IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT YOU CAN START DRILLING DOWN TO A GROUP OF ABOUT 5000 INDIVIDUALS, AND THEN WE CAN START GOING THERE AND START WRAPPING SERVICES AROUND THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN TERMS OF MITIGATING THEIR FUTURE RECIDIVISM.

THAT'S NOT THE GOAL OF PRETRIAL.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AT AT THAT STAGE, IT'S REALLY TO REMAIN ARREST FREE AND COME TO COURT.

BUT WHEN THAT PERSON STEPS INTO PROBATION OR LET'S SAY THEIR CASE IS DISMISSED, THEY HAVE THE TOOLS TO START GUIDING THEIR OWN PATH INTO A MORE PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU. I'LL YIELD MY REMAINING TIME.

OKAY. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS AND WHAT THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING NEEDS ARE FOR THOSE? SO CURRENTLY, THE PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE STATUTE IN ORDER FOR A WHETHER IT BE A HEARING OFFICER OR A JUDGE TO MAKE A BAIL DECISION.

AND THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AND CERTIFY THEY THEY HAVE TAKEN INTO THAT THAT REPORT INTO PLACE OR INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND WHEN WE ARE WHEN WE HAVE TO RUN THAT REPORT, WE GATHER THEIR NAME, THEIR DATE OF BIRTH AND THEIR FBI NUMBER, ENTER IT INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THEN IT HAS TO GET PULLED BACK OUT.

WE PRINT IT OUT AND PROVIDE IT TO THE COURT.

NOW WHAT? THAT. AND THEN WHAT WE'VE HAD TO DO AFTER THE JPC IS WE HAVE TO PULL PEOPLE DURING THE DAY IN ORDER TO RUN THAT REPORT IN THE EVENT THAT THAT PERSON DIDN'T HAVE A REPORT DONE AT THE JPC, THEY COULD HAVE BONDED OUT SOONER OR THEY POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAD A GMB, A GENERAL ORDER BOND FOR THE MISDEMEANOR COURTS AND THEREFORE A A PSR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. SO WE HOLD BACK 1 TO 2 PEOPLE A DAY JUST TO RUN THOSE REPORTS.

WOULD I ENVISION IF WITH THESE ADDITIONAL STAFF, AS WE CAN CENTRALIZE THAT PROCESS AND WE CAN DO THIS FOR EVERYONE COMING THROUGH THE 1517 AND FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH COURT, AND THE JUDGE NEEDS AN UPDATED PSR, THAT THIS GROUP WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN LIEU OF PULLING STAFF OUT OF THEIR DAILY DUTIES SO THAT WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE COURTS.

OKAY, GREAT. AND WHAT WHAT NUMBER OF FTES ARE YOU THINKING WOULD WOULD KIND OF ASK FOR SEVEN.

BUT WE'RE GETTING I, I ANTICIPATE WE'LL GET LESS THAN THAT, WHICH IS FINE.

AGAIN WE'VE WE ASKED FOR IT LAST YEAR AND WE DIDN'T RECEIVE IT, WHICH IS OKAY.

WE MADE WE'VE MADE IT WORK.

BUT WE RUN THOUSANDS OF THOSE.

AND IT DOES TAKE TIME.

EACH ONE TAKES 5 TO 10 MINUTES.

OKAY. OKAY.

AND WHAT WHAT EFFORTS ARE PRETRIAL SERVICES MAKING CURRENTLY AND AND PLANS IN FY 25 TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL DISPARITIES WITHIN THE PRETRIAL SPACE OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

PRETRIAL SERVICES PROVIDES PRETRIAL ASSESSMENTS.

AND ALTHOUGH THE INFORMATION, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AROUND ASSESSMENTS AND THE DISPARITY THAT IS INHERENT WITHIN THE ASSESSMENT ITSELF.

BUT WHAT I SEE IS WITHOUT THE USE OF AN ASSESSMENT, WHERE DO YOU START THE GUIDE? LIKE HOW CAN YOU DETERMINE IF THERE IS DISPARITY OR NOT? I BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF PRETRIAL IN ITS PHILOSOPHY IS TO BE NEUTRAL, AND IT'S PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO THE COURT THAT HEARS

[01:40:10]

THE ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY USING HAS BEEN VALIDATED AND DEEMED GENDER NEUTRAL AND RACIALLY NEUTRAL SO THAT IT DOES NOT BUILD IN THAT DISPARITY.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU. OKAY. PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 12 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

OKAY. PRECINCT THREE, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 32 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER OF TOTAL STAFF? WE HAVE 229 AS OF THIS MORNING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT FOUR DID NOT HAVE ANY REMAINING TIME.

COUNTY JUDGES OFFICE.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 52 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT ONE.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 20S REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. COURT OFFICES, DIRECTOR MICHAEL.

LADIES, YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES REMAINING FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF PRETRIAL SERVICES.

I REALLY WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STAFF THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE PAY SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE RETENTION IN.

PRIOR TO COMING TO HARRIS COUNTY IN 2021, THERE WERE STEP INCREASES AND WE HAVE WE HAVE SINCE GONE AWAY FROM THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO RE-IMPLEMENT THAT.

AND IF THE IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT WOULD EVER CONSIDER UTILIZATION OF SOME OVERAGE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE TO HELP WITH THOSE WITH THE COMPENSATION OF THE AGENCY, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

MUCH OF OUR WE HAVE EXCESSIVE FUNDS THAT WE DID NOT USE THIS YEAR.

IT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF LABOR AND IT'S A CATCH 22, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T BRING PEOPLE IN UNLESS YOU COMPENSATE.

BUT WHEN WE WERE DOING THE MATH, WE WERE ENDING IT UP WITH A NEGATIVE BALANCE WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO DO THOSE PAY INCREASES FOR OUR STAFF AND AS WELL AS PARKING.

IT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR THE AGENCY AND OUR IN THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK IN OUR AGENCY TO BE EITHER AFFORDED A COMPENSATION PACKAGE OR JUST OR STIPEND RATHER, OR PARKING ITSELF, BUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE.

WE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU APPRECIATIVE IF YOU WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

BUT THAT IS IT FOR US.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR MICHAEL, LADIES AND THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, COURT OFFICES.

WE WILL NOW TAKE A BRIEF BREAK UNTIL 12:15 P.M., AND WE WILL THEN HEAR FROM THE DISTRICT COURTS AND REALLY QUICKLY FOR THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JUST INTRODUCING YOURSELVES AS YOU START READING THE QUESTIONS OUT, MOVING FORWARD AND LET YOUR YOUR TEAMMATES KNOW.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COURT OFFICERS, WE WILL NOW RESUME OUR FIRST DAY OF BUDGET HEARINGS, BEGINNING WITH THE DISTRICT COURT'S JUDGE PAINE AND ADMINISTRATOR WOOD.

[District Courts]

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

JUDGE PAINE, WHEN YOU'RE READY.

OR ADMINISTRATOR WOODS.

OKAY. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

AS AS SHE STATED, I'M NATASHA LEWIS PAINE.

I'M THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE 55TH DISTRICT COURT.

BUT SINCE 2021, I'VE BEEN THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE 64 STATE DISTRICT COURTS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO SERVE AND TO SERVE WITH AND FOR THE JUDGES, THE DISTRICT JUDGES IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THROUGH THIS COURSE OF THE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A NUMBER OF THINGS WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMISSIONERS COURT.

AND SO I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SUPPORT STAFF THAT HAS WORKED, THAT HAVE WORKED INTIMATELY WITH MISTER WOODS AND MYSELF IN ACHIEVING SOME OF THE GOALS THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE BACKLOG IN ORDER TO HANDLE THE REGULAR DOCKETS.

I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT, WHO HAS WORKED WITH US HAND IN HAND TO ALLOW US TO BRING ON SIX THE SIX CRIMINAL COURTS, THE ASSOCIATE

[01:45:08]

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU ALL A COUPLE OF THE PRIORITIES FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS IN OUR FUNDING.

AND IN THE LAST THING, A PERSON I WANT TO THANK AND ENTITY I WANT TO THANK SPECIFICALLY IS THE BUDGET OFFICE.

I WANT TO THANK THEM BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH US AND CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS AND LOOKING AT OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR GOALS AND HELPING US COME TO A RESOLUTION OR A PATHWAY FORWARD ON SOME OF THOSE GOALS WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITIES FOR 2025.

IN ADDITION TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM.

WE PLAN WE WANT TO WE HAVE AS DISTRICT JUDGES PASSED A PLAN THAT WE THINK IS WORKABLE THAT WILL INCREASE THE SERVICES TO THE CIVIL AND FAMILY COURTS. WE ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT WITH THE SUPPORT OF FUNDING THIS.

THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN IS SOMETHING I'VE WORKED ON SINCE DAY ONE WHEN I TOOK OVER THIS POSITION.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MINE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN EXPAND ACCESS TO THE COURTS.

THE SECOND PRIORITY IS COURT COORDINATOR SALARIES AND PAID PARKING FOR THE DISTRICT COURT COORDINATORS.

THE OTHER COURTS, COUNTY COURT AT LAW COORDINATORS HAVE DESIGNATED PARKING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO OBTAIN.

WE DO NOT.

THE COORDINATORS AND DISTRICT COURTS ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THAT.

AND SO IT CAN IT CAN CREATE ISSUES WITH RETENTION AND OBVIOUSLY WORKPLACE MORALE.

THE SECOND IS ALSO THERE COORDINATOR SALARIES.

WE HAVE ASKED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR AN INCREASE OF SALARIES.

AGAIN THIS IS THE THE RIGHT HAND TO THE DISTRICT JUDGE VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION.

AND THEY SEE AGAIN ALL OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY GETTING RAISES.

BUT THEN THE OH OKAY.

WELL THANK YOU ALL YOU I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE PAINE.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, JUDGE PAINE, TO YOU AND ALL OF OUR JUDGES, FOR THE CRITICAL WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

SO THANK YOU.

WITH REGARD TO LANGUAGE ACCESS, I SAW 47 CONTRACT INTERPRETERS WERE IN THE PROPOSALS.

CAN YOU TALK TO US, PLEASE, ABOUT HOW THAT NUMBER WAS ARRIVED? YES. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING UNDER A CURRENT LEP PLAN THAT PUT IN PLACE CONTRACT INTERPRETERS IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS, IN SOME CASES IN THE FAMILY COURTS, VERY LIMITED AND IN THE JUVENILE COURTS.

AND RIGHT NOW THE COURTS HAVE ABOUT SEVEN, 7 TO 9, I BELIEVE, IN CONTRACT INTERPRETERS THAT WORK IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

WE HAVE 20 NOW WE HAVE 26 CRIMINAL COURTS.

SO YOU HAVE NINE INTERPRETERS THAT SERVE 26 COURTS, THOSE INTERPRETERS.

AND SO WITH THE EXPANSION, SORRY, WITH THE EXPANSION, WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR 35 COURTS, 11 FAMILY COURTS, AND 24 CIVIL DISTRICT COURTS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BEING SERVED WITH ANY CONTRACT INTERPRETERS.

AND SO IF WE WE BASICALLY EXTRAPOLATED FROM THE NINE THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED IN THE CRIMINAL AND THEN EXTRAPOLATED THAT TO EXPANDING TO 35 COURTS. AND SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE NUMBER.

IS THERE MORE THAT I NEED TO EXPLAIN? THAT'S CORRECT. JUDGE.

NINE CONTRACT INTERPRETERS FOR THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, SEVEN CONTRACT INTERPRETERS FOR THE JUVENILE DIVISION.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO RELY ON MASTER WORD FOR INTERPRETERS FOR THE CIVIL AND FAMILY DIVISIONS.

THANK YOU. AND CAN YOU.

AND THAT NUMBER INCLUDES THE NINE AND THE SEVEN THAT ARE ALREADY IN CRIMINAL.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, MISTER WOODS, FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP AND LEADERSHIP IN THE COUNTY.

SO CAN YOU FOR THE COURT.

COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN KIND OF THE PROCESS OF ACCESSING THESE INTERPRETERS.

AND THEN I HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS.

DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN TO ME? SURE. FOR THE CRIMINAL DIVISION, OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER ACTUALLY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE CONTRACT INTERPRETERS AND ASSIGNING THOSE INTERPRETERS TO THE VARIOUS COURTS THAT HAVE A NEED IN THE JUVENILE DIVISION.

SAME THING. OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER OVER THERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THE ASSIGNMENT OF THOSE INTERPRETERS.

AND THEN FOR OUR FAMILY AND CIVIL DIVISION, THE COORDINATORS THAT ACTUALLY REPORT DIRECTLY TO JUDGES WORK IN CONCERT WITH THE OPERATIONS

[01:50:06]

NOW, LET ME ADD ALSO THAT WITH OUR PLAN, WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED ARE THREE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO HELP WITH THE INCREASED DATA RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE STATE HAS GIVEN US WITH REGARD TO LANGUAGE ACCESS, REPORTING.

AS WELL AS TO UNIFY MORE COORDINATION SO THAT IN THE INSTANCE WHERE A CRIMINAL HAS NINE.

BUT THEY NEED 11, WE CAN HAVE MORE OF A COORDINATED EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO GAPS IN SERVICE.

SO IN TERMS OF THE 380 REPORTING THAT TEXAS NOW REQUIRES, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S CURRENTLY A MANUAL FORM THAT IS SCANNED IN.

WHAT IS THE PLAN IN ORDER TO BETTER TRACK THE DATA? SO WE HAVE REQUESTED TECHNOLOGY OR A PROGRAMMER THAT WILL HELP US UPDATE OUR SYSTEMS. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CODES THAT WE HAVE TO ADD IN.

A LOT OF THE SOME OF THE DATA IS EASILY TRACKABLE, FOR EXAMPLE THROUGH VOUCHERS, WHICH COMES THROUGH THE AUDITS OFFICE, SO THAT THAT WE WON'T NEED A NEW PROGRAMMER FOR THAT DATA POINT.

BUT OTHER DATA POINTS LIKE LANGUAGE.

LANGUAGE IS USED IN A PARTICULAR PROCEEDING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEED A PROGRAMMER TO CODE THAT IN SO THAT WHEN THE COORDINATORS TYPE THAT IN, OR THE MANAGERS OR WHOMEVER, THAT THAT CAN BE TRACKED.

AND SO THAT'S OUR PLAN IS TO GET HAVING MORE ELECTRONIC PLAN FOR THAT.

YEAH. JUST TO ADD TO WHAT THE JUDGE SAID, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO RELY ON AUTOMATION.

AND SO I BELIEVE THE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMER WAS PART OF THE RECENT CARRY FORWARD ARPA FUNDING THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COURT, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. SO WE KNOW THAT RESOURCE IS SECURED, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO RELY ON AUTOMATION TO HANDLE ALL OF OUR REPORTING.

SO WE'RE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE AS WELL.

THEY HAVE A ROLE IN THIS.

AND I KNOW OUR TIME IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

BUT IN TERMS OF THE DEMAND AND THE NEED WHAT TRENDS ARE WE SEEING AND HOW ARE WE TRACKING THOSE, AND THEN HOW ARE WE PIVOTING OUR OPERATIONS ACCORDINGLY. SO I THINK THAT GIVEN, YOU KNOW, WITH ANY NEW LEGISLATION, IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE REALITY TO SET IN ON THE NEW WORLD.

AND SO I KNOW THAT THE CIVIL COURTS HAVE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED REQUEST FOR SERVICES.

WE'VE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN PEOPLE APPEARING AT HEARINGS THAT TYPICALLY THEY WOULD BRING THEIR INTERPRETER.

THEY ARE NO LONGER DOING THAT.

AND EXPECTING THE COURT TO PROVIDE IT.

OBVIOUSLY RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL MANUAL IN TERMS OF HOW THAT'S BEING TRACKED.

BUT WHEN A, AN INTERPRETER IS ASSIGNED IN A CASE, WE SIGN AN ORDER.

AND SO THAT'S ABLE TO BE TRACKED.

THANK YOU, JUDGE PAYNE.

THANK YOU, MR. WOODS. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT THREE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

GOOD DAY. SIR.

YOUR MICROPHONE.

I'LL DO THAT. AND A QUICK REMINDER TO COURT OFFICE STAFF TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AS WELL.

ROGER BRIDGEWATER.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE ONE OF THE INTERESTS THAT YOU HAD DISCUSSED WANTING TO HAVE IS DEALING WITH FUNDING THE HARRIS CENTER FOR FOR 4.5 STAFF.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT FOR ME? YES. I'LL LET MR. WOODS EXPLAIN IT.

SURE. SO THE HARRIS CENTER HAS REQUESTED 4.5 ADDITIONAL STAFF.

THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE STAFF INCLUDE TWO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

PART TIME PSYCHIATRISTS AND OFFICE MANAGER.

SO THAT'S HOW YOU ARRIVE AT THE 4.5.

THE REASON THEY REQUESTED THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IS BASED UPON THE NEW TREND AND THE MONTHLY AVERAGE THAT THEY'RE SEEING AS FAR AS COMPETENCY AND SANITY EVALUATIONS, THOSE HAVE GONE UP 82% IN THE LAST YEAR.

THEY'VE GONE FROM, I BELIEVE, ROUGHLY 168 UP TO 256 PER MONTH.

AND SO IT HAS RESULTED IN THE BACKLOG THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO CLEAR.

BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THOSE NUMBERS GO DOWN AT ALL.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE 4.5.

THE REQUEST ALSO IS IS LINKED TO THE 1.2 MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED IN FY 24 TO BEGIN TO WORK ON THE BACKLOG.

I KNOW THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR FY 25 IS TO ALSO HAVE THE 1.2 MILLION BE A PART OF THE FY 25 BUDGET, BUT WHAT THE HARRIS CENTER IS REQUESTING IS FOR, IN LIEU OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR FY 25, JUST TO MAKE IT PART OF THEIR REGULAR BUDGET SO THAT THEY CAN JUST HIRE THE FULL TIME

[01:55:03]

THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI. THANK YOU.

I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO JUST OPEN IT UP.

I KNOW YOU TOUCHED ON IT BRIEFLY A LITTLE BIT ALREADY.

I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP JUST FOR YOU TO DISCUSS THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS THAT YOU CONSIDER HIGHEST PRIORITY.

YES. SO I STARTED WITH THE COORDINATOR AND THE COURT REPORTER.

MADAM COORDINATOR, PAY PAID PARKING AS WELL AS THEIR SALARIES.

THAT'S BEEN A PRIORITY FOR THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

HAVING SEEN THE OTHER STAFF.

EVERY ONE OF THEIR OTHER STAFF MEMBERS GET RAISES.

AND SO THAT'S PRIORITY NUMBER ONE, OBVIOUSLY.

THE THE SECOND THAT I DIDN'T GET TO OUTSIDE OF THE HARRIS CENTER AND THE LAP IS THE IS A COORDINATOR FOR THE TAX COURTS.

WE'VE ALSO BEEN ASKING FOR THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THE TAX COURTS HANDLE ABOUT 12,000 CASES BETWEEN TWO TAX MASTERS, WHICH WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, EVEN THE DISTRICT COURT'S DOCKET IS, YOU KNOW, 3000, 3500. SO THAT'S DOUBLE WHAT THE DISTRICT COURT HANDLES.

AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A COORDINATOR THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SET CASES FOR TRIAL, MOVE THE DOCKET CONTROL ORDERS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT THOSE CASES CAN PROGRESS MORE QUICKLY. AND SO THAT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED.

THE OTHER ELEMENT, I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS WE WE ALREADY HAD FUNDING, SO WE KIND OF ASKED FOR IT IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS.

AND SO THE LAST AREA I THINK WOULD BE THE, THE COORDINATORS FOR THE CIVIL COURTS.

CURRENTLY WE HAVE A MANAGER WHO HAS NO SUPPORT STAFF.

SHE SERVES 35 DISTRICT COURTS BECAUSE SHE SERVES BOTH THE FAMILY AND THE AND THE AND THE CIVIL.

AND SO SHE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, BUSTING AT THE SEAMS AND REALLY NEEDS HELP IN ORDER TO, TO HELP US MOVE CASES ALONG.

OKAY. I ALSO REALIZED I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I'M MEGAN DELLORTO.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS HOW IMPACTFUL DO YOU ENVISION BEING THE ADDITION OF STAFF FOR COMPETENCY AND SANITY EVALUATIONS IN REDUCING THE COURT BATTLE? THE COURT BACKLOG? OKAY. YOU MEAN.

OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH HER CENTER EVERY MONTH AND ALSO TALKING WITH THE DISTRICT JUDGES.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT POINT OF DISCUSSION.

I BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN GET THE PERSONNEL TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE LOAD THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE BACKLOG DOWN.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO ELIMINATE BACKLOG, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS DEPENDING ON HOW YOU DEFINE BACKLOG.

AND GIVEN THAT IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMPETENCY EVALUATION IN 30 DAYS THROUGH TO NO FAULT OF THE HARRIS CENTER OR THE JUDGES, IT MAY BE AN EXAMPLE WHERE A PERSON HAS REFUSED TO BE EVALUATED, AND SO IT TAKES A LONGER TIME TO GET THERE.

BUT I DO THINK THAT IF THEY ADD THE PERSONNEL AND IF THEY GET THE PEOPLE IN PLACE, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE BACKLOG.

AND LASTLY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE NEED FOR A PAY RATE INCREASE FOR CONTRACT INTERPRETERS? I KNOW YOU TOUCHED A LITTLE BIT ON THESE AS WELL, BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PAY RATE INCREASE.

OKAY. SURE.

I'LL SPEAK TO THAT.

I THINK I RESPONDED TO TO THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS QUESTION AND IF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.

BUDGET IS ADOPTED IS APPROVED, THERE WON'T BE A NEED FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST.

FOR A RATE INCREASE FOR INTERPRETERS, BECAUSE THAT THAT MODEL WILL NO LONGER EXIST.

WE'LL HAVE THE 47.5 INTERPRETERS THAT WE NEED, AND THE BUDGET ALREADY ACCOUNTS FOR FOR THEIR COMPENSATION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'LL YIELD MY TIME.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI. JUDGE PAYNE, DIRECTOR WOODS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

MY NAME IS RITA OSTRANDER WITH PRECINCT ONE.

YOU YOU MENTIONED THAT THE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES HAVE KIND OF DECIDED ON A WORKABLE PLAN FOR.

THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM.

AND I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH DIRECTOR WOODS.

A LITTLE. BIT ABOUT IT, BUT COULD YOU KIND OF GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OF WHAT EXACTLY THAT LOOKS LIKE? SURE. SO THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF INTERPRETERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IT

[02:00:08]

SO THOSE AND ALSO A DATA PERSON TO ASSIST IN ORDER TO TRACK THE DATA THAT WE HAVE TO THE THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF, OF LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGES THAT ARE UTILIZED AND THAT MAY NEED TO BE UTILIZED, MAY NEED TO BE PROVIDED.

CURRENTLY, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OVERLOADED SYSTEM WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN LANGUAGE IS THE TOP THREE OR 4 OR 5 LANGUAGES ARE GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CONTRACT INTERPRETERS FOR THE IN ADDITION TO THE DATA COLLECTION IN THE EXPANSION, THE PLAN ALSO TALKS ABOUT NOTICING GIVING PUBLIC NOTICE THROUGHOUT THE COURTHOUSE BUILDINGS OR THE COURT SPACES.

AND IN, IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN IN ADDITION TO TALKING TO THE COUNTY, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S PLANS AS TO WHAT THEY HAVE IN THERE. AND SO THAT'S AN ADDED ELEMENT.

IT'S JUST GIVING PUBLIC NOTICE ABOUT THE THE AVAILABILITY OF LANGUAGE ACCESS.

SO AND NOW I KNOW THAT THE RATE INCREASE IS KIND OF INDEPENDENT.

BUT IF THE RATE WERE TO REMAIN THE SAME, WHAT DO YOU FORESEE THE IMPACT BEING ON THE CONTRACT INTERPRETERS.

OKAY. MY CONCERN, AND IT'S NOT JUST MINE, I THINK IT'S SHARED ACROSS THE STATE AND EVEN THE COUNTRY.

IS THAT DUE TO COMPETITION? THERE ARE COUNTIES THAT ARE PAYING HIGHER CONTRACT RATES THAN WE ARE.

I KNOW THAT WE I WAS RECENTLY TOLD ABOUT AN EXAMPLE OF US LOSING AN INTERPRETER TO THE HOUSTON MUNICIPAL COURT, BECAUSE THEY PAY A LOT MORE THAN WE DO FOR CONTRACT INTERPRETERS.

SO THE CONCERN IS THAT WE MIGHT LOSE TO COMPETITION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I'LL ALLOCATE WHAT REMAINS OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

OKAY. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MATT GEARY, AND I'M A POLICY ADVISOR FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

WITH AN INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HIRE AND RETAIN AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF INTERPRETERS? WELL, CONFIDENCE IS HARD TO GAUGE, BUT I WOULD SAY I THINK WE'RE PRETTY WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO, WITH THE FUNDING TO HIRE THE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF THAT, THAT 47 THAT WE'VE TARGETED.

WE ARE A LARGE COUNTY.

IT'S A AND PEOPLE WANT TO WORK HERE.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK IN HARRIS COUNTY.

WITH THE IDEA THAT THE FUNDING WILL TAKE CARE OF ANY, ANY PAY RAISE OR RATE ISSUE THAT WE MAY HAVE, I THINK THAT THAT PUTS US AT THE TOP OF THE, THE THE THE TOP OF THE HEAP, I GUESS, IN TERMS OF PREFERENCE.

SO I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CONFIDENT.

I WON'T SAY 100%.

I DON'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING.

I'M A LAWYER, BUT BUT OTHERWISE, YES.

GREAT. AND HOW DOES YOUR BUDGET IMPACT THE DISTRICT COURT'S ABILITY TO ENSURE JUSTICE FOR THE UNDERSERVED AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS IN HARRIS COUNTY? SO I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS, BUT ALSO WITH THE WITH THE REQUESTS THAT WE'VE MADE FOR PROGRAMMERS OR COORDINATORS, ALL OF THAT ARE ARE SORT OF CRISIS POINTS POINT IN TERMS OF HOW DO YOU GET A CASE TO MOVE? YOU NEED A COORDINATOR IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE JUDGE IN GETTING CASES BEFORE THE JUDGE, GETTING CASES TO TRIAL, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THESE ARE CRITICAL FUNCTIONS THAT, THAT THAT ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THAT THE THAT THE THAT JUSTICE MOVES FORWARD. I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

I HAD A CASE JUST RECENTLY IN MY, MY CIVIL COURT WHERE THE THE RESPONSE OR THE ANSWER WAS DRAFTED ENTIRELY IN SPANISH, INDICATING TO ME THAT THE PERSON IS MOST COMFORTABLE IN SPANISH.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO ADAPT.

WE HAD TO ADAPT THAT CASE TO HAVE AN INTERPRETER ON THAT CASE.

BUT I DIDN'T DISCOVER THAT UNTIL, OF COURSE, I WAS AT A HEARING.

AND SO IT WILL SLOW DOWN IF IT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN IF WE DON'T GET THESE PEOPLE IN PLACE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT WORK.

UNDERSTOOD. MEGAN STOLE MY QUESTION, SO I'LL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I APPRECIATE THAT.

[02:05:01]

I KNOW LANGUAGE ACCESS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALL VERY FOCUSED ON, AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS.

CAN YOU JUST FROM A CERTIFICATION PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF THIS ACCESS.

RIGHT. WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE TALENT POOL TO SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, ETC..

WHAT KIND OF BASELINE LEVEL OF CERTIFICATIONS ARE NEEDED JUST FOR LEVEL SETTING PURPOSES? AND THEN THAT'LL TIE INTO THIS 47 HIRING KIND OF RAMP UP OPERATIONAL KIND OF GAME PLAN.

BUT FIRST CAN YOU JUST TALK ABOUT BASELINE, WHAT IS REQUIRED, CERTIFICATIONS, ETC..

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE IS A THERE'S A THERE'S A SINGLE LEVEL CERTIFICATION FOR US FOR THE INTERPRETERS THAT WE USE. AND THERE ARE 2 OR 3 LEVELS BENEATH THAT CERTIFICATION.

SO OUR WE'RE ABLE TO KNOW BEFORE WE EVEN APPOINT AN INTERPRETER WHAT THEIR LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION IS.

BUT THERE ARE THE INTERPRETERS THAT WE USE ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

THERE ARE 2 OR 3 LEVELS BENEATH THAT BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALL THAT SPELLED OUT IN OUR ONBOARDING DOCUMENTATION THAT WE USE.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LEVELS AND OURS ARE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.

AND THANK YOU.

AND CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IT SEEMS IN TERMS OF FEES AND SERVICES? IT'S ALL CATEGORIZED INTO ONE BUCKET AS OPPOSED TO INTERPRETATION SERVICES AND KIND OF REALLY TRACKING THE SPEND.

CAN YOU HELP US TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS? WE ACTUALLY USE THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US, I THINK BACK IN MARCH OR APRIL, THAT THE BUDGET OFFICE PUT TOGETHER, AND THEY ACTUALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF HAVING A LINE ITEM BUDGET, AND IT ACTUALLY SEPARATED THE TRANSLATION WORK FROM THE ACTUAL INTERPRETATION WORK.

SO WE ACTUALLY WORKED FROM THAT BUDGET.

SO THE REASON YOU SEE A SINGLE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR THE REQUEST IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WANTED TO SUMMARIZE THAT AND NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT THERE IS A DELINEATION OF THE COST FOR TRANSLATION VERSUS INTERPRETATION SERVICES AS WELL AS FOR NON-LABOR.

SO AND THIS IS NOW ON A GO FORWARD.

BUT IT HAD NOT BEEN HISTORICALLY.

THAT WAY WE CAN PULL WE CAN PULL TOGETHER AND SEND TO TO THIS GROUP THE THE WHAT HOW FAR BACK WE CAN GO.

OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. IN TERMS OF SO ONE OF THE VOTES I TOOK THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF IS I KNOW FOR MANY YEARS WE HAD NOT OUR TEAM MEMBERS HERE AT HARRIS COUNTY HAD NOT GOTTEN A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO, WITH MY COLLEAGUES PARTNERSHIP, PASS 7%.

AND JUST TO CONFIRM, I KNOW THAT FOR ANY COORDINATOR THAT WAS HERE, THEY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT ADJUSTMENT CORRECT.

THEY SHOULD HAVE UNLESS THEY'RE ON A SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, STATE MANDATED OR OTHER SCALE.

OKAY. AND SO I KNOW WE'RE DOING A MACRO PAY EQUITY STUDY ACROSS THE COUNTY, WHICH I COULD NOT BE MORE SUPPORTIVE AND EAGER TO SEE FINISHED.

THAT BEING SAID, I'D BE INTERESTED TO HEAR Y'ALL'S KIND OF DATA ANALYSIS IN TERMS OF COMPS WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHERE DOES HARRIS COUNTY FALL? SO. OH, SO I'LL LET RICHARD TALK ABOUT THE DATA POINTS WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.

BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT, YES, THEY RECEIVED THE 7%, BUT SO DID OUR CORE COORDINATORS.

SO DID THE LEAD CLERKS.

SO DID EVERY. SO DID THE BAYLESS RATE.

AND SO SO THEY ALREADY STARTED AT A POINT TO WHERE THEY WERE BELOW WHAT THEIR LEAD CLERK IS MAKING.

SO TO THEM, THE 7% IS GREAT.

THEY'RE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR IT, BUT EVERYONE ELSE GOT IT AS WELL.

AND COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH WITH THE PACE STUDY IS TO GET REALLY HIGH QUALITY JOB DESCRIPTIONS, HAVE SOME A PROFESSIONAL SHADOW, ALL OF THESE POSITIONS SO WE CAN GET VERY CLEARLY.

HERE'S THE SKILL SET REQUIRED.

HERE'S THE STRESS OF THE JOB AND HERE'S HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BE COMPENSATED ON THIS SCALE.

BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WHEN THE DISTRICT CLERKS, FOR EXAMPLE, GOT A RAISE, THAT THERE WAS A BIG MIGRATION FROM COURT COORDINATORS TO CLERKS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THAT FROM US CANNIBALIZING EACH OTHER'S STAFFS.

AGREED. AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE PAY EQUITY STUDY TO BE COMPLETED.

AND I WISH WE HAD THAT IN HAND.

NOW, FRANKLY, I REMEMBER HOW HARD MY COORDINATOR WORKED TIRELESSLY.

THAT BEING SAID, HAVE YOU ALL DONE YOUR OWN ANALYSIS WITH REGARD TO SIMILARLY SITUATED JURISDICTIONS? WE HAVE. WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT DALLAS COUNTY, TARRANT COUNTY.

BEXAR COUNTY. AND FORT BEND COUNTY.

WE HAVE DATA GOING BACK TO 2021, SO WE KNOW WHAT THE SALARY RANGE IS FOR THEIR CORE COORDINATORS.

AND RIGHT NOW, TARRANT COUNTY IS PAYING THEIR CORE COORDINATORS MORE THAN WE ARE AT OUR CEILING.

WE ACTUALLY DO NEED TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THE CAREER LADDER.

[02:10:03]

IT WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2019, SO WE CERTAINLY THE JUDGES WILL BE PROVIDING YOU WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS AND THE CAREER LADDER.

BUT IN TERMS OF OF OTHER FACTORS THAT WE LOOKED AT, WE LOOKED AT HOW MANY INCREASES CORE COORDINATORS HAVE HAD SINCE 2021.

THEY HAD A 1.2% COLA.

AND IN MARCH OF 21 AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN MARCH, THERE WAS A 1% COLA.

IN MAY OF OF LAST YEAR, EVERYONE RECEIVED A $500 RETENTION INCREASE IF THEIR SALARY WAS BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL, AND THEN THE 7% COLA THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.

THOSE WERE THE ONLY INCREASES THAT THE CORE COORDINATORS HAVE RECEIVED SINCE 2021.

REALLY, THIS REQUEST, I THINK, NEEDS TO BE CATEGORIZED AS A RETENTION CRITICAL RETENTION REQUEST.

AS JUDGE PAYNE ALLUDED TO.

CORE COORDINATORS ARE THE RIGHT HAND TO THE JUDGE.

THEY THEY PRETTY MUCH RUN TRAFFIC IN THE COURTROOM AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS COORDINATED AND THINGS ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY, AND TO SEE TURNOVER AND HAVE TO RESET. IT'S DIFFICULT FOR A JUDGE.

LET ME I WANT TO GIVE.

THANK YOU. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME DATA.

A DATA POINT. SO HARRIS COUNTY IN 2021 STARTED AT 46,000.

WE WERE THE LOWEST PAID STARTING POINT FOR COORDINATORS.

AND THE NEXT TO US NEXT WAS BEXAR COUNTY AT 51,000.

NEXT WAS DALLAS COUNTY.

AT 56,000.

NEXT AFTER THAT WAS TARRANT COUNTY AT 72,000.

AND THE COUNTY CLOSEST TO US STARTS THEIR COORDINATORS AT 80,000.

SO WE HAVE A $30,000 GAP BETWEEN DRIVING TEN MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO FORT BEND.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY DON'T HAVE AS MANY COURTS AND WORKING IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU, JUDGE PAYNE.

IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING US PERFECT ON THE ATTENDANCE, JUDGE PAYNE, YOU AND ADMINISTRATOR WOODS, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO START I WANT TO END HOW I STARTED, WHICH IS THANKING THE COUNTY, THANKING ALL OF THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH US OVER THESE YEARS IN GETTING US TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

WE ARE ALL WELL AWARE OF HOW DESIROUS HOUSTON IS.

HARRIS COUNTY IS THAT THE POPULATION IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

I THINK WE HAVE THE REALITY IS THAT THAT MEANS THAT JUSTICE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED AT AN INCREASED LEVEL ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS. WE ARE WE ARE EXPERIENCING THAT.

WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO, OUR DOCKETS WERE HALF WHAT THEY ARE NOW.

WE HANDLE MORE CASES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE AND IN A NUMBER OF OTHER STATES.

WE HANDLE MORE CASES PER JUDGE.

AND SO I THINK WE WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.

THE LAST POINT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH, IN TERMS OF THE NEED FOR THE REQUESTS THAT WE'RE MAKING IS THAT IN THE LAST STUDY THAT WAS DONE, IT SAID THAT HARRIS COUNTY, WITH 4.8 MILLION PEOPLE AND GROWING, NEEDS 30 MORE ADDITIONAL JUDICIAL OFFICERS.

AND SO THAT'S TEN FOR FOR CRIMINAL, EVEN WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE SIX ASSOCIATE JUDGES AND SIX NEW COURTS WE HAVE.

THEY STILL SAY WE NEED TEN NEW CRIMINAL COURTS, TEN FOR CIVIL AND TEN FOR FAMILY.

THERE'S NO NUMBER FOR JUVENILE.

THEY SAID THAT JUVENILE COURTS ARE RIGHT SIZED.

SO I WANT TO JUST LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING THAT IS FLUFF OR FAT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO CORRECTLY AND APPROPRIATELY AND FAIRLY SERVE THE GROWING COMMUNITY IN HARRIS COUNTY.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY, MORE COURTS AND CERTAINLY MORE SPACE FOR MORE COURTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. JUDGE PAYNE AND ADMINISTRATOR WOODS AND THE DISTRICT COURT OFFICES.

WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

OKAY. THANK YOU ALL.

[Juvenile Probation]

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL THEN HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

[02:15:04]

SO, DIRECTOR, WHEN YOU'RE READY.

THANK YOU. HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SARAH GONZALEZ.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHIEF JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER FOR THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

HARRIS COUNTY HAS BECOME A LEADER IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

RATHER THAN TRY TO REDIRECT YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGH PUNITIVE APPROACHES, WE'VE SHIFTED TO PRACTICES BASED ON RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. ENSURING THAT OUR YOUTH TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THESE ACTIONS.

HOWEVER, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT RECOGNIZES THAT JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDIRECT THEIR LIVES AND TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT.

WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE POSITIVE CHANGE BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO ALL YOUNG.

THAT ALL YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO THRIVE.

OUR TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS CENTERED AROUND THREE PRINCIPLES REDUCE, IMPROVE AND REINVEST.

WE'VE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GO DEEP INTO OUR SYSTEM BY INCREASING THE DIVERSION PRACTICES 2018.

18% OF OUR REFERRALS WERE DIVERTED, DIVERTED 2023 OVER 40% OF THE REFERRALS WERE DIVERTED.

WE REDUCED ADMISSIONS TO DETENTION BY 57% BY CREATING THE DETENTION TENSION SCREENING INSTRUMENT THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFIES HIGHER RISK YOUTH AND MINIMIZES IMPLICIT BIAS IN THE DETENTION DECISION PROCESS.

WE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF YOUTH REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AS A DISPOSITION FROM OVER 720 18 TO ABOUT 202,023.

WE'VE IMPROVED TWO OF OUR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES BY MAKING THEM MORE THERAPEUTIC INSTEAD OF CORRECTIONAL.

BY REPURPOSING A THIRD RESIDENTIAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY INTO A COMMUNITY BASED ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION THAT PROVIDES OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, PAID INTERNSHIPS, SUPPORT AND JOB PLACEMENT.

WITH NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE REINVESTED OUR RESOURCES, THUS CREATING A POSITIVE YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE ALSO REINVESTED IN OUR STAFF BY USING FUNDS ALLOCATED TO VACANT POSITIONS TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THOSE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, POSITIVELY IMPACTING OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION RATE.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, HARRIS COUNTY HAS CREATED A JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FUND THAT HELPS SMALL, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS IN IMPACTED COMMUNITIES BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO SERVE AND SUPPORT THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'LL OPEN IT FOR QUESTIONS.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT THREE.

TELL ME ABOUT OUR OVERALL RECIDIVISM IN HARRIS COUNTY IS.

EXCUSE ME. MY NAME IS ROGER BRIDGEWATER.

ALL RIGHT. OUR OVERALL RECIDIVISM FOR ALL OF OUR REFERRALS IS ABOUT 17%, WHICH IS PRETTY LOW.

AND NOW THAT'S GOING TO INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE YOUTH WHO ARE NOW BEING DIVERTED AND NOT GOING DEEPER INTO OUR SYSTEM.

NATURALLY, AS YOU START TO LOOK AT OTHER POPULATIONS, LIKE THOSE WHO GO TO OUR FACILITIES, THEN IT STARTS TO INCREASE AT THAT POINT.

BUT OVERALL, IT'S 17%.

OKAY. AND I THINK I MAY HAVE MISSED YOU SAID YOU HAD THREE HOURS.

ONE'S REDUCED, ONE'S REINVEST.

AND WHAT WAS THE THIRD IMPROVE? OKAY. THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT FOUR. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HELLO. FOR THE RECORD, GABY LESTER FROM PRECINCT FOUR.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STAFF RETENTION, ANY DIFFICULTIES YOU'VE HAD IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND HOW YOU'VE ADAPTED TO THAT CHALLENGE AND WHERE YOU'RE AT NOW? SURE. THANK YOU.

THE FIELD OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, PARTICULARLY THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A BIG CRISIS WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING STAFF, PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID.

DURING COVID, WE SAW A LOT OF OUR DIRECT CARE STAFF LEAVE THE FIELD AND AGAIN, THAT WE SAW THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS OUR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BY INCREASING SALARIES.

THAT WAS WHAT WE HAD TO DO.

LIKE WE HEARD EARLIER FROM THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER, WE WERE STARTING TO NOW COMPETE WITH OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, AND THOSE NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS WERE MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE PAYING MORE THAN HARRIS COUNTY WAS.

SO WE WERE LOSING APPLICANTS AND EXISTING STAFF TO THE OUR SMALLER SURROUNDING JURISDICTIONS.

SO BY USING OUR ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THOSE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE WEREN'T FILLING, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR DIRECT CARE STAFF SALARIES. AND NOW OUR VACANCY RATE IS DOWN TO ABOUT 6%.

AND JUST TO JUMP IN HERE, THIS IS THE SINGLE BEST TURNAROUND THAT I'VE SEEN IN MY TIME HERE WHEN IT COMES TO STAFFING.

[02:20:04]

I THINK YOU WERE FULLY STAFFED AS OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

SO IT REALLY IS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND WHEN I SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THE VACANCIES, YOU KNOW, COMPENSATE YOUR FOLKS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO THE TABLE WHEN YOU'RE FULLY STAFFED.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE CASE STUDY I WANT FOLKS TO SEE, AND IT WORKED GREAT.

THANK YOU BOTH.

IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GRANTS, PHILANTHROPY, KIND OF NON-GENERAL FUND FUNDING THAT YOU CURRENTLY LEVERAGE AND ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES YOU WANT TO GO AFTER.

SURE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE WITH OUR OPPORTUNITY CENTER, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM IN WHICH WE TOOK A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY AND REPURPOSED IT INTO A COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAM PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY LEVERAGE THE COMMUNITY AND SOME FUNDING, SOME PRIVATE FUNDING BY FROM LOCAL COMPANIES TO DO THAT. AND AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS WITH NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDING.

WHAT WE'RE STARTING TO DO TO DO NOW, ALTHOUGH TEXAS IS NOT A PARTICIPATING STATE IN WHAT THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION, THEY'VE JUST OPENED GRANTS TO NON PARTICIPATE IN STATES.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH THEM AND APPLYING FOR THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS.

WE'VE ALSO APPLIED FOR STATE FUNDING THROUGH TJJD, AND THEY HAVE COMPETITIVE GRANTS.

AND THROUGH THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET FUNDING FOR SOME OF OUR BEDS AT THE QUEST PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO SEND SOME OF THEIR ADJUDICATED KIDS TO OUR FACILITY, KEEPING THEM CLOSER TO HOME.

SO THEY'RE COMING FROM THIS GENERAL REGION.

AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A GRANT FROM TJJD TO OPERATE THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER.

SO WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THOSE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

AND WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT OTHER FUNDING SOURCES AS WELL.

THANK YOU. WAS THAT ALL MY TIME? YOU ACTUALLY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE AND 30S DUE TO AN ERROR ON THE TIMER.

IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TEACHER SALARIES FOR THE SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW THAT'S PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT HOW THAT WORKS IN TERMS OF FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY AND THE STATE.

ABSOLUTELY. OUR DEPARTMENT IS UNIQUE IN THAT WE ACTUALLY OPERATE OUR OWN CHARTER SCHOOL.

SO WE HAVE TWO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE CHARTER SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE EXCEL ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL.

THEN WE ALSO OPERATE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

SO WE ARE ONE OF THOSE FEW DEPARTMENTS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TEACHERS.

2019 WE COMPLETED A TEACHER SALARY STUDY WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER CHARTER SCHOOLS.

AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT OUR TEACHERS, THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN THE AVERAGE STARTING SALARY BETWEEN THOSE DISTRICTS AND OUR TEACHERS OF $15,000. OUR TROUBLE WITH OUR CHARTER SCHOOL, OUR REVENUE IS BASED ON OUR STUDENT POPULATION AS WE STARTED OUR TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS.

LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU SAW THAT OUR POPULATION IN OUR FACILITIES DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL.

THAT MEANT THAT OUR REVENUE DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND SO KNOWING THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE OUR TEACHERS, WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR TEACHERS SALARY IF WE WANT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN REALLY GOOD TEACHERS.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR KIDS NEED BECAUSE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEFICITS, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE COMPETITIVE, COMPETITIVE SALARIES.

AGAIN, THE EDUCATION DIVISION DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.

SO WE USE PROBATION FUNDS THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TO INCREASE OUR TEACHERS SALARIES BY BETWEEN 2 AND $5000, DEPENDING ON THEIR EDUCATION AND THEIR EXPERIENCE.

THAT STILL LEAVES US LOWER THAN WHAT WE NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN QUALITY TEACHERS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO NARROW THAT GAP EVEN MORE BY UP TO ANOTHER $5,000.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT FOUR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI. FOR THE RECORD, I'M FERNANDO MARRERO, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR FOR JUDGE HIDALGO.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ.

AND IN THE AUDIENCE, I SEE DOCTOR MCGILL, DOCTOR SHELDON AND DIRECTOR MORENO.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN JUVENILE JUSTICE AND ALSO ALL THE JPD STAFF WHO ARE NOT IN THE ROOM, BUT I ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO DESERVE A LOT OF RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, I REALIZE YOU ONLY HAD THREE MINUTES, BUT WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE TIME TO WALK US THROUGH YOUR SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS.

AND GABBY, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP TEACHER SALARIES.

BUT IF THERE'S OTHER REQUESTS YOU ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT CHANCE.

ABSOLUTELY. SO THE REQUEST FOR THE FULL TIME YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS, AND THEY ARE OUR DIRECT CARE STAFF IN OUR FACILITIES, IS BASED ON MAINTAINING A STAFFING PATTERN THAT MEETS

[02:25:03]

BEST PRACTICE IS FOLLOWING IN PRAIA, WHICH IS THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT WITH THE RATIO OF 8 TO 1, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE STRIVING FOR.

WE HAVE SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN OUR DETENTION POPULATION POST COVID, SO THE REQUEST IS BASED ON THAT TREND.

WITHOUT THESE POSITIONS AND WITH THE PROJECTED DETENTION POPULATION INCREASE, WE'LL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO USE OUR CURRENT PRACTICE OF USING MANDATORY STAY OVER OR OVERTIME TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE MINIMUM RATIO STANDARD.

ALSO, AS FAR AS THE DETENTION CENTER GOES, OUR DEPARTMENT USED TO CONTRACT WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER TO OPERATE A 21 BED SUBACUTE UNIT TO TREAT RESIDENTS ASSESSED WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION IN THAT UNIT WAS 12 TO 15 JUVENILES.

HCPC DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE IN A HOSPITAL SETTING, AND SO THE CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED.

AS A RESULT, WE'VE CREATED AN IN-HOUSE MENTAL HEALTH STABILIZATION UNIT IN OUR DETENTION CENTER, WHICH INCREASED OUR AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION TO 12 TO 15 YOUTH. AND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS UNIT, WE ARE LOOKING AT A SMALLER RATIO AND THAT IT BE STAFFED WITH SPECIALLY TRAINED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS WITH THE YOUTH VILLAGE.

THERE ARE HOUSING UNITS THAT WOULD HISTORICALLY HOUSE OUR GIRLS.

THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN IN RENOVATIONS SINCE BEFORE COVID AND THEY'RE NOW NEAR COMPLETION.

SO CURRENTLY OUR GIRLS ARE IN A UNIT THAT TYPICALLY HOUSES BOYS, WHICH LIMITS THE NUMBER OF BOYS THAT WE CAN SEND TO THE YOUTH VILLAGE.

ONCE THE GIRLS CAN MOVE INTO THE RENOVATED UNITS, THEN WE'LL NEED ADDITIONAL STAFF TO MEET THE ACTUAL CAPACITY OF THE FACILITY.

WITHOUT THESE, ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WILL BE LIMITED IN THE NUMBERS THAT WE CAN SERVE, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN YOUTH STAYING LONGER IN DETENTION, WAITING FOR A BED TO COME OPEN, OR YOUR YOUTH BEING SENT TO A PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY.

AS FAR AS OUR PROBATION OFFICERS.

IN 2021, WE RECEIVED RIGHT AT ABOUT 3600 REFERRALS.

2023, IT WAS 6050 REFERRALS.

SO THE AVERAGE CASELOAD FOR COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OFFICER INCREASED 35% IN 2023, FROM 22 WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL PROBATION OFFICER POSITIONS.

TO ADJUST FOR THE HIGHER NUMBER OF REFERRALS, THE CASELOAD AVERAGE WILL EXCEED THE SIZE SHOWN TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND DETERMINED TO BE BEST PRACTICE IN JUVENILE JUSTICE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING THE GIRLS PLACEMENTS.

YOU ACTUALLY ANSWERED ANOTHER QUESTION I HAD.

AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP BY THE JUVENILE BOARD MEETING.

SO APPRECIATE YOU YOU MENTIONING THAT TODAY AND REGARDING THE INCREASING TEACHER SALARIES, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET, AND ALSO HAPPY THAT OMB IS RECOMMENDING, AND WE'RE IN FULL AGREEMENT, THAT COUNTY TEACHERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FAIRLY.

THEY DO REALLY IMPORTANT WORK FOR FOR OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S IT FROM OUR END.

JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.

ALSO FROM THE ANNIE CASEY FOUNDATION, THEY PRESENTED AT THE LAST COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

AND WE WERE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT PRESENTATION.

AND WE KNOW THERE REMAINS WORK TO BE DONE.

AND SO OUR OFFICE LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

YIELD MY TIME. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI. SORRY, I FORGOT TO PRESS THE BUTTON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. HELLO.

MY NAME IS BRYCE RANDALL.

WE ACTUALLY MET BEFORE A WHILE BACK WHEN WE DID THAT TOUR OF THE FACILITY.

SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US JUST THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE.

SO MY FIRST QUESTION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.

YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS EARLIER DURING THE KGO'S QUESTIONING, BUT I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN DETAIL, AND HOW THE FUNDS RECOMMENDED BY THE OMB WILL HELP ADVANCE JUVENILE PROBATION MISSION? ABSOLUTELY. SO THESE FUNDS WOULD GIVE US THE ADDITIONAL STAFF THAT WE NEED, LIKE I SAID, TO, TO MAINTAIN OUR OUR REQUIRED RATIO OF RESIDENT TO STAFF.

I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO IS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN REALLY TOP QUALITY STAFF.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.

AND THAT'S WHY THESE THESE POSITIONS USED TO BE CALLED JUVENILE SUPERVISION OFFICERS.

AND WE CHANGED THEM TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS BECAUSE WE WANTED THEM TO NOT BE JAIL GUARDS.

WE WANT DIDN'T WANT THEM TO BE JUST SOMEONE WHO SUPERVISED KIDS, BUT SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY ENGAGING WITH OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

WE'RE ASKING THAT OUR DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS SHARE ANY SKILLS OR PASSIONS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE YOUNG OR YOUNG PEOPLE, IF IT'S TEACHING THEM HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT,

[02:30:07]

AND SO WE'RE SEEING THAT, AND I THINK THAT IS HELPING US WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN DETENTION AND IN OUR OTHER FACILITIES.

AND SO IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THIS QUALITY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, THESE FUNDS ARE GOING TO HELP US BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.

AND NEXT, WE WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT JUVENILE PROBATION AND WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WOULD YOUR DEPARTMENT NEED TO MAKE IF THE FUNDS WERE NOT PROVIDED? IF IT IS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FTES FOR FACILITIES LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THE PRACTICE OF MANDATORY STAY OVER, WHICH MEANS THEY STAY OVER FOR AN ADDITIONAL SHIFT, WHICH IS GOING TO COST US OVER TIME.

LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE AT OVER $2 MILLION IN OVERTIME.

SO THAT'S HOW IT WOULD IMPACT THAT WITH THE PROBATION OFFICERS.

AGAIN, WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEAN IS THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE CASELOAD SIZE OF OUR PROBATION OFFICERS, OUR PROBATION OFFICERS.

NOW, NOW THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING LOWER LEVEL OFFENDERS TO COURT ANYMORE, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS OUR PROBATION OFFICERS CASELOADS CONSIST OF THOSE KIDS WITH THE MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO COURT NOW.

SO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REQUIRING MORE TIME, MORE ATTENTION AND REALLY MORE QUALITY SERVICES.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN IS THAT HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE.

WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE JUST SUPERVISION.

WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS AND IDENTIFY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S NEEDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE BEING MET.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GONZALEZ, AND I DO WANT TO USE THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME TO TALK ABOUT ANY CHALLENGES OR ANY ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES THAT YOU MAY ANTICIPATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025? THANK YOU. I THINK WITH WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AND THESE ENHANCEMENTS WILL KEEP US ON TRACK OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO AS A DEPARTMENT, AND THAT IS TO BECOME A POSITIVE YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

MOST OF US HAD THESE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US.

BUT WHEN A YOUNG PERSON NOW IS SUDDENLY REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME SCHOOL AND SENT TO AN ALTERNATIVE SET, AND THESE RESOURCES DON'T EXIST FOR THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THESE KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN OUR SYSTEM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT AGAIN SO THAT THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVE.

AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT I WANT TO TAKE OUR DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH THAT.

AND PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.

I DON'T WANT THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT TO BE THE DIRECT PROVIDER OF SERVICES.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE LIKE THE THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT FUND, SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND TO DO THAT, THEY'VE GOT TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO DO SO, AND WE'VE GOT TO GIVE THEM THE ABILITY AND THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ.

PRECINCT ONE.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. WE'LL USE THE REST OF OUR TIME.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MATT GARY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. SEE YOU.

MAYOR. WHAT CRITERIA DO YOU USE TO DETERMINE FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AIMED AT HIGH RISK YOUTH? YEAH. WHAT'S INTERESTING WITH OUR SYSTEM NOW IS THE DEEPER YOU GET IN OUR SYSTEM, YOU ARE SEEING ONLY THOSE HIGH RISK YOUTH OR LOW RISK YOUTH ARE NOW BEING DIVERTED.

WHEREAS FIVE YEARS AGO, THE MAJORITY OF THE PETITIONS FILED IN COURT WERE FOR MISDEMEANOR OFFENDERS.

NOW IT'S CHANGED TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE UNCOMMON TO SEE A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE GOING TO COURT UNLESS THERE WAS A WEAPON INVOLVED.

SO ALL OF THOSE LOWER LEVEL OFFENDERS, NOW, WE ARE ACTUALLY DIVERTING THEM EITHER TO RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OR TO COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS. AND SO A LOT OF OUR EFFORT AND OUR RESOURCES NOW ARE GOING FOR GOING TOWARDS THOSE MORE SERIOUS OFFENDERS.

AND WHEN YOU GET TO KNOW THESE SERIOUS OFFENDERS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY ARE REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE LOW LEVEL OFFENDERS. AND THEY NEED THE SAME THINGS THAT ALL KIDS NEED.

AND FOR SOME REASON, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING ACCESS TO THOSE.

SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO PUT OUR RESOURCES TO WHERE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES.

[02:35:08]

AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST IT'S VITAL THAT WE GET THAT, THAT FUNDING AND THOSE RESOURCES INTO THESE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES SO THAT IT'S THERE WHEN THE FAMILIES NEED THEM.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING DEPENDENT IN OUR SYSTEM, AGAIN, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EXIST IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO, SPEAKING OF DIVERSION, HOW DOES YOUR BUDGET REFLECT THE NEED TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM FURTHER ENGAGEMENT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO IS, ALTHOUGH WE'RE DIVERTING THESE KIDS, THAT THERE'S STILL A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING THOSE NEEDS AND MEETING THOSE NEEDS, THEN CHANCES OF THE KID COMING BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM INCREASES.

SO DIVERTING DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S A TOTAL HANDS OFF APPROACH.

IT MEANS THAT THAT KID IS BEING SERVED BY SOMEONE, PERHAPS OTHER THAN THAN OUR DEPARTMENT LIKE RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND THOSE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

BUT AGAIN, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THROUGH FUNDING THAT COMES TO US, THAT WE THEN FUNNEL TO THESE COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCES.

AGAIN, IF WE WANT TO KEEP THESE DIVERTED KIDS OUT AND OUR OVERALL RECIDIVISM RATE LOW, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND SO YOU'VE MENTIONED ON THAT SAME NOTE, JPD NOT BEING A DIRECT PROVIDER OF SERVICES, YOU WOULD PREFER FOR IT TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR BUDGET PLAY AND YOUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS? I KNOW WE HAVE THE REINVESTMENT FUND, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN ADDITION TO THAT? YES, DEFINITELY.

IDENTIFYING THOSE EXISTING RESOURCES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND CONTRACTING WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN DIRECTLY PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

AGAIN, A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONNECT WITH THEM AND THAT THE AGAIN, THAT THESE ARE THOSE RESOURCES THAT ACTUALLY EXIST IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.

WE CANNOT EXPECT A FAMILY TO TRAVEL ACROSS HARRIS COUNTY TO GET A SERVICE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE IDENTIFY THOSE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES OUT THERE, AND THAT WE REACH OUT TO THEM AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.

MY CHAPEL, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PROVIDER IN PASADENA.

WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THEM OUT INTO BAYTOWN.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.

AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, BECAUSE WITH THE REINVESTMENT FUND, WHAT OUR HOPE TO DO IS TO ULTIMATELY GET THOSE SMALL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS LIKE MY CHAPEL, TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY SO THAT WE CAN CONTRACT DIRECTLY WITH THEM.

AND THEN IT OPENS THE REINVESTMENT FUNDS FOR YET ANOTHER SMALL ORGANIZATION AND HELP THEM BUILD THEIR CAPACITY AND THEN JUST CONTINUE DOING THAT.

YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

PRECINCT THREE.

YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND 20S REMAINING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT FOUR.

YOU HAVE NO MORE REMAINING TIME.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU HAVE 48 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU HAVE 12 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR PRECINCT ONE.

PRECINCT TWO. YOU HAVE 13 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

WE'RE SET. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR GONZALEZ.

YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT OUR PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS.

THE HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT IS CONSTANTLY WORKING ON EXPANDING PROGRAMING, IMPROVING POLICY AND STRENGTHENING PRACTICE AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS.

WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WITH OUR CONTINUED REFORM EFFORTS, HARRIS COUNTY WILL BE A MODEL OF POSITIVE YOUTH JUSTICE.

USING EVIDENCE BASED AND BEST PRACTICES TO PROVIDE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO CHANGE, THRIVE AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL NOW TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH AND RETURN AT 2 P.M.

FOR THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COURT OFFICERS.

WE WELCOME YOU TO THE AFTERNOON SESSION OF DAY ONE OF OUR BUDGET HEARINGS.

[02:40:04]

[Institute of Forensic Sciences]

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL THEN HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

AND THEN, MISS PRINE, YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

AND WHEN YOU'RE READY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JULIE PRINE.

I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.

AND I'M HERE WITH WENDY WELCH, WHO IS OUR NEW BUDGET MANAGER.

I KNOW THAT.

EXCUSE ME. I KNOW THAT EACH OF YOUR OFFICES RECEIVED A COPY OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH IS VERY THOROUGH, ALL SORTS OF STATISTICS IN IT.

BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT JUST A FEW THINGS BRIEFLY TO YOU.

EVEN THOUGH OUR CASEWORK NUMBERS IN THE CRIME LAB HAVE GONE UP OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE MAINTAINED OUR TURNAROUND TIME GOALS.

WE HAVE VIRTUALLY NO BACKLOG.

JUST A FEW THINGS TO POINT OUT SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR DRUG CHEMISTRY CASES.

FOR THOSE IN JAIL WHO ARE AWAITING OUR ANALYSIS, WE ARE TURNING THOSE CASES AROUND WITHIN TEN DAYS.

FOR BOND CASES, IT'S 15 DAYS.

FOR OUR FIREARMS COMPARISON CASES, WE'RE AVERAGING 33 DAYS CURRENTLY FOR OUR DNA SEXUAL ASSAULT KITS.

WE'RE AVERAGING 81 DAYS, WHICH IS BELOW THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.

AND FOR HOMICIDE, WE'RE AT ABOUT 115 DAYS.

WE DO STILL HAVE BACKLOG ISSUES IN THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE.

WITH THE BUDGET REQUEST IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE ARE UTILIZING CONTRACTORS CURRENTLY TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE NUMBERS IN CHECK AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND WE'RE JUST STILL DEALING WITH A LACK OF STAFF GENERALLY ON THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S SIDE.

SO OUR REQUEST THIS YEAR OUR PRIMARY REQUEST IS FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON CONTRACTORS AND BUILD UP OUR OWN INTERNAL STAFF, HOPEFULLY TO.

WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE LEVELS WE WERE AT PRE-COVID, WHICH WE THINK WILL PROBABLY TAKE TWO BUDGET CYCLES TO GET US THERE.

AND ALSO TRAINING, WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OF OUR SCIENTIFIC STAFF IN ORDER TO TESTIFY AND MEET OUR ACCREDITATION STANDARDS. AND MANY OF OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN COVERING THE COSTS OF THAT TRAINING OUT OF POCKET.

SO WE REQUESTED THAT SPECIFICALLY THIS YEAR.

WE ARE FACING JUST A FEW ISSUES IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.

EXCUSE ME. WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO FIND QUALIFIED STAFF OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND TO HIRE MOST OF OUR VACANCIES AT THE END OF 2023.

WE HAD 40 EMPTY PCNS, AND AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 12, AND EIGHT OF THOSE ARE POSTED AND ARE CURRENTLY INTERVIEWING. DURING THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD ROLLOVER.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MISS BRIAN, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU AND DOCTOR SANCHEZ AND ALL OF YOUR EXCEPTIONAL TEAM MEMBERS DO FOR OUR COUNTY.

WE HAVE DEEP GRATITUDE.

SO YOU WERE BEGINNING TO TOUCH ON THIS, AND I KNOW WHEN I VISITED, I APPRECIATED YOU ALL TAKING SO MUCH TIME TO WALK ME THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.

WITH REGARD TO HIRING, I KNOW WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE HIRING CHALLENGES AND THEN HENCE THE RELIANCE ON THE CONTRACT LABOR.

SO IF THIS FUNDING IS APPROVED, WHAT KIND OF RECRUITING STRATEGIES? I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT SOME WHEN I VISITED, BUT WHICH ONES HAVE YOU FOUND MOST EFFECTIVE, AND HOW CONFIDENT ARE WE THAT WE CAN HIRE UP TO REALLY CONTINUE DRIVING THE PROGRESS? WELL, WE WE PRIMARILY ARE ARE MISSING PIECES IN OUR MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE, AND THEY'RE KIND OF AT BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM. WE HAVE A NEED FOR ENTRY LEVEL STAFF IN OUR INVESTIGATIONS UNIT TO PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR DECEDENTS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR SUPPLEMENTING THAT.

WE'D LIKE TO PHASE THEM OUT, BRING UP OUR STAFF LEVELS BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE A FEW YEARS AGO SO THAT WE DON'T NEED A CONTRACTOR FOR THAT ANYMORE.

ON THE OTHER END, WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINERS WHO WHICH IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY HARD POSITION TO FILL.

AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS WE DO MUCH BETTER GROWING OUR OWN, BECOMING OUR OWN FARM SYSTEM WITH THE FELLOWS THAT WE BRING

[02:45:02]

SO TO BE A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST, YOU HAVE TO DO A FELLOWSHIP.

AND WE HAVE INCREASED OUR, OUR SCRUTINY, IF YOU WILL, OF OUR FELLOWS.

AND WE HAVE JUST BEEN OFFERING THEM A POSITION AS SOON AS WE CAN.

AND SO LAST YEAR WE HAD TWO FELLOWS.

BOTH WERE EXCELLENT.

THEY BOTH ACCEPTED POSITIONS WITH US.

THEY JUST STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST AS ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

MY ASSUMPTION IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE ON THAT PATH, BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO HARD TO FIND THAT POSITION.

AND AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT TODAY, WE'RE COMPETING WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST CAN GO ANYWHERE AND CALL THEIR PRICE.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME ISSUES TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR PEOPLE.

THANK YOU. SPEAKING OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN TERMS OF STANDARDIZATION, SPECIFICALLY HERE WITH HOUSTON AND THE COUNTY, CAN YOU TALK THROUGH ANY SORT OF STANDARDIZATION OF PRACTICES OR PROTOCOLS THAT YOU THINK WOULD HELP DRIVE FURTHER EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE OPERATIONS AT IFS? I'M NOT QUITE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

SO, LIKE LABELING OF EVIDENCE OR ANY SORT OF KIND OF PROCEDURAL THINGS, OR IT COULD LINK BACK TO RECRUITING.

POSSIBLY. BUT ARE THERE ANYTHING NOT KIND OF MERGING ENTERPRISES, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF STANDARDIZATION OR BEST PRACTICES, WHICH I KNOW YOU ALL ARE A NATIONAL MODEL, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT PROACTIVELY WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT WOULD HELP MAKE IFS? WELL, WE ARE CURRENTLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE CURRENTLY MOVING OUR DNA LAB AND EXPANDING IT.

RIGHT NOW WE FOCUS ON SEXUAL ASSAULTS, HOMICIDES AND ROBBERIES.

WE CAN'T DO AS MUCH PROPERTY DNA AS WE WOULD LIKE TO.

AND WE ARE MOVING THE LAB INTO OUR PRIMARY FACILITY AND EXPANDING IT SO THAT WE CAN DO MORE PROPERTY, DNA.

WE BELIEVE THAT THAT IS A THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE AN INVESTMENT THAT WILL BE WORTHWHILE IN THE LONG RUN AND WILL HELP US PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, MORE INFORMATION TO TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS COMMITTING CERTAIN CRIMES.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF OUR SPACE LIMITATIONS, PRIMARILY.

OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE SEVERAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE TO MEET, AS DO ANY OTHER LAB ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SO WE HAVE AN ENTIRE UNIT DEDICATED TO QUALITY MANAGEMENT TO HELP US MAINTAIN THOSE ACCREDITATIONS, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE AS UNBIASED AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE'RE TESTING EVIDENCE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I KNOW WE'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF TIME.

BUT I REMEMBER WHEN I VISITED, THERE HAD BEEN THIS MACHINE THAT YOU ALL NEEDED THAT WOULD HELP EXPEDITE KIND OF INITIAL REVIEW OF THE DECEDENTS.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVE THAT MACHINE.

YES. ARE THERE OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD HELP FURTHER CREATE MORE EFFECTIVENESS AT IFS.

YES. SO WE DID IMPLEMENT A CT SCANNING MACHINE.

WE HAVE BEGUN TRAINING AND VALIDATING THAT MACHINE TO ASSIST THE PATHOLOGISTS.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IS AN UPDATED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, WHICH WILL SHARE INFORMATION BETWEEN OUR MEDICAL EXAMINER AND CRIME LAB AND WILL HOPEFULLY GIVE OUR STAKEHOLDERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST COME IN AND PULL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED.

THEY'RE NOT WAITING FOR US TO SEND IT, AND B THEY CAN PROACTIVELY COME AND FIND IT ON THEIR OWN.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT ALSO WILL BE AN ASSISTANCE TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRIME. SIR. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

HI, I'M MEGAN DELAURO, A POLICY ADVISOR WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

I KNOW YOU TOUCHED ON YOUR PRIORITIES A LITTLE BIT ALREADY, BUT I'D LOVE TO START BY JUST.

IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD, JUST OPEN IT UP FOR YOU TO WALK US THROUGH THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS THAT YOU CONSIDER HIGHEST PRIORITY.

OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY WOULD BE THE PERSONNEL THAT WE REQUESTED FOR THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE.

AGAIN, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PAYING CONTRACTORS TO SUPPLEMENT OUR DECEDENT TRANSPORT.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PHASE OUT THE CONTRACTOR AND BRING UP OUR OWN STAFF, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T PROVIDE ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT OUR INTERNAL STAFF MEMBERS WOULD.

THEY ALSO ARE RESTRICTED ON WHERE THEY CAN DO TRANSPORT.

[02:50:02]

THEY CAN'T GO TO SCENES, THEY CAN'T GO TO MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES, ANY OF THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD BUILD UP THAT STAFFING SO WE COULD SORT OF PHASE OUT THE CONTRACTORS SO WE COULD GET MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK, IF YOU WILL.

THE TRAINING IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE OTHER THING WE REQUESTED WAS CURRENTLY WE HAVE ARPA FUNDING WHICH HAS RUN OUT, AND WE ARE NOW USING GENERAL FUND FOR THOSE FOR THE PATHOLOGY CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS AND ALSO FOR DECEDENT TRANSPORT.

WE HAD REQUESTED A CONTINUATION OF SOME OF THAT FUNDING SO THAT AGAIN, WE CAN TRY TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

SO THAT WOULD ALSO BE IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU.

AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LEADING UP TO THIS, BUT I WOULD LOVE IF YOU COULD DETAIL ANY EXISTING BACKLOG ISSUES THAT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING AT YOUR DEPARTMENT OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE SYSTEM THAT IMPACT YOUR OPERATIONS.

OUR CRIME LAB HAS NO BACKLOG TO SPEAK OF RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE MEETING ALL OF OUR TURNAROUND TIME GOALS, ALL OF OUR ACCREDITATION ASIAN STANDARDS.

WHERE WE ARE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW IS ON THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S SIDE.

SO CURRENTLY WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 320 FULL AUTOPSIES A MONTH, ABOUT 140 PARTIAL AUTOPSIES A MONTH.

ON TOP OF THAT SO WE HAVE A HIGH CASELOAD RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE 16 ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

TO BE FULLY STAFFED.

WE NEED 20.

SO THOSE 16 ARE COVERING FOR THE THE FOUR.

AND AS I SAID, TWO OF THAT 16 JUST STARTED A FEW WEEKS AGO.

SO OUR REPORTS OUR AUTOPSY REPORTS ARE AT ABOUT 82% OF THEM ARE GETTING DONE IN 90 DAYS. AND THAT'S ABOUT 70% FOR HOMICIDE.

AUTOPSY REPORTS ARE BEING DONE IN 90 DAYS.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE 90% COMPLETED IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO WE NEED ADDITIONAL STAFFING, AND WE NEED TO RELY ON THOSE CONTRACTORS A LITTLE LONGER TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET THOSE TURNED AROUND AS QUICKLY AS WE NEED TO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IF I MAY DONATE MY REMAINING TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

PRECINCT ONE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS BRYCE RANDALL.

I'M AN ADVISOR AT COMMISSIONER ELLIS'S OFFICE.

YOU ALREADY ANSWERED ONE OF MY QUESTIONS, WHICH WAS RELATED TO WHAT WAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY ENHANCEMENT REQUEST THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO MEET YOUR GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. YOU DID TALK ABOUT HOW THESE CONTRACTORS ARE LIMITED IN THEIR SCOPE OF SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT.

I DID WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO LABOR COST.

SO CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW PRIOR INVESTMENTS IN LABOR COST AND RESOURCES HAVE HELPED YOUR DEPARTMENT INCREASE RETENTION AND PROCESS EVIDENCE.

I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR RETENTION IS MUCH BETTER NOW SINCE THE ACROSS THE BOARD 7% WAS GIVEN TO ALL OF OUR STAFF.

WE STILL ARE SUFFERING FROM THE THE SAME ISSUES OF PEOPLE FINDING HIGHER PAY FOR LESS CASEWORK.

SO WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THAT.

BUT AS I SAID, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE MORE IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THAT HAS LED TO AN ISSUE THAT WE WILL FACE NEXT YEAR THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH OMB ON, WHICH IS THAT THAT OUR LABOR BUDGET, AS IT IS NOW, IS NOT GOING TO COVER THE PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S WITHOUT HIRING ANY OF THE LAST REMAINING VACANCIES.

BUT WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT WITH OMB AND CONTINUE TO HIRE OUR PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE ARE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE. JUST QUICKLY ON THAT NOTE OF OUR OFFICE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IS 30 PEOPLE, AND THAT'S OUT OF 298.

IS THAT RIGHT? 298 I THINK SO EVERYONE ELSE IS PART OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER OR THE CRIME LAB.

WE'RE VERY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SORT OF ADMINISTERING.

AND IF I COULD ELABORATE ON THAT ONE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.

IFS WAS NEVER FUNDED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ALL THEIR POSITIONS.

SO WHEN WE DID THE RECONCILIATION, WE KEPT SOME ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND IFS KNOWING THAT WE WOULD NEED THEM FOR THE ACCREDITATION ANNUALLY.

[02:55:08]

BUT THEY HAVE DONE SOME AMAZING WORK CLOSING THOSE GAPS ON THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND RESERVE.

I WILL ACTUALLY NOT RESERVE, BUT I WILL ALLOCATE THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME TO PRECINCT FOUR.

PRECINCT TWO. YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MATT GARY, POLICY ADVISOR FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY, JULIE.

HOW FLEXIBLE IS YOUR BUDGET IN ACCOMMODATING CHANGES OR UNEXPECTED DEMANDS? ARE THERE ANY AREAS WHERE YOU MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE THINGS AROUND? THE ONLY FLEXIBILITY WE FOUND THIS YEAR, AND CERTAINLY WE HAD SOME UNEXPECTED COSTS WITH THE HURRICANE AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. AND WE'VE HAD SOME CASELOAD MONTHS THIS YEAR THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING WHERE THINGS JUST, I DON'T KNOW, PEOPLE WERE HOT AND MAD OR WHATEVER.

RIGHT. SO WE ENDED UP WITH A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE DECEDENTS THAN WE HAD PLANNED ON.

WE DO HAVE SOME GRANT FUNDING THAT WE HAVE UTILIZED IN THE CRIME LAB SIDE THAT HAS REDUCED OUR NEED FOR GENERAL FUND THERE.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF SHIFT THAT FUNDING.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE SOME OF OUR NON-LABOR FUNDING FOR LABOR AS WELL.

SO WE WE HAVE SORT OF MOVED THINGS AROUND AS NEEDED.

WE WOULD PREFER NOT TO KIND OF FLY BY THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS ON THAT, BUT BUT WE'VE HAD SOME SOME GRANT FUNDING THAT'S HELPED US WITH THAT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND HOW DO YOU BUDGET FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATIONS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC TRENDS OR TECHNOLOGIES THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON? THERE ARE.

SO AS I SAID, WE'RE WE'RE ACCREDITED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT BODIES, AND THERE ARE NATIONAL COMMISSIONS THAT WILL HAVE TRAININGS EVERY YEAR.

AND THEY TEND TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF THAT AND TELL US THIS IS COMING.

YOU KNOW, THIS. WE WILL WE WILL BE ABLE TO VALIDATE THIS.

YOU CAN MOVE INTO THIS AREA.

SO WE KNOW FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE AND WE'VE PUT A LOT OF THAT EQUIPMENT ON OUR CIP REQUEST SO THAT WE KNOW FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE THIS EQUIPMENT TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT I MENTIONED, WE'RE HOPING TO LEVERAGE BETTER TECHNOLOGY THAN WHAT WE HAVE, WHICH WOULD NOT BE HARD TO DO GIVEN GIVEN THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WE HAVE.

SO SO THAT AS WELL WE JUST TRY TO PLAN FORWARD FOR THAT.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO PRECINCT FOUR.

PRECINCT THREE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

I, AUGUST WILLIAMS WITH PRECINCT THREE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RUN THROUGH YOUR ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION.

IF WE DON'T FUND THESE REQUESTS AS AT AT RISK OF LOSING THAT CERTIFICATION.

IF IF OUR EXPANDED CLS IS NOT FUNDED FOR THE RECURRING AUDITS THAT ARE PERFORMED, THE THE COSTS FOR CERTIFYING THE COSTS FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE BASIC COSTS THAT WILL BE HARD FOR US TO MAINTAIN, BUT ACTUALLY MEETING THE THRESHOLD FOR 9001 THAT IS BUILT INTO ALL OF OUR DAILY OPERATIONS, EVERYTHING WE DO.

AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE AN ENTIRE TEAM OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT PEOPLE WHO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I'M NOT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT US NOT MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS.

BUT IF OUR FUNDING WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO MEET THEIR HIGHER DEMANDS FOR CERTIFICATION COSTS, THEN THAT COULD BECOME A PROBLEM FOR US.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE FOR IFSW IN PARTICULAR.

NEXT IS IN RECRUITMENT.

I KNOW PREVIOUSLY YOU ALL HAD HAD A PROCESS OF CROSS TRAINING FOR THE CRIME LAB.

ARE YOU STILL WORKING ON CROSS TRAINING FOR TOXICOLOGY AND TRACE OR ETC.? WE HAVE SOME CROSS TRAINING.

IT'S IT'S SPECIFIC TO JOB TITLES AND BACKGROUND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT WE HAVE FOUND, THOUGH, IS THAT IF THE TOXICOLOGY CASELOAD GOES UP, SO DOES THE DRUG CHEMISTRY CASELOAD.

[03:00:01]

IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO SHIFT OVER TO TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO A DIFFERENT DIVISION.

SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, WE HAVE BEEN STEADILY CROSS TRAINING WHERE WE CAN, BUT IT IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TIME. HEY, I NEED MORE PEOPLE OVER HERE.

WELL THEY HAVE A HIGH CASELOAD AS WELL.

AND SO SUDDENLY YOU HAVE SORT OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE OF HOW DO YOU MANEUVER ALL OF THAT? OKAY. IN TERMS OF RECRUITMENT, ARE YOU ALL WORKING WITH ANY OF THE UNIVERSITIES AROUND HERE, MEDICAL SCHOOLS, TO KIND OF CREATE A PATHWAY? YES. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO WE HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH BAYLOR AND UT HOUSTON.

MCGOVERN. THEY SEND US MEDICAL STUDENTS WHO DO ROTATIONS AT OUR OFFICE TO HOPEFULLY GET THEM HOOKED ON FORENSIC PATHOLOGY.

OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE ALSO SET UP OVER THE SUMMER A PROGRAM FOR FIRST YEAR MED STUDENTS WHO STILL HAVE A SUMMER AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR.

THEY DON'T, BUT DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR, WE WILL BRING THEM IN FOR A WEEK AND JUST KIND OF SHOW THEM WHAT WE DO AND HOPEFULLY GET THEM MORE INTERESTED, AND IT HAS YIELDED SOME RESULTS.

SO WE'VE WE HAD SOME FIRST YEAR STUDENTS TWO YEARS AGO WHO ARE NOW COMING BACK AS PART OF THEIR ROTATION IN THEIR FOURTH YEAR, AND AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE HAVE SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AS A FELLOW AND CONTINUE WORKING FOR US.

SO AS I MENTIONED TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, I FEEL LIKE OUR FARM SYSTEM, INTERNAL, AT LEAST FOR THE ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINERS, IS A MUCH BETTER TOOL FOR RECRUITMENT THAN TRYING TO GO OUT AND CONVINCE SOMEONE TO LEAVE A POSITION WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEIR FAMILY IS, AND COME AND WORK FOR US INSTEAD. DEFINITELY START THEM YOUNG IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

MY LAST ONE IS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD A FEW MASS CASUALTY EVENTS.

ARE YOU ALL STAFFED AND READY TO HANDLE ANOTHER MASS CASUALTY EVENT SHOULD IT HAPPEN? WE ARE.

THE FACILITY IS CAPABLE OF OF TAKING ON MASS CASUALTIES.

WE ALSO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS AN EMERGENCY MANAGER WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

AS AS WELL AS THE STATE AND THE REGIONAL SET TRACK, WHICH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT STANDS FOR, BUT SO WE ALSO HAVE TABLETOP EXERCISES OFTEN.

AND EVERY TIME THERE'S A NEW EMERGENCY, LIKE THE HURRICANE, WE LEARN MORE AND WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE KEEP UPDATING AS TIME GOES ON.

OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU WILL NOW HAVE SIX MINUTES AND 50S FOR REMAINING QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO REALLY QUICKLY, ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE RECRUITING.

I LOVE THE TALENT PIPELINE WITH OUR MED SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE GETTING GREAT FOLKS TO COME WORK WITH HARRIS COUNTY.

I KNOW WHEN WE MET LAST MISS PRINE, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS IN PARTICULAR, THAT YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS IF WE WERE MORE PROACTIVE ABOUT HELPING RECRUIT INTERNATIONALLY WITH VISA.

AND I KNOW WE WERE.

WE FACILITATED AN INTRODUCTION WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

HAVE WE BEEN TAKING A MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH, AND IF NOT, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD STILL BE HELPFUL? WELL, WE DO HAVE A FEW ASSISTANT MEDICAL EXAMINERS WHO ARE REQUIRING ASSISTANCE TO GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

AND WE ARE PROVIDING THAT ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL BECAUSE IT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO TURN ANYBODY AWAY.

WHAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN IS GOOD AT YET IS ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE REACH THOSE PEOPLE? RIGHT NOW WE UTILIZE THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS.

THEY HAVE A JOB POSTING.

THEY HAVE THAT KIND OF THING.

SO WE'RE KIND OF RELIANT UPON THEM RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE.

BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY DO A BETTER JOB OF REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE US TO FIND THOSE PEOPLE.

AND AND WE WILL WORK WITH HR TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT.

WELL, I KNOW WE SHARE THE COMMITMENT OF GETTING THE BEST TALENT IN THE WORLD HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY.

SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT, LET US KNOW.

TAKING A COMPLETE STEP BACK IN TERMS OF STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS AT IFS.

WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE WHAT THE STRATEGIC VISION IS AND HOW THIS BUDGET HELPS US ADVANCE TOWARDS GETTING TOWARDS WHERE YOU ALL ARE

[03:05:03]

ONE IS OUR FACILITY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO UPGRADE.

WE EXPAND INTO THE FLOORS WE HAVE THAT ARE VACANT RIGHT NOW.

BRINGING OUR DNA LAB OVER.

WE HAVE PLANS TO UPGRADE THE MORGUE.

SOME OF THE OTHER LABS THAT WERE KIND OF OUTGROWING.

SO WE'RE WORKING WITH ENGINEERING ON GETTING THAT DONE.

AS FAR AS OUR STAFFING LEVELS, THOSE ARE ALL BASED ON ARE WE MEETING OUR TURNAROUND TIME GOALS? THAT IS THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR US.

SO IF WE'RE NOT MEETING THOSE GOALS, THE FIRST THING WE LOOK AT IS DO WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO HELP US GET THERE? AND I THINK THE REQUEST YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU REALLY FOCUSES IN ON THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MEET OUR GOALS, OR AT LEAST GET US CLOSER TO THOSE GOALS.

SO THE FACILITY AND THE PEOPLE WOULD BE THE TWO PRIMARY WAYS THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND YOU DON'T SEE A REQUEST FOR A LOT OF CRIME LAB PERSONNEL BECAUSE WE'RE MEETING OUR TURNAROUND TIME GOALS THERE.

AND SO UNLESS THINGS START TO SHIFT, THEN WE'LL STAY FOCUSED ON ADDING TO THE ME SIDE FOR RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. AND MY LAST QUESTION, TO GO BACK TO A TOPIC I RAISED EARLIER, FOCUSING ON THE CITY'S CRIME LAB AND OUR IFS.

DO YOU SEE ADDITIONAL WAYS OF COLLABORATION OR STANDARDIZATION OF PROCESSES, LABELING OF EVIDENCE OR OTHERWISE NOT A NOT A MERGER.

IT'S NOT MY QUESTION, BUT IS THERE MORE WE CAN DO SO THAT BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF THE OUTCOMES FOR THE RESIDENTS IN THIS REGION? WELL, WE HAVE SAID THAT WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WITH HOUSTON'S BACKLOG IF THEY SO CHOOSE TO UTILIZE US.

AND HPD HAS COME TO US WITH CASES THAT ARE AN EMERGENCY THAT THEY CAN'T.

THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN A DEADLINE FROM HOUSTON OF WE'LL GET THAT IN A YEAR BECAUSE OF THEIR BACKLOG AND THEY CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG.

WE HAVE ACCEPTED THOSE CASES.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DO IS JUST OPEN THAT FLOODGATE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING RIGHT NOW TO COVER THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TO ADD THAT KIND OF CASELOAD.

WE WE COULD WORK WITH HOUSTON TO ACCEPT SOME OF THEIR CASES IF THEY HAVE A NEED TO GET THOSE DONE FASTER. WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY HAD ANY COMMUNICATION WITH HOUSTON ABOUT BEING BEING THERE TO ASSIST THEM.

I AND SO THAT.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

MISS PRINE, YOU WILL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

FOR INCLUDING US AND INVITING US HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR BUDGET.

I, I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ECFS ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO.

AND WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF HARRIS COUNTY.

AND AND I BELIEVE THAT WE THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AS WELL.

AND AGAIN, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING US, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS MOVING FORWARD.

YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO FIND ME.

AND AND WENDY HASN'T GOTTEN TO SAY ANYTHING.

SO DO YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANKS. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES.

WE WILL HEAR NEXT FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEGINNING AT 2:30 P.M..

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

MISS CORONADO, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS.

[District Attorney]

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BUDGET.

MY NAME IS THERESA CORONADO, AND I AM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR THE DA'S OFFICE.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE BUDGET OFFICE FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE $3.5 MILLION AND 25 NEW POSITIONS FOR THE THREE NEW COURTS.

ALSO, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE $1.7 MILLION FOR THE VOCA GRANT REDUCTION.

[03:10:04]

OUR OFFICE SERVED OVER 17,000 VICTIMS OF CRIME, AND YOUR SUPPORT IS GOING TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THE DA'S OFFICE IS DEDICATED, DEDICATED TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER THROUGH EVIDENCE BASED PROSECUTION AND EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THIS MEANS GUARANTEEING A FAIR PROCESS TO OBTAIN A JUST RESULT FOR THE VICTIM, FOR THE ACCUSED, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IN EVERY SINGLE CASE.

ONE AREA THAT HAS THAT WAS NOT FUNDED, BUT IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, IS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

IS THE HOMICIDE DIVISION.

CURRENTLY, WE ARE USING ARPA FUNDING TO FUND OUR HOMICIDE DIVISION.

THIS DIVISION FOCUSES ON MURDERS AND THE MOST VIOLENT CRIMES IN 2020.

37 KILLERS WERE SENT TO JAIL.

IN 2023, 271 KILLERS WERE SENT TO JAIL.

AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IMPACTS THE JAIL POPULATION, THIS IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO IN THIS HOMICIDE DIVISION, WE HAVE REALLY EXPERIENCED CHIEF LEVEL PROSECUTORS, AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING EVERY DAY.

SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP AND THAT THAT'S THE FUNDING THAT WE HOPE GETS REVISITED OUT OF THE ARPA.

WE HAVE 97 ARPA POSITIONS.

WE'RE REQUESTING 29, 29.

THE REST OF THEM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STRIDES WITH TECHNOLOGY ON HOW WE'RE GETTING EVIDENCE.

SO 29 OUT OF 97, IT TOTALS $3.7 MILLION.

AND THESE ARE THE CASES THAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALSO PRIORITIZED THESE.

SO I WANTED TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT.

THERE'S OVER 1700 PENDING MURDER AND CAPITAL MURDER CASES.

THAT HAVE.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU, MISS CORONADO, FOR BEING HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO EVERY DAY TO ADVANCE JUSTICE.

MY QUESTION IS, WITH REGARD TO INTAKE, CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH HOW THE ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT WAS APPROVED BY COURT HAS HOW MANY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HIRE AND THEN WHAT THE IMPACT HAS BEEN.

SO ANYTHING WITH STAFFING.

I BROUGHT MY EXPERT, ELIZABETH STEVENS.

I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, ELIZABETH, BUT WE HAVE SOME SO WITH THE SALARY INCREASES AND WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE SUPPORT OF HIRING 45 NEW COMMITS JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HIRED 45 NEW PEOPLE.

OUR VACANCIES. I KNOW IT LOOKS ON PAPER RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE REPORTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS.

45 NEW CAME IN, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO GET THESE PEOPLE TRAINED.

INTAKE IS WHERE THE PHONE CALLS COME IN.

WE NEED SOME EXPERIENCED PEOPLE THERE.

SO AT THIS POINT, LET ME SEE HOW MANY WE HAVE IN INTAKE.

AND, ELIZABETH, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REPORT TELLS ME WE HAVE THREE POSITIONS.

SO WE DO. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANCIES IN INTAKE AT THE MOMENT.

WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEAVE RECENTLY.

WE'RE FUNDING OUR WEEKEND AND OVERNIGHT SHIFTS, PARTLY THROUGH OVERTIME AT THIS POINT.

AND IT'S JUST A NECESSITY GIVEN THAT INTAKE IS A DIFFICULT PLACE TO HIRE INTO.

WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME WHO ARE WHO WE CERTAINLY HAVE.

THE DAY SHIFT IS STAFFED FULLY WITH OUR REGULAR EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN OVER I MEAN, OVER THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN, WE HAVE HIRED MANY, MANY PEOPLE INTO INTAKE.

I CAN SAY OVER THE LAST 2 TO 3 MONTHS WE'VE LOST QUITE A FEW.

AND WITH REGARD TO THE JPC, DO WE HAVE ADAS PRESENT AT THE JPC? YES, YES WE DO FOR FOR THE INTAKE, THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER, MENTAL HEALTH.

IS IT SEVEN DAYS A WEEK OR WHAT IS THE STAFFING MODEL THERE? I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

OKAY. SO IN TERMS OF RECRUITING, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CLASS OF LAWYERS YOU JUST HIRED.

CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT THE RECRUITING STRATEGIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOUND TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE, AND THEN OTHER IDEAS YOU HAVE THAT WOULD HELP US BECOME EVEN BETTER AT RECRUITING AND RETAINING? WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING ON OUR RECRUITING.

I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS IS BRING INTO EFFECT THE POST BAR PROGRAM.

[03:15:07]

WITH VIVIAN KING'S ASSISTANCE.

WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THIS PROGRAM IN THIS MODEL BECAUSE NINE IS NOT ENOUGH GIVEN TODAY'S JUST CHALLENGES OF RECRUITING.

AND SO WE CHANGED THE POSITION TO THE POST BARR FELLOW.

IT'S A HIGHER RATE OF PAY.

THEY BEGIN BENEFITS ESSENTIALLY IMMEDIATELY AS AS TYPICAL EMPLOYEES WOULD.

AND SO OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR WITH THE POST BARR FELLOW PROGRAM.

WE'VE HAD AROUND 30 EACH YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE BROUGHT IN 45 REALLY WONDERFUL GRADUATE LAW STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW AWAITING THEIR BARR RESULTS.

THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT WE DID LEARN, I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, POST COVID, THE BARR RESULT RATE, THE PASSAGE RATE WAS NOT GREAT.

IT I THINK IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

AND SO WE HAVE LOST EVEN THOUGH WE'RE BRINGING IN THESE HIGHER NUMBERS, WE WERE STILL LOSING, YOU KNOW A THIRD POTENTIALLY TO NOT PASSING THE BAR.

AND SO WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL WITH THIS CLASS THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'LL BE THE FULL 45, WHICH WOULD BE WONDERFUL.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE BEEN SENDING OUT OUR EXPERIENCE PROSECUTORS TO WE'RE REALLY KIND OF FOCUSING ON TEXAS SCHOOLS AND THEN OTHER AREAS, INCLUDING LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI.

WE DO HAVE AND THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS COURT AND TO VIVIAN KING FOR HELPING US TO RAISE OUR SALARIES, OUR STARTING SALARIES, AND ALL THE WAY UP, WHICH IS, I THINK HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN OUR RECRUITING AS WELL.

SOUNDS GOOD. I'M OUT OF TIME, BUT I WOULD LOVE HOPEFULLY ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS WILL BE ABOUT SPECIALTY DOCKETS.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR HOW YOUR REQUESTS WOULD HELP IMPROVE AND ENHANCE THE OPERATIONS IN KIND OF MANAGEMENT OF THOSE DOCKETS, BUT I KNOW MY TIME IS UP.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

PRECINCT ONE YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE NO QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, SO WE'LL ALLOCATE THE ENTIRETY OF OUR TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

PRECINCT TWO. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HEY, MATT. GARY, POLICY ADVISOR FOR COMMISSIONER GARCIA.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS RESPONDING TO MY EMAILS VERY PROMPTLY, I APPRECIATE THAT.

COULD YOU SPEAK TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES, QUESTION ABOUT THE SPECIALTY DOCKETS? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE DVD DOCKET AND THE.

WELL, THOSE. AND I'M GOING TO NEED SOME EXPERTISE HERE.

ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES ON THESE EXPERTISE DOCKETS IS WE HAVE THE SAME PERSON, RIGHT? THEY HAVE A HOME COURT THAT THEY HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THEIR DOCKET THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND THEN WE HAVE THESE SPECIALTY DOCKETS, AND WE CAN'T HAVE THE SAME PERSON IN TWO PLACES.

SO WE NEED SOMEBODY ELSE OVER THERE AND SHARING CASES.

AND I'M GOING TO LET HER TAKE OVER BECAUSE SHE'S THE ATTORNEY.

I'M TRYING NOT TO BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I WON'T BE HERE AND THEY WILL BE, BUT I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU NEED.

SURE. SO CONCERNING YOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DIVISION, HOW IS YOUR BUDGET SUPPORTING THIS TEAM AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP BOLSTER THEIR WORK? A LOT OF OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONEY IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GRANT MONEY THAT'S HELPING US.

WE DO NEED GENERAL FUND MONEY FOR THAT.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAME A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN USUAL DURING COVID, AS YOU KNOW, ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND PARTICULARLY IN HARRIS COUNTY, THE MURDER RATES WENT UP BETWEEN DOMESTIC PARTNERS.

SO WE'RE WORKING THAT DOWN WITH OUR WE'RE WORKING THAT DOWN WITH OUR HOMICIDE TEAMS TRYING TO GET THAT DOWN.

BUT THEY THEY NEED A LOT OF HELP.

WE'VE SUBMITTED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE THINGS THAT WE SPECIFICALLY NEED.

OUR PROSECUTOR, MARY MCFADDEN, IS A DIVISION CHIEF.

SO WE NEED SPECIALTY DOCKETS BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND GO TO CLASSES TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT VICTIMS NEED IN THOSE AREAS WHERE OUR REGULAR PROSECUTORS, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE 1000 OR 1500 CASES THAT ARE NOT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THEY'RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING.

AND SO WE HAVE THOSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTORS DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH THOSE CASES, AND THEY'VE BEEN TRAINED TO DO SO TO DEAL WITH THAT PSYCHIC.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THAT FOR CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO ARE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, THEIR SPECIALTY.

THEY ACTUALLY GO TO AT LEAST TWO SEMINARS PER YEAR TO LEARN TO DEAL WITH CHILDREN'S TRAUMA SO THAT THEY CAN TALK TO THEM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES ADULTS CAN SCARE CHILDREN JUST BY TALKING TO THEM, ESPECIALLY PROSECUTORS WHO ARE 25 OR 27 YEARS OLD, MANY OF WHICH HAVE NEVER HAD KIDS BEFORE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO SEND THEM TO CLASSES.

BUT THE NORMAL PROSECUTOR THAT'S DEALING WITH 1500, YOU KNOW, NON SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE TERMINOLOGY.

[03:20:08]

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT FORENSIC INTERVIEWS.

SO THAT'S WHAT OUR SPECIALTY TEAMS DO IN HOMICIDE IS SPECIALTY TOO.

AND WHAT INTERNAL MECHANISMS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE BUDGET TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WELL, WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET EVERY DAY.

WE LOOK AT OUR MONEY EVERY DAY.

WE CALCULATE HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE EVERY PAY PERIOD WE'RE DOING IT TODAY.

WE LOOK AT OUR OVERTIME, WE CALCULATE, WE LOOK AT THE ENCUMBRANCES TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE END OF THE BUDGET CYCLE, SEPTEMBER 30TH.

WE DO THAT EVERY DAY.

THE BUDGET UNDER TERESA CORONADO'S LEADERSHIP.

SHE HAS FOUR PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH HER, WITH ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ALL FINANCIAL NEEDS, AND THEY REPORT TO ME AND I GO OVER IT WITH THEM EVERY DAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

PRECINCT THREE. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

WHEN YOU WERE TALKING. MY NAME IS ROGER BRIDGEWATER.

AND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMICIDE SPECIALTY COURT, OUR SPECIALTY GROUP, THEY TAKE OVER THE CASES AS SOON AS THEY'RE SET FOR TRIAL.

IS THAT RIGHT? IS THAT. THAT'S WHAT THEY DID AT FIRST WHEN THE LEGISLATURE FIRST PASSED THE LAW AND WHEN KIM OK.

WELL, ACTUALLY, WE STARTED IT ACTUALLY BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE LAW LAST YEAR.

BUT WE TAKE THEM FROM THE BEGINNING NOW.

BUT WE DID TAKE THEM AT ONE POINT.

WHATEVER CASES, WHATEVER CAPITAL MURDERS WERE PENDING, WE HAVE OUR MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS.

WE MOVED TO THE ARPA POSITIONS IN THE 11 ER COURTS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S COUNTING THE IRD AND ASSOCIATE JUDGE SPOTS.

WE GAVE THOSE TO THE CHIEFS AND THEY HANDLED THOSE CASES.

AND WE'VE MOVED A LOT OF CASES SINCE WE'VE DONE THAT BEFORE.

THEN THEY WERE JUST KICKING THE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT WAS BEING THE CASES WERE BEING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD.

I MEAN, WE HAVE YOU KNOW, THE CASES WERE REALLY OLD.

AND SO WE WATCH IT.

SO THE IRD COORDINATOR FOR THE COURTS SENDS US A LIST EVERY TUESDAY.

I MEAN EVERY I THINK FRIDAY SHE SENDS US A LIST OF ALL THE IRD, THE CAPITAL MURDERS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE NEXT WEEK.

AND SO THE MANAGERS OF THE OFFICE MAKE SURE THAT THE PROSECUTORS ARE READY FOR THOSE CASES.

WE EMPHASIZE THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT WITH THE ARPA MONEY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MORE RESET, RESET, RESET, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DECISION DEAL WITH THE CASE.

AND WE'VE CLEARED A LOT OF CASES FROM THAT.

WELL, WHEN I WAS WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE 271, WERE THOSE CAPITAL MURDER CASES OR WERE THOSE REGULAR HOMICIDES? BOTH. OKAY.

IT WAS BOTH. AND ARE THOSE BEING DISPOSED OF BEFORE SET FOR TRIAL SINCE THE PROSECUTORS, THEY'RE HANDLING THE CASES? NO. WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND CAN MAKE IT CLEAR TO A DEFENSE LAWYER WHERE THEY'RE HEADED.

MANY ARE.

UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL OF THEM ARE BEING DONE THAT WAY.

BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING BETTER IS THERE'S A LOT OF HOMICIDES THAT ARE JUST PENDING.

AND GRAND JURY, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, THAT ARE NOT CASES YET.

RIGHT. WE PUT ONE OF OUR MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS, ALICIA HARVEY, ON THAT, AND SHE HAS DISPOSED OF OVER 100 OF THOSE CASES, MANY OF WHICH WERE NEVER FILED.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI. I THINK ALL MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, SO I'LL YIELD MY REMAINING TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU WILL HAVE NINE MINUTES AND 10S FOR ANY REMAINING QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR SHARING YOUR TIME.

SO MY NEXT QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO ARPA, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THINKING.

HELLO, DEAR. YOUR THINKING IN TERMS OF THE ARPA FUNDING THAT HAS STILL NOT BEEN SPENT, WHAT YOU ALL THINK WOULD BE THE HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF THOSE DOLLARS.

I KNOW YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE POSITIONS ALREADY, BUT IF YOU COULD KIND OF JUST GO THROUGH WHAT YOU THINK WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

SURE. SO WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET 97 ARPA POSITIONS, 39 WERE ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH OUR BACKLOG OF 911 AND BODY WORN CAMERAS. I'LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE THE HPD 911.

WHEN WE STARTED, HAD WE HAD 12,000 BACKLOGGED CASES, SOME WERE 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD THAT THEY WERE WAITING JUST FOR THE 911.

AND IN ALL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, THE 911 CASE TAPE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAD ABOUT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE SHERIFF, THEY DIDN'T REALLY TELL US, BUT THEY HAD A LOT OF BACKLOG.

ALSO, WE GOT THE 12,911 FROM HPD DOWN TO 44 AT ONE POINT USING THE ARP ATTEMPTS.

WE'VE GONE BACK UP TO 1500, BUT 1500 IS JUST A THREE WEEK DELAY.

SO AND WE AND I MEET WITH THE ARPA TEAM, THE ADMINS, EVERY THURSDAY AT 1130.

WE INVITE PEOPLE FROM YOUR OFFICES.

SOME OF YOU HAVE COME, COME AND GONE THROUGH ALL OF OUR STATS WITH US.

WE LOOK AT THE BODY WORN CAMERAS.

DIGITAL EVIDENCE CONTINUES TO CHANGE, SO WE GET AUTOMATICALLY HPD POLICE REPORTS THROUGH OUR DIGITAL EVIDENCE USING THE ARPA MONEY.

[03:25:05]

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS HPD IS BUYING NEW TECHNOLOGY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONSIDERED US.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACKWARDS AGAIN A LITTLE BIT WITH HPD OFFENSE REPORTS THAT ARE RIGHT NOW COMING OVER AUTOMATICALLY.

BUT BUT THE TEMPS AND THE ADMINS ARE THE ONES WHO PROCESS ALL THAT EVIDENCE DIFFERENT.

JUDGE BRIDGEWATER, FROM WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

IT WAS IT WAS THE PROSECUTORS GOING AFTER IT.

NOW IT'S THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS DEALING WITH ALL THAT TECHNOLOGY AND LEARNING.

THE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS ARE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS BECAUSE AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, EVERYBODY BUYS A DIFFERENT SURVEILLANCE CAMERA.

AND SO TO BE ABLE TO ABSORB THAT INFORMATION AND SEND IT THROUGH THE DEFENSE PORTAL IS ALWAYS CHALLENGING.

OUR OUR PROGRAMMERS ARE CONSTANTLY LEARNING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONE YOU GOT AT COSTCO OR THE ONE YOU GOT AT AMAZON OR THE ONE YOU GOT AT THE STORE.

WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO ABSORB THAT INFORMATION.

AND LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW OUR BIG CHALLENGE IS HPD THAT'S ABOUT TO BUY NEW MS. EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO ABSORB.

I HOPE THAT HELPS YOU, BECAUSE THE THREE ONE OF THE THINGS WE ASKED FOR WAS TO MAKE THOSE THREE IT PEOPLE BE PERMANENT BECAUSE OF THAT.

ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD IS THE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY PHONE DUMPS.

IT LETS LETS US KNOW WHERE THE ALLEGED ACCUSED WAS.

AND THESE ARE SERIOUS CASES JUST ON THE VIOLENT CRIMES DO WE DUMP IS USUALLY MURDERS.

IT'S USUALLY JUST MURDERS, ACTUALLY MURDERS AND CAPITAL MURDERS BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW THE EVIDENCE NEEDS TO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO THE PHONE DUMP AND PHONE DUMPS ARE HUGE. AND SO OUR IT PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT HELP ABSORB THAT INFORMATION AND GIVE IT TO THE DEFENSE.

THANK YOU, MISS KING.

SO OF THE REQUESTS THAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE SO THAT THE FIVE OF US CAN HEAR AT ONE TIME, WHAT HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THEM? OR COULD YOU REITERATE KIND OF THE RANK ORDER PRIORITY FOR THE VARIOUS ITEMS, PLEASE.

YES, MA'AM. SO? SO THERE WAS 97 POSITIONS.

WE ARE PRIORITIZING 29.

THAT'S WHAT WE ASKED FOR.

EIGHT OF THE POSITIONS WERE TO MAKE THE HOMICIDE CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S PERMANENT.

EIGHT. WERE THERE PARALEGALS THAT GO WITH THEM? THAT'S 16 OF THEM.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE CASES ARE OLD.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE MURDERS, AS YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE 5 OR 6 OR 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD.

SO WE HAVE TO GO FIND AND WE HAVE INVESTIGATORS TOO, BUT WE HAVE TO GO FIND THESE WITNESSES AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO MANY YEARS.

THEN WE HAVE EIGHT MISDEMEANOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S GETTING THE TECHNOLOGY.

TRADITIONALLY, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HAD ONE ADMIN PER TWO COURTS.

THERE ARE 16 MISDEMEANOR COURTS.

BUT THAT'S WHEN OUR PROSECUTORS HAD PAPER AND THE ADMINS ANSWERED THE PHONE AND THEY PULLED FILES.

BUT THEY DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

NOW WE'VE MADE OUR ADMINS BE HIGH TECH PEOPLE.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S ACTUALLY GETTING THE EVIDENCE ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE 86 POLICE AGENCIES THAT WE SERVE.

THEY'RE GETTING THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS AND MAKING ACTUAL COPIES OF DISCS FOR THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS TO PICK UP, BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE TOO LARGE TO PUT IN THE PORTAL AND OR IT JUST WON'T. WE JUST CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

SO AND THEN WE HAVE TWO DIGITAL FORENSICS THAT THOSE ARE THE TELEPHONE DUMPS THAT ARE USED.

AND NOT ONLY DO OUR DIGITAL FORENSICS INVESTIGATORS DUMP FOR US, THEY DUMP FOR OTHER POLICE AGENCIES.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE THREE IT PROGRAMMERS.

AND THAT'S THE THAT'S THE 29.

THANK YOU. SO WITH REGARD TO THE VOCA GRANT, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MAKING SURE WE ADD THAT AMOUNT THAT'S BEING PHASED OUT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE CRITICAL WORK THAT YOU ALL DO WITH REGARD TO THAT GRANT AND THE SCOPE IN TERMS OF OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT MORE CAN THE COUNTY BE DOING, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR GROWING GRANTS DEPARTMENT, TO MORE PROACTIVELY APPLY FOR OTHER GRANTS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK. I'M GOING TO START OFF ANSWERING THAT, AND THEN I'LL LET TERESA CORONADO FINISH IT.

WHEN WE GOT TO THE DA'S OFFICE.

WE HAD ONE GRANT THAT DID PROTECTIVE ORDERS, THAT'S ALL.

THE DA'S HAD ABOUT $400,000 ABOUT.

AND WE HAD TO MATCH HALF OF THAT NOW.

AND SO WE HAD ABOUT THREE POSITIONS.

NOW WE HAVE 51 GRANT POSITIONS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WE I DISCOVERED WHEN I GOT THERE WITH DA ORG THAT SHE HAD THIS MBA AND WAS VERY TALENTED, BUT SHE WAS NOT YOU, BUT TERESA WAS NOT BEING USED FOR THAT.

AND SO I KNOW.

SO WE ASKED HER TO SEE IF YOU COULD FIND GRANTS FOR US.

AND SHE DID THAT. WE HAD FOUR VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATORS BACKS WHEN WE STARTED IN JANUARY OF 17.

NOW WE HAVE 25 AND THAT WAS FROM VOCA.

AND THE LAW REQUIRES US TO CONTACT VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME.

I WANT TO ADD THAT BECAUSE WHEN TERESA WAS TALKING, SHE SAID VICTIMS OF CRIME, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CRIMES.

PROPERTY CRIMES THAT'S NOT INCLUDED.

THE BIG NUMBER THAT SHE GAVE WERE VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

[03:30:03]

17,000IN ONE YEAR.

AND BEFORE THAT WE WEREN'T DOING THAT.

SO AND ALSO, I WANT TO ADD THAT WE'VE COLLECTED OVER $50 MILLION FOR VICTIMS ALSO SINCE WE'VE BEEN THERE.

WELL, THANK YOU, MISS KING.

AND THANK YOU, MISS CORONADO AND.

PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE AND 38 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE NEED TO USE ARPA FUNDING FOR HOMICIDE CASES? YES. SO BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ERRED COURTS AND THEY PRIORITIZE THE MURDERS AND THE SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, WE PUT OUR MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS WHO ARE WHO ARE NOT MANAGERS, BUT WHO ARE CHIEF PROSECUTORS INTO THOSE SPOTS SO THAT THEY WOULD KNOW HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO SETTLE THE CASE, EITHER BY TRIAL, A PLEA BARGAIN.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THIS CASE LOOK LIKE TODAY? THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE. THEY'VE TRIED ENOUGH CASES TO KNOW WHAT A JURY WOULD DO IN THAT SITUATION.

SOME ARE, SOME ARE. SOMETIMES IT'S REDUCED, THE CHARGES ARE REDUCED.

BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE FACTS TURN OUT TO BE.

SO THE ARPA MONEY IS BEING USED IN A WAY THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE DONE THAT OTHERWISE, BECAUSE THOSE PROSECUTORS WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN IN A COURT THAT HAS 2000 CASES PENDING. AND OBVIOUSLY, THE LEGISLATURE AND OUR COURT ADMINISTRATORS THOUGHT WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL COURTS.

THAT'S WHY THEY ASKED FOR THE COURTS.

IT WAS TO GET RID OF THIS BACKLOG.

SO OUR HOMICIDE TEAM HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB NOT RESETTING THESE CASES WHEN THEY'RE SET FOR TRIAL AND SETTLING THESE CASES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT THREE, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 54 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THERE WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA THAT WAS TAKEN OFF THIS PAST WEEK OR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THAT WAS FOR THE 2.6 MILLION? YES, SIR. ORIGINALLY, WE WERE MEETING WITH CHIEF FINNER AND HIS TEAM, BEN TEN, AND SOME OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS ABOUT THOSE 264,000 OR 6000 268,000, DEPENDING ON WHICH ARTICLE YOU READ THAT WERE BACKLOGGED.

MANY OF THOSE CASES, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS RUN, BUT THERE WERE 4017 SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES THAT HAVE A MUCH LONGER STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS THAT ARE STILL PENDING. OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT PROSECUTORS WERE WORKING WITH HPD TO CONTACT THOSE VICTIMS, GET FORENSIC INTERVIEWS DONE, FIND OUT IF THEY STILL WANTED TO PROCEED WITH THE CHARGES.

WE ANTICIPATED HATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK A LOT OF OVERTIME.

THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE BEING PAID OVERTIME TO DO THIS WORK, SO WE DIDN'T KNOW IF OUR TEAM COULD ABSORB THAT WORK.

SO JUST IN CASE WE COULDN'T AND WE KNOW THAT OUR TEAM IS COMING TO AN END, OUR TERM IS COMING TO AN END.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THAT ON THE DOCKET.

YOU GUYS KNEW THAT IT MIGHT OVERLOAD US AT SOME POINT.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEING ABLE TO ABSORB IT, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE DOING THAT WITH OVERTIME.

AND WE'RE DOING IT WITH THE INTAKE OVERTIME FUNDS RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

COURT OFFICERS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

OKAY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE POSITIONS, FOR THE NEW COURTS, FOR THE VOCA FUNDING.

WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

WE THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BUDGET OFFICE WORKING WITH US.

IT HAS REALLY HELPED TO INCREASE THE STARTING SALARIES.

IT HAS HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO HIRE THESE LARGE PRE-COMMIT GROUPS.

THAT'S GOING TO HELP US.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO GET US THERE.

I JUST WANT TO STRESS HOW IMPORTANT THE HOMICIDE DIVISION IS FOR US.

IF THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.

AND I WANT TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY AT THE DA'S OFFICE, IT'S A HARD PLACE TO WORK.

IT'S A REALLY TOUGH PLACE TO WORK.

YOU SEE WHAT HUMANS CAN DO TO OTHER HUMANS, PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING REALLY HARD.

IF YOU SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS IN POPULATION, YOU'LL SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD, WE'RE WORKING SMART, WE'RE USING TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY.

THERE'S NO REMOTE WORK.

PEOPLE HAVE TO BE AT COURTS EVERY DAY.

SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, AND I WAS VERY THANKFUL TO THE BUDGET OFFICE TO BE THINKING ABOUT PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES, THINK ABOUT PARKING FOR EMPLOYEES AND FOR VICTIMS. WE ASKED THEM TO COME TO COURT.

VICTIMS THEY HAVE TO PAY.

[03:35:02]

BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ALL YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

WE WILL NEXT HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 3 P.M..

WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, CHIEF BUNIN.

[Public Defender]

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

THANK YOU. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M ALEX BUNIN, CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

THIS IS MY 14TH.

NO 13TH BUDGET HEARING.

THE OFFICE WILL BE 14 YEARS OLD THIS DECEMBER.

AND MUCH HAS CHANGED OVER THAT TIME.

OUR OFFICE STARTED WITH A SMALL GRANT FROM THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION.

WE'VE GROWN.

WE GREW A LITTLE BIT DURING OUR FIRST FEW YEARS, BUT GREW SUBSTANTIALLY IN MORE RECENT YEARS, AND I WANT TO GIVE MY FULL COMMITMENT TO COMMISSIONERS COURT'S GOAL OF GETTING US TO 50% OF ALL APPOINTMENTS.

AND I HOPE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT TODAY.

A LOT OF THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL SUPPORTED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE.

SO I EXPECT TO GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO USE MY TIME RIGHT NOW TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING I WANT IN ADDITION TO THAT.

AND THAT IS SALARY PARITY WITH OUR PROSECUTORS.

SO WHEN I STARTED FIRST DAY I CAME IN, I ASKED A VERY EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATOR, WHAT DO I PAY PEOPLE? AND THEY SAID, WHATEVER YOU WANT, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT WAS BACK THEN.

AND REALLY, TO DATE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

THERE'S NO SET STANDARDS FOR WHAT YOU PAY ATTORNEYS IN HARRIS COUNTY AND AND THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE.

BUT OVER THE YEARS IT'S BEEN BACK AND FORTH.

AT SOME POINTS I PAID FOLKS MORE THAN THE DA'S OFFICE DID.

BUT RIGHT NOW, 57% OF MY EMPLOYEES MAKE LESS THAN THEIR COUNTERPART AT THE DA'S OFFICE.

SO WITH THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT YOU'RE GETTING FOR OUR GROWTH, THAT WILL ADD LAWYERS.

I'M ALSO ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN 1.272 MILLION.

AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PAPER ON THIS SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE IT DOWN AT THE END.

THAT WILL HELP US GET TO PARITY, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE HIGHER PAID PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE.

SO THERE ARE SUPERVISORS AT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT MAKE FAR MORE THAN MY FIRST ASSISTANT TO LOU NELMS, WHO'S HERE TODAY WITH ME.

AND THAT'S TRUE FOR MANY OF OUR SUPERVISORS.

AND I'D HATE TO LOSE REALLY GOOD, EXPERIENCED PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PAID FAIRLY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF MY BIG ASKS WITH THAT IS A SMALLER ASK TO INCREASE THE WAY WE PAY OUR BAIL LAWYERS.

SO WE STARTED DOING BAIL CASES IN 2017.

AND KIM HAD ALREADY COME INTO OFFICE AND WE BOTH STARTED PAYING LAWYERS FOR 40 HOUR WEEKS TO DO THOSE. THAT HAD NOT BEEN THE PRIOR SYSTEM FOR THE DA.

BEFORE KIM GOT INTO OFFICE, THE OLD WAY WAS VERY EXPERIENCED.

SUPERVISOR IN THE DA'S OFFICE WOULD WORK OVERTIME, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY.

THEY'RE NOW GOING BACK TO THE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THEIR FOLKS TIME AND A HALF.

MY FOLKS JUST GET THEIR SALARY ABOVE 40 HOURS.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS ANOTHER 275,000 TO COVER THAT.

I'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO HARRIS COUNTY FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS.

THANK YOU. SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, I KNOW WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO GETTING TO THE GOAL OF AT LEAST 50% OF CASES.

FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT PERCENT ARE WE AT NOW? TWO, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEY CHALLENGES THAT WE SHOULD ALL KEEP IN MIND AS WE CONTINUE WORKING TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL? I THINK WE'RE AROUND 17% RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S THAT DASHBOARD.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ACCURATE IT IS, BUT THAT'S THAT'S AROUND WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

I'D SAY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE HAS BEEN DURING THAT TIME IS IF YOU IF YOU JUST MAKE A PIE.

OUT OF ALL THE CASES FILED IN HARRIS COUNTY.

THAT PIE HAS BEEN GROWING THE ENTIRE TIME I'VE BEEN HERE.

SO WHILE WE'VE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF CASES SUBSTANTIALLY THAT WE HANDLE, OUR PERCENTAGE OF CASES HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP.

OTHERWISE, IF IT HAD STAYED THE SAME AS IT WAS BACK IN YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED DOING THIS BACK IN THE EARLY 20 TENS.

[03:40:04]

BUT CAYCE FILINGS, DESPITE THE DROP IN CRIME, HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IT CAN GET MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

I THINK WE ARE ON A PATH TO CATCH UP, BUT THAT HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WE'VE HAD IN GETTING THERE.

AND IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, AND THEN THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME DOWN YEARS, THERE WERE SOME YEARS WHERE WE HAD A BUDGET DEFICIT.

WE DIDN'T ADD ANYBODY.

THERE WERE ISSUES ABOUT SPACE AND WHERE TO PUT PEOPLE.

BUT NOW. THANKS AND KUDOS TO OUR ENGINEER, DOCTOR RAMON.

THE BIDS ARE GOING OUT FOR THE 12TH FLOOR AT 1310 PRAIRIE TO DEMOLISH IT, CREATE MANY NEW OFFICES THERE.

THAT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THE MANY LAWYERS I HAVE WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO SIT, A PLACE TO SIT.

AND SO THAT'S GOING FORWARD.

AND SO A LOT OF THINGS ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT IT.

I DON'T WANT TO OVERPROMISE, BUT I THINK I THINK WE'RE ON THE PATH.

SO WITH REGARD TO PAY PARITY, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE'S SUCH SIMILARLY SITUATED ROLES AS AN ADA AND AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER AND AS A LAWYER.

I MEAN, IT SHOULD BE BASED ON YEARS OF SENIORITY AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY.

SO I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND WE MUST BE FAIR.

PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO PAY PARITY, WHAT OTHER STRATEGIES HAVE YOU ALL BEEN EMPLOYING IN TERMS OF RECRUITING AND RETAINING TOP TALENT? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING NOW AND THEN? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING SO THAT WE CAN GET EVEN BETTER AT RECRUITING AND RETAINING TOP TALENT? OKAY, SO I WAS HERE FOR THE LAST TWO PRESENTATIONS, AND BOTH THE IFS AND THE DA SAID OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET GOOD PEOPLE IS FROM BRINGING THEM WITHIN AND AND THEN GIVING THEM JOBS AFTER, AFTER YOU'VE, YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH THEM FOR A WHILE.

SO INTERNSHIPS.

WE HAVE TWO LAWYERS WHO TEACH A CLASS AT SOUTH TEXAS THAT'S AN INTERNSHIP CLASS.

SO THEY ALL COME AND SPEND TIME IN OUR OFFICE.

WE GET TO WORK WITH THEM.

WE GET TO SEE THEM.

WE HAVE INTERNS FROM BOTH THURGOOD MARSHALL AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON THAT ARE THERE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR CREDIT.

AND THEN IN THE SUMMER, WE OFTEN GET FOLKS FROM WHO ARE ORIGINALLY FROM HOUSTON, WHO COME HOME FOR THE SUMMER FROM LAW SCHOOLS, WHO WANT TO INTERN SOMEWHERE.

SO EVEN HARVARD AND YALE, A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

THAT IS THE IDEAL WAY TO DO IT.

IT WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT.

AND SO WE ARE REACHING OUT TO ALL THE LAW SCHOOLS.

WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DO VISITS FOR THEIR RECRUITMENT FAIRS.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THEM.

THE BIGGEST SOURCE FOR FUTURE LAWYERS ARE GOING TO BE NEW LAWYERS FOR US, BUT THAT ALSO SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO OUR GOAL.

BECAUSE IF YOU GET A NEW LAWYER IN, THEY CANNOT IMMEDIATELY HANDLE FELONY CASES.

THE JUDGES WOULD BE VERY UPSET IF I SENT SOMEBODY BRAND NEW INTO THEIR COURTROOM, AND RIGHTLY SO.

SO IT TAKES ABOUT THREE YEARS DOING MISDEMEANORS TO GET TO THE LEVEL WHERE THEY COULD AT LEAST DO LOW LEVEL FELONY CASES.

SO WHILE WE MAY GET TO THE CAPACITY OF PEOPLE WE NEED WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO TO REACH 50%, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE A LAG TIME IN FOLKS BUILDING UP THEIR CASELOADS, GETTING THAT EXPERIENCE AND BEING READY SO THAT WE ACTUALLY MEET THAT GOAL.

I KNOW MY TIME IS UP.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WHAT PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE PDO EXPANSION IS SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERM? WELL, WHEN YOU SAY SUSTAINABLE, I MEAN, ONCE WE BRING THE PEOPLE IN AND BUILD A GOOD OFFICE, AND I MEAN, WE HAVE THE BASIS FOR THAT NOW.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS DONE ON OUR OFFICE THAT COMPARED US TO WHAT THE PRIVATE BAR DOES, BOTH THE RETAINED AND APPOINTED BAR AND OUR RESULTS ARE BETTER.

AND THAT IS AN INDICATOR THAT WE ARE DOING GOOD WORK.

AND SO WHAT YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GROW AND KEEP THAT LEVEL OF QUALITY IS HAVE ENOUGH SUPERVISION.

AND SO THE PEOPLE THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT NEEDED TO GET PAID MORE, THE SUPERVISORS TO KEEP THEM IN AND KEEP MENTORING AND TEACHING THE YOUNGER LAWYERS. THAT IS THE WAY TO GROW.

IF YOU CAN GROW THE TOP LEVEL, THE BOTTOM LEVEL WILL FOLLOW.

WE'VE ADDED THINGS LIKE A TRAINING DIRECTOR NOW SO THAT THEY'LL BE KIND OF A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION TO GET NEW LAWYERS ALL THE WAY UP TO SPEED.

WE DO, YOU KNOW, CONSTANT WORK WITH ALL THE LAWYERS, THEIR MEETINGS ABOUT CASES, THEIR MEETINGS ABOUT ADVOCACY SKILLS.

[03:45:03]

SO I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL GROW AND GROW IN A GOOD WAY.

AND HOW DOES YOUR BUDGET ADDRESS THE ESSENTIAL NEED OF PROVIDING HOLISTIC SERVICES TO CLIENTS? WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE I TOTALLY BELIEVE IN HOLISTIC SERVICES.

I BROUGHT THE IDEA TO HARRIS COUNTY.

I WORKED WITH ROBIN STEINBERG AT BRONX DEFENDERS.

BUT HERE'S THE THING ADDING HOLISTIC SERVICES DOES NOTHING TO INCREASE OUR CASELOAD.

SO IF YOU WANT THAT, YOU HAVE TO ADD ADDITIONAL MONEY.

IT DOESN'T PAY.

I MEAN, IF I ADD A LAWYER TO HELP SOMEONE GET HOUSING, YOU KNOW, OR WHATEVER ISSUE IT IS, THAT'S NOT GIVING US ANOTHER CRIMINAL CASE.

THE WAY CRIMINAL CASES ARE COUNTED IN TEXAS IS HOW THE TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION COUNTS THEM, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, YOU CLOSE A MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY CASE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY SERVICES YOU PROVIDE TO THAT PERSON.

SO THE TWO GOALS, WHILE THEY'RE BOTH LAUDATORY, ARE NOT NECESSARILY.

ONE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE OTHER.

SO I TOTALLY AGREE THAT WE NEED MONEY FOR THAT.

AND WE SHOULD DO THAT. BUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DOES NOT INCREASE THAT THAT MUCH, IF ANY.

UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU.

AND I'LL GIVE THE REST OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

PRECINCT THREE. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

AUGUST WILLIAMS, PRECINCT THREE.

SO, READING YOUR BUDGET, YOU'RE NOT AT 17%.

YOU'RE AT 14.5% OF THE CASES.

AND THE SHEET YOU GAVE OUT.

SO WHY HAS IT GONE DOWN 6.5% IN THE LAST YEAR? YOU WERE AT 21% LAST YEAR OF CASES HANDLED BY THE PDO.

NOW YOU'RE AT 14.5.

WELL, THE PERCENTAGE GOES DOWN WHEN THE CASE IS TOTAL CASES GO UP.

THAT'S THAT'S THE BIG ISSUE.

SO TOTAL CASES HAVE GONE UP BY 6.5%.

YEAH. AND ALSO BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE THE WHOLE COVID ISSUE, THERE WAS A REAL SLOWDOWN IN CLOSING CASES, WHICH IS HOW WE MEASURE.

SO FROM 23 TO 24 COVID WAS THE ISSUE.

NO IT'S IT'S IT'S A VESTIGE OF IT THOUGH.

OKAY. NEXT WHAT EFFORTS HAVE BEEN DONE BECAUSE THE PERCENT CASES ARE LOWERING.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON GETTING TO 50% FOR SIX YEARS.

WHY IS IT STAGNANT? I'M TELLING WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

IT'S A MOVING TARGET.

AS THE CASES GROW, IT'S HARD TO REACH THAT.

AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE IN IF I GIVE SOMEBODY MERIT RAISES, IT COMES OUT OF THAT.

I MEAN, THERE HAS NOT BEEN MONEY FOR THAT BEFORE.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR PARITY NOW BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO BORROW MONEY.

IF SOMEBODY DESERVES A MERIT RAISE, I'VE HAD TO BORROW MONEY OUT OF THAT.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE EVERYTHING EQUAL AND EVERYTHING ABOVE BOARD.

AND WE'RE NOT JUST BORROWING TO KEEP ABOVE WATER.

SO JUST BACK TO MY QUESTION REAL QUICK.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO INCREASE TO GET TO 50%? I KNOW YOU SAY YOU HAVE A PLAN, BUT WHAT'S THE ACTUAL WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS? WELL, WE'VE ADDED MANY, MANY LAWYERS AND THE PERCENTAGE IS GOING DOWN.

WELL, THE PERCENTAGE IT WOULD HAVE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEXT TO NOTHING IF WE HADN'T ADDED ALL THOSE LAWYERS.

OKAY. WHAT WERE YOUR BUDGET OFFSETS? EVERY DEPARTMENT SUBMITTED BUDGET OFFSETS.

IS THAT RIGHT, DANIEL? THAT'S CORRECT. I BELIEVE THEY WERE LARGELY.

GO AHEAD. I NEVER GOT THEIR NON-PERSONNEL IS WHAT WE USED FOR THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT. BUT AS WE'RE STAFFING THE OFFICE, IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME TO, TO BE TO GIVE THESE BIG INCREASES AND THEN ALSO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE NON-LABOR WHICH THEY USE TO STAFF UP THE.

I THINK AT SOME POINT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ACTUALLY DO AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE NON-LABOR TO CATCH UP WITH THE STAFFING AND THE FACILITIES.

OKAY, GREAT. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE A PLAN TO GET TO 50%.

I'LL SEE MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEGAN DELGADO WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

I KNOW YOU'VE TOUCHED ON IT BRIEFLY, BUT JUST AS I HAVE WITH EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT, I WOULD LOVE TO JUST OPEN IT UP FOR YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE ENHANCEMENT REQUEST THAT YOU CONSIDER HIGHEST PRIORITY.

OH, WELL, THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IS PARITY.

IT'S THAT SIMPLE.

THAT WOULD IT WOULD.

ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING.

I WON'T BE HERE FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

I WANT TO ASSURE THAT THERE IS A GOOD MORALE IN THE OFFICE, AND THAT WHOEVER TAKES OVER IS NOT LEFT WITH A BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN UNDERVALUED. THANK YOU.

AND REGARDING THE UPCOMING EXPIRATION OF THE TDC GRANT, YOU HAVE A REQUEST FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

COULD YOU DETAIL A LITTLE BIT SOME OF THE OPERATIONAL IMPACTS, JUST SOME OF THE IMPACTS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE IF YOU DON'T GET THIS FUNDING TO COVER THE

[03:50:06]

I THINK THE MENTAL HEALTH ONE IS DOWN TO ITS LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS JUST A SMALL PERCENT.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD ANYBODY WHO'S COVERED BY A GRANT RIGHT NOW, I'M GOING TO USE THE MONEY YOU GIVE ME IN MY BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL STAY, BECAUSE THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO WE VALUE AND WANT TO STAY.

SO THEY WOULD BE REPLACED WITH GENERAL FUNDS.

THANK YOU. YOU ALSO HAVE A REQUEST FOR OFFICE FURNITURE.

AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, YOU HAD THIS REQUEST OR A SIMILAR REQUEST LAST YEAR AS WELL.

I WAS JUST HOPING THAT YOU COULD KIND OF GIVE US THE LANDSCAPE OF, OF WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH IN TERMS OF OFFICE FURNITURE FOR THESE NEW SPACES.

YEAH. SO, FOR INSTANCE, THE 12TH FLOOR THAT'S ABOUT TO BE BUILT OUT HAS NO OFFICE FURNITURE.

SO ALL THOSE OFFICES WILL HAVE TO BE FURNISHED.

WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO USING OLDER FURNITURE I, I USED IN MY OFFICE.

IT'S MY OFFICE IS THE OLD FPM OFFICE.

AND JAKE FRIZZELL BOUGHT THE FURNITURE AND I'M JUST USING THAT.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE SOME FURNITURE.

AND SO ANYTHING WE'RE ORDERING IS JUST SO THAT SOMEBODY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO SIT DOWN.

IT'S NOT TO REPLACE OTHER NICE THINGS.

AND IF I COULD ADD, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INCLUDED IN THAT UNVOTED DEBT POLICY WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THESE ITEMS AND NOT ASK DEPARTMENTS TO COME OUT OF POCKET.

YOU KNOW, DON'T HIRE, YOU KNOW, THESE THREE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SOMEWHERE TO SIT IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL COVER.

AND THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WE MOVED TOWARDS A FACILITY FUND SO WE COULD DEAL WITH THESE ONE TIME MOVES OR REFURBISHMENTS ETC..

SO THAT SHOULD BE COMING AND APPROVED IN THE NEAREST FUTURE ALONG WITH THE RENOVATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THOSE ARE ALL OF MY QUESTIONS.

SO I JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE HAS, WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OVER THE YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO SEE HOW FAR THE DEPARTMENT HAS COME UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I'LL DONATE THE REST OF MY TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI, CHIEF. I'M RITA OSTRANDER.

I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

CAN YOU DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF OF IF THAT GRANT FUNDING WASN'T ROLLED OVER? OKAY, WELL, I THINK IT'S ONLY COVERING LIKE, TWO PEOPLE.

AND AS I SAID, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S IN ITS LAST YEAR, IT'S ONLY COVERING MAYBE TWO THIRDS OF THE SALARY MAYBE MAYBE A QUARTER.

SO I DON'T EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THOSE PEOPLE.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT UP AND COVER THEM.

BUT JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

SO ORIGINALLY WHEN THE OFFICE STARTED, THE FOCUS WAS ON MISDEMEANOR MENTAL HEALTH CASES, AND THIS WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL GRANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE WAS LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY BEING REARRESTED BECAUSE THEY'RE MENTALLY ILL, THEY'RE HOMELESS.

THEY'RE THERE PROBABLY HAVE A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE AND THEY JUST KEPT GETTING TRESPASS CASE AFTER TRESPASS CASE.

AND BY HAVING SPECIALTY LAWYERS WHO CAN IDENTIFY THOSE ISSUES RIGHT AWAY AND HELP THEM EITHER GET BACK ON MEDICATION, MAYBE GET THEM BACK INTO HOUSING, WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS ON STAFF TO WORK WITH THEM.

IT'S REALLY MADE SURE MANY MORE OF THOSE CASES JUST GOT DISMISSED IN LIEU OF GETTING THOSE FOLKS HELP, BECAUSE MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS WAS HELPING NOBODY.

SO THAT IS THE BULK OF WHAT OUR MENTAL HEALTH SECTION DOES.

WE ALSO HAVE LAWYERS IN THE FELONY MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALTY COURT WORKING THERE.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THEM IN THE THE RESTORATION COURT.

SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE ARE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND NOW YOU SO YOU MENTIONED THAT CASE FILINGS HAVE GONE UP DESPITE CRIME GOING DOWN.

WERE THE REQUESTS FOR NEW ATTORNEYS MADE WITH THIS KIND OF DISPARATE NUMBER IN MIND? AND DO YOU FORESEE THAT DIFFERENCE SHRINKING ANYTIME SOON? I'M HOPING THAT IT WILL, THAT THINGS WILL COME BACK TO NORMAL.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW, THE DISMISSAL RATE IS HUGE.

I MEAN, FOR MISDEMEANOR CASES, IT'S LIKE A 70% DISMISSAL RATE.

SO IT NEEDS TO COME DOWN TO SOME KIND OF EQUILIBRIUM AT SOME POINT.

AND AND THAT'S WHY I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR ASK IS CONSISTENT WITH THAT.

SO WE BASED IT ON HOW MANY LAWYERS I MEAN OUR LAWYERS HAVE CASELOAD MAXIMUMS. THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF TEXAS BY THE INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION.

SO WE SIMPLY MULTIPLY THOSE MAXIMUMS TO TO DETERMINE HOW MANY LAWYERS YOU NEED TO DO, THE AMOUNT OF CASES THAT WOULD GET US TO 50%.

[03:55:04]

OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU.

AND THEN JUST ONE LAST QUESTION RELATED TO PAY PARITY.

ARE THE NEW ATTORNEYS THAT YOU'VE REQUESTED.

WILL THEY BE COMING IN AT PARITY? WE WE ARE CURRENTLY WE'RE DOING A SALARY REVIEW WITHIN THE OFFICE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WITHIN THE OFFICE THAT THERE ARE NO DISPARITIES.

AND THEN THOSE, THOSE, THOSE THE BOTTOM WILL BE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY.

SO THE PEOPLE COMING IN SHOULDN'T BE MAKING MORE THAN SOMEONE WHO GOT HIRED LAST YEAR, FOR INSTANCE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THESE POSITIONS WILL THE SALARY STUDY IS COUNTY WIDE.

WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THIS ONE AS WELL AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE JOBS, JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CORRECTLY ORDERING AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S PARITY ACROSS ATTORNEY CLASSES.

SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. SAME THING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT OR JUST ANY OF THOSE COMMON POSITIONS.

WE HAVE GOOD JOB DESCRIPTIONS.

WE KNOW WHAT WHAT LEVEL THEY SHOULD BE AT.

AND THERE'S PAY PARITY.

SO WE'RE NOT DEPARTMENTS AREN'T CANNIBALIZING EACH OTHER'S STAFF.

WHEN ONE PERSON GETS A RAISE AND THE OTHER ONE DOESN'T, JUST BY VIRTUE OF BEING IN A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE IN THE PAST IT WAS A FREE FOR ALL.

YEAH. OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU NOW HAVE EIGHT MINUTES EVEN FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

SO YOU KNOW HOW PASSIONATELY I FEEL AND HOW EAGER I AM FOR US TO GET TO AT LEAST 50% BASED ON WHERE WE ARE NOW. HOW MANY MORE YEARS DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE US TO GET THERE IF THESE BUDGET REQUESTS ARE APPROVED? BEING REALISTIC, IT'S ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

FIVE MORE BECAUSE.

BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE THE PEOPLE.

BUT THEY WON'T ALL BE.

AND THE REAL NEED IS IN THE FELONY COURTS.

NOW, WE PRETTY MUCH.

I MEAN, WE STILL HIRE EXPERIENCED LAWYERS FROM THE AREA.

I MEAN, MAYBE ONCE A, YOU KNOW, EVERY FEW MONTHS.

BUT MOST OF THOSE FOLKS, THEY'RE SET IN THEIR WAYS.

THEY HAVE A PRACTICE.

THEY'RE NOT. I MEAN, A FEW OF THEM WILL GO, WELL, A COUNTY JOB SOUNDS GOOD.

THERE ARE BENEFITS.

I DON'T HAVE TO SET FEES, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANYBODY FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO COME HERE AND DROP THEIR WHOLE PRACTICE AND SHOW UP HERE.

SO THAT'S WHY I SAY THE FUTURE IS YOUNG LAWYERS.

THAT'S WHERE.

BUT THAT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT READY THE FIRST DAY TO TAKE FELONY CASES.

SO I'M SAYING WE'LL HAVE WE'LL HAVE THE CAPACITY WITHIN PROBABLY TWO YEARS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO PROMISE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, REACH THE GOAL.

I MEAN, I WON'T BE HERE SO YOU CAN YELL AT ME NOW.

I WON'T BE HERE THEN, BUT I THINK MY I WANT TO SET SIX, YOU KNOW, REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS FOR MY SUCCESSOR.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING THAT.

SO ON THAT NOTE, AND I KNOW COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND I AT OUR INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION, WE'VE ASKED YOU THE SAME QUESTIONS REPEATEDLY.

AND. BUT ONE THING THAT CONTINUES TO TROUBLE ME, AND MAYBE WE'VE MADE PROGRESS SINCE THE LAST TIME I ASKED THIS QUESTION.

AND I'M AN ETERNAL OPTIMIST.

SO I'M HOPING WE HAVE WITH REGARD TO RECRUITING, I KNOW WE HAD A MINIMAL LIKE ONE PERSON, PERHAPS AT THE PD'S OFFICE WORKING ON RECRUITING TALENT, WORKING WITH OUR LAW SCHOOLS, NOT JUST LOCALLY, BUT IN TEXAS AND NATIONALLY.

HAVE WE EXPANDED THE RECRUITING GROUP AT THE PDS OFFICE? I'VE GOT I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT MANY PEOPLE IN IT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET SESSION, ADDING SOMEONE WHO'S JUST DEDICATED TO THAT.

BUT I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE ARE THE MOST MOTIVATED TO GET IT DONE.

THAT'S WHY I'M A BIG FAN OF, I MEAN, I MEAN, WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT MEETING TOMORROW.

EVERYBODY SHOWS UP, EVERYBODY DOES THEIR JOB.

WE JUST. WE JUST NEED THE FUNDING TO GET THERE AT THIS POINT.

AND THE REASON I ASK AGAIN THIS I'M ALL IN MAKING SURE WE GET TO AT LEAST 50% WITH THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EXCELLENCE, RIGHT? I BELIEVE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A ROBUST DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND ROBUST PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND THAT IS WHAT WILL HELP US ADVANCE JUSTICE IN THIS COUNTY.

MY QUESTION IS WITH REGARD TO THE LAST QUESTION, THE 11 MILLION IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD BE USED FOR 50 ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S 19 SUPPORT STAFF POSITION PC BY FISCAL YEAR 2026 WITHOUT THE RECRUITING ARM.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO THEN BE ABLE TO HIRE THE 50 LAWYERS AND 19 SUPPORT STAFF? I MEAN, AS I SAID, I'M I'M OPEN TO THE IDEA OF DEDICATING A STAFF PERSON FOR THAT.

[04:00:02]

SO EVERYBODY FEELS THEY HAVE A PART OF IT THAT I'M, I'M, I'M, I DON'T WANT TO JUST CUT THAT OFF TO I SEE IT AS A BOTH END.

I'M A LAWYER, AS YOU KNOW, AND I USED TO BE A CHIEF TALENT OFFICER.

AND I THINK IT'S GREAT IF OUR, YOU KNOW, ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE RECRUITING OTHER LAWYERS, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONCERTED FULL TIME EFFORT OR WE WILL BE HERE, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND WE STILL WILL NOT HAVE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL.

AND SO I WORRY ABOUT THAT.

BUT MOVING ALONG BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR MINUTES LEFT IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET ASK, WE'RE UNDER THE TIDC CASELOAD LIMITS.

HOW WOULD THAT CHANGE IF WE WERE UNDER THE RAND ONES? WE WOULD TAKE LESS CASES, I KNOW, BUT WOULD THAT BE A DELTA OF TWO X OR.

I MEAN, IF YOU HAD TO BALLPARK IT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS ON IT.

I DON'T HAVE THEM IN MY HEAD, BUT IT WOULD BE IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO REACH OUR GOAL.

I FULLY BELIEVE IN THE TEXAS STANDARDS.

THEY WERE DONE IN TEXAS.

THEY WERE DONE BY THE SAME PEOPLE THAT DID RAND.

AND I CALLED STEVE HANLIN, WHO IS HEADED THAT STUDY, AND HE SAID, I SAID, IS THE TEXAS ONE OKAY? HE GOES, YEAH, THAT ONE'S FINE.

SO I'M WELL, THAT'S GOOD WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.

OKAY. THAT WOULD BE THE GOLD OF THE GOLD.

AND WE'RE NOT NOT EVEN THERE YET.

BUT IT'S THE RAND.

ONE IS KIND OF LIKE THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND EVERYWHERE IS DIFFERENT IN THE COUNTRY.

SO IT'S IT'S LESS ACCURATE I THINK.

SO ANOTHER QUESTION WITH REGARD TO JUST TO KIND OF DRILL DOWN WITH REGARD TO THE BARDIYA ADVISORS AND THE IMMIGRATION CONSULTATIONS, CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY UPDATE US ON THE WORK YOUR TEAM IS DOING AND ANY CURRENT CHALLENGES? WE COULD DO. I DIDN'T BRING ANY SUPPORTIVE, BUT I HAVE FOUR LAWYERS THAT THAT'S ALL THEY DO.

AND AND THERE IS NO ONE THAT GOES THROUGH MY OFFICE THAT DOESN'T GET A FULL EVALUATION.

AND WE MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PRIVATE BAR WHEN THEY CALL US.

WE HELP OUT WHEN WE CAN.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

BUT CERTAINLY NO ONE WHO IS A NON-CITIZEN WHO IS CHARGED IN HARRIS COUNTY DOES NOT GET A FULL REVIEW OF WHAT POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES THERE WOULD BE IF THEY PLED GUILTY OR WERE CONVICTED.

SO WITH REGARD TO HOLISTIC DEFENSE, AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BRONX DEFENDERS AS THE GOLD STANDARD, JUST FOR SAKE OF MY QUESTION VERSUS WHERE WE ARE, I KNOW IT'S A MATTER OF FUNDING AND THEN GETTING MONEY AND THEN OPERATIONALIZING A PLAN.

BUT WHERE WOULD YOU SAY HARRIS COUNTY IS? WE'RE PROBABLY A THIRD OF THE WAY TO THEIR, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT IS IT IS A REALLY IT IS A VERY GOOD SYSTEM.

IT IS AN EXPENSIVE SYSTEM.

SO IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS, BRONX DEFENDERS JUST ABOUT WENT ON STRIKE.

ALL THEIR LAWYERS WERE GOING TO GO ON STRIKE BECAUSE THEY WERE THE LOWEST PAID LAWYERS IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND I ASKED, THERE'S A MEMBER OF MY BOARD WHO WHO'S USED TO BE A BRONX DEFENDER, AND I SAID, DO YOU THINK THAT MAYBE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON THESE HOLISTIC SERVICES, THAT THE SALARIES ARE LOWER? AND SHE SAID, YEAH, SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO CANNIBALIZE FROM OTHER PLACES UNLESS YOU'RE GOING TO FULLY FUND THOSE SERVICES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO.

I'M CERTAINLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IS THAT I AM TREMENDOUSLY EAGER FOR US TO GET TO AT LEAST 50%.

AND I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES SHARE THAT SENTIMENT, AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TO START THE OFFICE IN THE LAST 14 YEARS.

THANK YOU, AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU WILL BE HERE TO HELP WITH THE SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

PUBLIC DEFENDER.

SO THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COURT OFFICERS.

CHIEF BUNIN, YOU WILL NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

OKAY. MY TWO MINUTES ARE GOING TO BE TO WALK OVER THERE AND GIVE YOU THESE HANDOUTS, BECAUSE THEY SPEAK BETTER THAN ANYTHING I COULD TELL YOU.

BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WERE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR OUR OFFICE.

AND WE FEEL IT.

AND AND HOPEFULLY THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE BRIGHT, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO COME OVER AND GIVE YOU THE.

THANK YOU TO CHIEF BUNIN AND TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE.

WE WILL NEXT HEAR FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COURTS, AND THAT WILL BEGIN AT 3:30 P.M..

DO WHAT YOU DO. WELCOME TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COURTS.

[County Courts]

[04:05:01]

AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

PANEL MEMBERS.

ED WELLS, COURT MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW, PROBABLE CAUSE COURT, JUSTICE COURTS AND THE OFFICE OF COURT MANAGEMENT.

BESIDE ME IS JUDGE TORY OF PHOENIX, LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY COURTS AT LAW.

WE APPRECIATE THE FUNDING AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE FUNDING PROVIDED TO OUR COURTS IN THE PAST.

OUR COURTS ARE EXTREMELY BUSY, AS EVIDENCED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS JUDICIAL WORKLOAD STUDY, COMMISSIONED BY THE COUNTY LAST YEAR.

THE RESULTS INDICATE 27.5 JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE NEEDED TO COVER THE CRIMINAL MISDEMEANOR CASELOAD CURRENTLY BEING HANDLED BY THE 16 COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AT LAW. IT ALSO SUGGESTS EIGHT JUDICIAL OFFICERS ARE NEEDED TO HANDLE THE CIVIL CASELOAD CURRENTLY BEING HANDLED BY THE FOUR COUNTY CIVIL COURTS AT LAW.

DESPITE THE DISPROPORTIONATE CASELOAD, BOTH DIVISIONS OPERATE EFFICIENTLY, WITH CLEARANCE RATES SURPASSING 100% FOR THE LAST YEAR.

BUT COURTS CANNOT SUSTAIN THIS PACE INDEFINITELY.

IN THE SHORT TERM, THE PACE WILL STRESS OUR RESOURCES, STAFF AND JUSTICE PARTNERS.

OVER TIME. THE PACE WILL SLOW, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO INCREASED TIMES TO DISPOSITION AND CASE BACKLOGS.

JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED.

JUSTICE DENIED IS NOT JUSTICE.

IN SUPPORT OF OUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, WE HAVE TWO SERVICE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS.

FIRST, WE'RE SEEKING A WEB DEVELOPER POSITION DEDICATED TO MODERNIZING OUR COURT WEBSITES AND PROVIDING EASIER ACCESS TO COURT INFORMATION AND SERVICES.

WE'VE ASKED FOR THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE JUST ONE DEVELOPER ON STAFF, TASKED WITH MAINTAINING ALL COURT WEBSITES AND THE CUSTOM APPLICATION SUPPORTING THE COURTS, INCLUDING OUR VISITING JUDGE DATABASE.

ONLINE COURT DATE RESCHEDULING FORM REQUIRED IN THE O'DONNELL CONSENT DECREE AND OCCUPATIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE APP.

THIS LEAVES LITTLE TIME FOR WEBSITE MODERNIZATION TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PUBLIC.

SECONDLY, WE ARE SEEKING CONTINUED FUNDING FOR OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DOCKET KNOWN AS ERT2.

THIS DOCKET HANDLES MOST INTIMATE PARTNER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES.

UTILIZING ERT2 ALLOWS US TO REDUCE THE TIME TO DISPOSITION AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, WHICH IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR BOTH VICTIMS AND DEFENDANTS.

IT ALSO BRINGS UNIFORMITY TO CASES AND STREAMLINES OPERATIONS BY USING JUST ONE LOCATION, WHICH BENEFITS OUR JUSTICE PARTNERS.

ERT2 CONTINUES TO DISPOSE OF CASES IN A TIMELY MANNER.

IN ANY GIVEN MONTH, IT'S HANDLING 100 CASES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE FURTHER BURDENING THE HOME COURTS.

FUNDING THESE ITEMS, IN ADDITION TO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, WILL ENSURE OUR COURTS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AND ENSURE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES RECEIVE THE PRIORITIZATION THEY NEED AND DESERVE.

I ASK THAT THESE REQUESTS BE FUNDED TO SUPPORT OUR COURTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

EACH COURT OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS, BEGINNING WITH COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, JUDGE FINCH.

MR. WELLS, MISS CHERRY, JUDGE RAMIREZ.

BEN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THESE TOP TWO PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE SHARED.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY UPDATE US ON THE BUDGET ITEMS THAT WERE APPROVED LAST YEAR AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS HAD ON OUR COURTS? SURE.

I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE IS THE EXPANSION OF MAGISTRATES AT THE PROBABLE CAUSE COURT.

WE WENT FROM 10 TO 15.

WE ARE ONE SHY.

WE HAVE ONE VACANCY MADE.

AN OFFER WILL BE FULLY STAFFED FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO INTERVIEW HIRE PEOPLE.

WE HAD A COUPLE PEOPLE LEAVE IN THE INTERIM.

AND THAT'S GOING VERY WELL.

I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME, DELAYS AT THE JPC ARE LARGELY NOT BECAUSE OF HIRING OFFICERS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IMPACTING THAT.

THEY ALL ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUES IN THE JAIL.

THE OTHER REQUEST WAS FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR INTERPRETERS.

WE DID RECEIVE SOME INCREASED FUNDING FOR INTERPRETERS.

IT HELPED CLOSE A PART OF THE GAP WE HAD BETWEEN SERVICES.

LET ME BE CLEAR THAT WE'RE PROVIDING INTERPRETERS IN EVERY SINGLE CASE WHERE THEY'RE NECESSARY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH BUDGET MANAGEMENT TO CLOSE THAT FUNDING GAP, BECAUSE THERE SIMPLY JUST WASN'T ENOUGH THERE.

THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD TO WORK WITH.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET AS WELL.

MR. WATT, SORRY, JUST TO CLARIFY ON THE INTERPRETER, AND THIS APPLIES TO DISTRICT COURT AS WELL.

THIS IS A LEGALLY MANDATED EXPENSE.

SO THE ONLY REASON I'M NOT COMPLETELY BALD IS BECAUSE I DON'T STRESS OUT ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE LEGALLY MANDATED.

SO I THINK WE MONITOR THE WE CAN MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS INTO A FUND.

AND WHEN THE FUND STARTS REACHING WHAT WE THINK IS A CRITICAL MASS, WE COME BACK TO COURT TO RECOMMEND.

[04:10:05]

AND CAN YOU SHARE MORE WITH US AND THE PUBLIC WHERE THAT FUND SITS AND HOW IT'S MANAGED? IT'S A GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION FUND.

WE CAN GET YOU THE THE DETAILS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE WE'VE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE MONITOR PRETTY CLOSELY.

AND WHENEVER WE GET ANYWHERE NEAR ZERO, WE COME BACK TO COURT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IT'S JUST THE THE EXPENSES HAVE BEEN SO LUMPY OVER YEARS THAT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S EASIER FOR US TO MAKE A STANDARD CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION EVERY YEAR AND THEN SEE WHERE SEE HOW THAT YEAR GOES.

BECAUSE SOME YEARS THEY HAVE KIND OF BIG EXTREMES AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE LOWS.

SO I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT.

IT DOES VARY. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTY IS GROWING.

IT'S MORE DIVERSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

AND A LOT OF THE COSTS ARE DEPENDENT ON WHAT LANGUAGES ARE NECESSARY.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SPANISH INTERPRETERS IN OUR COURTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT FOR OTHER LANGUAGES, TOO OFTEN WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE USE OF EMERGENCY ORDERS FOR AN INTERPRETER, WHICH ARE TWICE THE NORMAL RATE.

AND THAT ALSO OCCURS AT PROBABLE CAUSE COURT WHERE PEOPLE ARE NEWLY ARRESTED.

WE'RE JUST DISCOVERING WHAT LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK.

RIGHT. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THOUGH, THOSE COSTS DO GO LIKE THIS, AS DANIEL WAS DESCRIBING.

SO YOU KNOW HOW PASSIONATELY I FEEL ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS AND ON THAT POINT THAT THE FEES VARY.

CAN YOU.

SO TO ME, THAT'S WHY OBVIOUSLY IT'S NON-NEGOTIABLE.

EVERYONE MUST GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED, PERIOD.

AND I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE DATA TO SEE WHAT THE REQUESTS ARE, WHERE THE GAPS ARE, WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, FUNDING IT AND THIS KIND OF CATCH UP WAY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE JUST CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WHAT WE'RE OFFERING TO THE PEOPLE.

AND SO CAN YOU TALK TO US, PLEASE? I BELIEVE THERE WAS A REQUEST.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THE INTERPRETER FEES WERE LAST YEAR AND THEN HOW THAT HAS INFORMED YOUR REQUEST FOR THIS YEAR, PLEASE.

SO LAST YEAR WE WERE IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY, $500,000 SHORT IN FUNDING.

WE GOT A PORTION OF THAT FROM GENERAL FUND THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE YEAR.

WE ALSO GOT A PORTION OF THAT FUNDING FROM A SPECIAL FUND FOR LANGUAGE ACCESS DEDICATED TO THAT.

I KNOW WE MADE USE OF THAT, AND THE DISTRICT COURTS DID AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE.

WE'RE PROVIDING INTERPRETERS IN EVERY CASE WHERE IT'S NECESSARY, BUT WE'RE TOO OFTEN DOING IT, AS I SAID, AT THE EMERGENCY RATE.

AND WE'RE ALSO TOO OFTEN HAVING TO DELAY THE PROCESSING OF A CASE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AVAILABLE.

FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE MADE THE REQUEST TO GO IN OUR COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS FROM FOUR INTERPRETERS DAILY TO EIGHT.

THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE DELAYS.

JUDGE FINCH CAN SPEAK TO IT, BUT WAITING ON AN INTERPRETER AND AT TIMES RESCHEDULING BECAUSE OF IT.

AND REALLY QUICKLY, JUST TO ADD, THE OMB IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PROGRAM WHEN WHEN THERE'S A FINAL.

I'VE SEEN VARIOUS DRAFTS.

I KNOW MY STAFF SITS IN ON ALL THE MEETINGS WHEN THERE'S A FINAL PROPOSAL.

AGAIN, THIS IS A LEGALLY MANDATED SERVICE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING IT UP TO THE STANDARD THAT THIS COUNTY HAS.

BUT ONCE THAT NUMBER IS FINAL AND WE HAVE AN ACTIONABLE PLAN, I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT AND OUR OFFICE WILL BE SUPPORTING IT.

THANK YOU. I KNOW MY TIME IS UP, SO I'LL SPARE YOU MY MULTITUDE OF OTHER QUESTIONS.

PRECINCT THREE. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT ROGER BRIDGEWATER WITH THE PRECINCT THREE.

COULD YOU TALK TO ME A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN YOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REQUEST? SURE. SO OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOCKET WE REFER TO AS ERT2 WAS FUNDED THROUGH ARPA.

THOSE FUNDS WILL GO AWAY AFTER SEPTEMBER.

IT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ON ANY GIVEN DAY, THEY'RE HANDLING ABOUT 1100 CASES A MONTH.

THEY HAVE REDUCED THE TIME TO DISPOSITION.

I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CASELOADS THAT ARE PLACED ON OUR ELECTED JUDGES AND REDUCE THAT AGAIN.

IF WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE 27.5 AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE 16 AND ONE ASSOCIATE JUDGE.

THAT'S CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH, RIGHT? AND SO THIS WILL FURTHER THAT.

IT ALSO PUTS FOR THE DA'S OFFICE AND OTHER STAFF EVERYTHING FOR MOST OF THE CASES, NOT ALL IN ONE LOCATION, WHICH MAKES IT EASIER.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, IN GENERAL, EARLIER DISPOSITIONS PROVIDE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR VICTIMS. TO THE EXTENT THAT A VICTIM CAN BE MADE WHOLE, IT'S BETTER IF IT'S DONE QUICKLY.

[04:15:05]

THEY'RE MORE LIKELY OR LESS LIKELY TO REOFFEND IN THE FUTURE.

AND SO ONE OF THOSE PURPOSES OF COURTS IS TO REHABILITATE PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S A PIECE OF IT.

SO I MEAN I SEE THE FUTURE OF THIS COURT IF WE CAN CONTINUE IT BECOMING MORE AND MORE AKIN TO A PROBLEM SOLVING COURT OR A SPECIALTY COURT THAT'S REALLY CONCENTRATING ON THOSE CASES THAT NEED IT THE MOST.

AND JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON THAT, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

WE KNOW THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO IF WE CAN TAKE THOSE CASES OUT AND PUT AN IMMEDIATE EYE ON THEM AND CONNECT PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES FASTER, OUR HOPE IS THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY MAKE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHOLE, BUT WE'LL ALSO HEAL THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

AND SO WHEN THEY'RE IN OUR REGULAR DOCKETS, THEY TEND TO HIDE BEHIND THE OTHER CASES.

SO WE TRY TO MOVE THOSE MUCH FASTER AND THE DOCKET HELPS US GET THAT DONE MUCH QUICKER.

HOW OFTEN IS IT HELD DAILY.

FIVE DAYS A WEEK. SO THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MEGAN DELL'ORTO WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU'VE ACTUALLY ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS, SO I WILL DONATE MY REMAINING TIME TO COMMISSIONER BRIONES.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI. JUDGE FINCH, DIRECTOR WELLS.

A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT.

HOW DOES ARE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOCKET? HOW DOES THE REFERRAL PROCESS WORK? AND ARE THE OTHER JUDGES UTILIZING IT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT THAT THAT DOCKET IS OPEN AND ABLE TO BE UTILIZED? WELL, ESSENTIALLY, THERE IS A SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE THAT ALLOWS THE ASSOCIATE COURT TO IDENTIFY CASES THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, AND EACH JUDGE HAS ITS OWN CRITERIA.

SO FOR MY COURT, HYPOTHETICALLY, IN COURT NINE, IF THERE IS A CASE THAT'S A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH AND OR THEY HAVE ANOTHER CASE THAT'S NOT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RELATED, I WOULD PREFER TO KEEP THAT CASE DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF CASE THAT IT IS, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MOST OF OUR JUDGES DO UTILIZE IT.

WE ONLY HAVE ONE JUDGE AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT CAN SEE THOSE CASES.

AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO OVERBURDEN THAT CASE BECAUSE TOO MANY CASES MAKES IT INEFFECTIVE.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT MAJORITY OF OUR JUDGES DO UTILIZE THAT COURT.

OKAY, GREAT. AND AND DO YOU THINK IT IS BEING UTILIZED TO THE FULL EXTENT THAT IT CAN BE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, CASELOAD PER DAY OR I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO CASELOADS PER DAY? YEAH, I THINK IT IS ACTUALLY BEING UTILIZED.

THEY HAVE A FULL CASELOAD.

THEY HAVE FULL DOCKETS EVERY DAY.

THE ONE LIMITATION, OF COURSE, BEING AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE IS THEY CAN'T TRY A CASE.

THEY CAN PICK A JURY AND SEND IT BACK TO THE HOME COURT FOR TRIAL.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEY'RE BUSY EVERY DAY, AND.

OKAY, GREAT.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THIS A LITTLE BIT ALREADY, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THESE CASES? YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE STATED BEFORE, IT BEING A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, HAVING AN ACTUAL VICTIM.

THE FASTER THAT WE CAN RESOLVE THESE CASES, THE MORE FAMILIAR PEOPLE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES WITH IT.

I MEAN, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY WITH THIS DOCKET AND THE SERVICES THEY OFFER AND SERVICES THEY CAN CONNECT TO.

AND I THINK THAT'S BEEN VERY, VERY HELPFUL AND BENEFICIAL TO VICTIMS IN THESE CASES AND TO BALANCE THE SCALES HERE.

SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ALLEGED VICTIMS, BUT IT ALSO BENEFITS THE ACCUSED TOO, WHEN CASES ARE SEEING REALLY QUICKLY BY PEOPLE THAT ARE USED TO LOOKING AT THESE TYPES OF CASES, SPECIALIZED INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER IT'S THE THE JUDGE, WHETHER IT'S THE PROSECUTOR OR WHOEVER.

IT HELPS US FIGURE OUT WHICH CASES ARE REAL CASES.

AND I DON'T MEAN THAT TO MINIMIZE ANY KIND OF ACCUSATIONS.

BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THE SYSTEM, THERE IS A PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE.

AND SO WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A SWIFTER ACCESS TO JUSTICE, AND WE CAN FOCUS ON CASES THAT REALLY NEED TO BE IN OUR SYSTEM, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR RESOURCES ARE NOT STRETCHED.

THANK YOU. AND PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE NOT RUINED.

LET ME ADD THAT PART TWO.

THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND NOW EITHER RELATED TO THE REQUESTED ENHANCEMENTS OR BEYOND.

HOW ARE THE COUNTY COURTS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON EFFICIENCIES AND OPERATIONS IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR? THAT'S A TOUGHER, TOUGHER ONE, GIVEN THE THE CASELOADS THAT WE HAVE.

OUR COURTS OPERATE EXTREMELY EFFICIENTLY.

THEY HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF DOING THAT FOREVER.

BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURTS.

I THINK USING SOME AUTOMATION, WE'RE BEGINNING TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE USE OF AI FOR SOME SIMPLE TASKS.

BUT AUTOMATION IS OUR BIGGEST THING.

AND KEEP IN MIND, MOST OF THE AUTOMATION THAT WE WOULD BE SEEKING COMES THROUGH J-WEB OR THE DISTRICT CLERK'S DEEDS SYSTEM.

[04:20:03]

REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE THE PROMISE OF THE IJC MOVING FORWARD.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT CAN BE DONE THERE.

RIGHT. AND I THINK THAT'S OUR BIGGEST WE ARE EXTREMELY GOOD AT MANAGING THE DATA WE HAVE.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT STILL CAN SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS.

EVERY DAY, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE SOMEONE OR A CASE IN THE SYSTEM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS CONSISTENT FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES BEFORE THE COURTS.

AND SO I THINK WITH AUTOMATION, WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THAT.

THANK YOU BOTH. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT TWO. YOU WILL NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

MATT GARY, POLICY ADVISOR FOR PRECINCT TWO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

ON THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FRONT, YOU'VE MENTIONED THE IMPACT OF FASTER PROCESSING TIMES AND HOW THIS CAN HELP VICTIMS. COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHERE THE HIGHEST NEEDS ARE FOR SERVICES FOR THOSE VICTIMS? I THINK THERE'S A VARIETY OF SERVICES THAT ARE THAT ARE STILL IN NEED.

CERTAINLY COUNSELING IS A BIG ONE AT TIMES.

IT GOES BEYOND JUST COUNSELING.

PEOPLE CAN BE PHYSICALLY HARMED, RIGHT? THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MEDICAL SERVICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT THAT TIMELINESS IS YOU REDUCE THE TIME THAT THAT TRAUMA IS IN THEIR FACE.

AS LONG AS THE CASE IS OUT THERE AND PENDING, THEY'RE FACING IT ON A DAILY BASIS.

RIGHT. AND THEY DON'T.

FOR MOST VICTIMS, DON'T TRULY START HEALING UNTIL THAT CASE IS CLOSED AND GONE.

AND SO I THINK, AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATING COUNCIL, THAT'S HOW WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHICH SERVICES ARE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHO THEY'RE BEST SUITED FOR, AND MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THEM.

YES. AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ASSISTANCE FUND AS WELL, WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFITS THE FOLKS GOING THROUGH YOUR COURTS.

SO THANK YOU ON THAT.

AND HOW ARE YOU UTILIZING YOUR BUDGET TO SUPPORT THE SHARED MISSION AND GOALS OF THE CGGC? OKAY, SO WE, YOU KNOW, LARGELY ARE LOOKING AT JUSTICE, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE A MISSION FOR OUR ORGANIZATION AND A VISION, AND WE REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COURTROOMS AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE PROMOTING JUSTICE FOR ALL WHO COME BEFORE THE COURT.

THAT WE ACTUALLY REALIZE THAT THAT THE PUBLIC AROUND US CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND SEE IT HAPPENING IN OUR COURTS.

BALANCING PUBLIC SAFETY, THE RIGHTS OF DEFENDANTS AND VICTIMS ON THE CIVIL SIDE, PROMOTING GOOD ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROTECTING BUSINESSES, PROTECTING LANDOWNERS AND EMINENT DOMAIN CASES.

ALL OF THESE THINGS, I THINK, HELP PROMOTE THAT BETTER HARRIS COUNTY.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES, YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES AND 52 SECONDS OF YIELDED TIME FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. SO, MR. WELLS, JUST TO RECONFIRM THE TOP TWO PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET REQUEST WEB DEVELOPER AND THEN THE ER, D2.

CORRECT. WITH REGARD TO THE WEB DEVELOPER, CAN YOU SPEAK TO US A BIT MORE AS TO WHAT ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY, TRACKING, ETC.

WILL BE MADE MANIFEST BY THIS ENHANCED DEVELOPMENT? SURE. IN OUR CURRENT WEBSITES ARE THEY HAVE A TON OF INFORMATION ON THEM, BUT THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR TEN PLUS YEARS, RIGHT? HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE TIMES LARGELY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS DEVELOPMENT POSITION.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE ADDED TO IT ARE MORE METRICS THAT WE CAN PUT OUT FOR THE PUBLIC.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE METRICS OUT THERE THAT THE PUBLIC SEES THAT ARE UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT I THINK ADDING MORE OF THAT FOR MORE OF OUR COURTS. RIGHT? RIGHT NOW, MOST OF THAT IS FOR THE CRIMINAL COURTS.

THE OTHER THING IS AUTOMATING THINGS LIKE CONTACT WITH THE COURT.

MUCH LIKE THE O'DONNELL RESCHEDULE REQUEST, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

WE CAN ADD RESOURCES ON OUR WEBSITE TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE PRO SE IN OUR COURTS.

ALL OF THESE THINGS RIGHT NOW, ONE, WE JUST NEED TO REIMAGINE WHAT THE WEBSITE LOOKS LIKE SO THAT IT LOOKS MODERN IS EASIER TO USE.

I MEAN, IN ALL HONESTY, IF I HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING, I HAVE TO DO A SEARCH TOO OFTEN, RIGHT? THAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO SIGN IT.

I FIND IT NOT TO REMEMBER WHERE IT'S AT.

AND SO IF THAT'S TRUE FOR ME OR JUDGES OR STAFF, IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE FOR THE PUBLIC.

AND SO WE WANT TO IMPROVE ON THAT.

[04:25:01]

AGAIN, THAT NEXUS BETWEEN THE TWO IS TOO LARGE, BUT THIS EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

ON THE CIVIL SIDE, WE ALSO HAVE AN ASSOCIATE JUDGE THAT'S CURRENTLY ARPA FUNDED, BUT THAT'S THROUGH THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

AND SO WE'RE NOT SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THAT NOW, BUT WE WILL BE COMING BACK.

AND KEEP IN MIND, BOTH COURT DIVISIONS HAVE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL COURTS.

RIGHT. WE'VE FILED ALL OF THAT WITH GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS.

WE'LL BE COMING TO TALK TO YOU ALL AFTER BUDGET IS DONE ABOUT LOOKING TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEXT YEAR TO HELP START PLANNING FOR CLOSING THAT GAP.

AND A PIECE OF THAT CERTAINLY IS GOING TO BE FACILITY NEEDS BECAUSE WE COULD ADD COURTS TODAY.

WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM RIGHT.

AND YOU ALL ARE ALL AWARE OF THAT.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IF THE COUNTY CONTINUES GROWING, EVEN IF CASELOADS AS PER CAPITA ARE FLAT, THAT'S STILL MORE CASES.

AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS, OUR CASELOAD HAS GONE FROM A HIGH 12 YEARS AGO OF ABOUT 82,000.

IT DROPPED TO AS LOW AS 46 BETWEEN HARVEY AND THE PANDEMIC BACK UP TO ABOUT 53 TO 55,000 NOW.

BUT WHAT WENT AWAY WAS 12,000 POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA CASES.

A LOT OF A LOT OF CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.

MISCHIEF, CRIMINAL TRESPASSING THAT'S NOT FILED ANYMORE.

THEFT BY CHECK HAS BEEN REDUCED DRAMATICALLY AS EVERYBODY GOES TO, YOU KNOW, DIGITAL BANKING.

BUT THE CASES THAT WE HAVE LEFT ARE MORE COMPLEX.

THEY'RE THE DWIS.

THEY'RE THE ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBERS BURGLARY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, WHICH TOO OFTEN GOES BEYOND JUST DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.

AND SO WE NEED THOSE RESOURCES, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PLAN FOR THEM.

AND JUST TO ADD TO THAT, WE ARE AWARE BECAUSE WE ARE PARTNERS IN ALL OF THIS.

WE'RE AWARE OF THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS THAT THE COUNTY FINDS ITSELF.

SO THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO ASK FOR THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THAT PARTICULAR AGENCY.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF WHAT YOU GIVE US.

AND SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES WHERE WE BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THOSE TWO, NOT TO EXCLUDE SOMETHING THAT WE BOTH SHARE IN COMMON, A PASSION FOR THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.

SO YOU WILL SEE MORE.

WE WILL HAVE MORE REQUESTS.

BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE FOR NOW.

SO ON TO END.

I KNOW WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME ON LANGUAGE ACCESS.

ANY FINAL CLOSING COMMENTS ON HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AS A COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY MEETING THE CURRENT NEED, BUT WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? I THINK THE BIGGEST THING TO START THIS IS THE FUNDING.

I MEAN, FOR YEARS WE HAVE ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND WE'VE GOTTEN LITTLE PIECES OF IT, BUT NEVER ENOUGH.

AND WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, AND OUR COURTS HAVE DONE THAT.

BUT THAT STILL LEAVES A GAP IN SERVICES.

AND SO IF WE'RE GOING BEYOND THAT, THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE LAW.

IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FUNDING ALSO.

WE'RE MEETING THE NEED TODAY.

BUT AGAIN, THERE ARE LIMITATIONS TO THAT.

TOO OFTEN JUDGES, ATTORNEYS EVERYONE IS WAITING.

SO I SHARE THAT CONCERN ESPECIALLY IN A THE NEED BUT ALSO B THE AMOUNT OF KIND OF DELAYS.

I REMEMBER VIVIDLY MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

SO I'D LOVE TO CONTINUE BRAINSTORMING, WHICH I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DOING IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THAT DATA PIECE SO THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY LEARNING AND IMPROVING.

AND THEN THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE COURTS.

I SEE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STAY.

MY TEAM WILL UPDATE ME, BUT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE LANGUAGE ACCESS AS IT AS I'VE HEARD A LOT OF UPDATES FROM OUR COUNTY COURTS AT LAW AND THE DISTRICT COURTS, BUT NOT AS MUCH FROM THE JP'S.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

PRECINCT THREE.

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AND 44 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

I YIELD IT TO.

THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME, MR. WELLS. I NEVER TRIED.

SO I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ON LANGUAGE ACCESS, BUT I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION.

I'M BEN SMILING AT ME BECAUSE ONE THING I WANTED TO JUST CIRCLE BACK ON, AND I KNOW WE PASSED SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ADVANCING JUSTICE PACKAGE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, BUT TO THE ELMOS THAT ARE TEN PLUS YEARS OLD AND JUST THE TECHNOLOGY GAPS IN OUR Y'ALLS COURTS.

I KNOW WE'RE GOING ON A COMMERCIAL PAPER AVENUE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT WILL HELP GET US INTO, AT LEAST ARGUABLY MODERN DAY.

OH, ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS IS FOR BOTH THE CIVIL COURTHOUSE AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE CENTER.

WE'RE AT THE PLACE, AND I THINK THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE.

BUT IF SOMETHING BREAKS, WE CAN'T EVEN BUY PARTS TO FIX IT, MUCH LESS REPLACE A COMPONENT.

[04:30:06]

YOU GO FROM ONE COURT TO COURT, ROOM TO THE NEXT.

VARIOUS PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WORK.

VARIOUS PIECES DO NOT.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A COURTROOM THAT CONSISTENTLY HAS EVERYTHING WORKING.

AND THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE IT DOES IMPACT HOW ATTORNEYS CAN PUT ON A CASE, HOW JURORS CAN HEAR AND SEE EVIDENCE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE I CAN'T ADD MORE TO THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING EVERYONE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

YOU KNOW, YOU WORK HARD, YOU BRING IN THE EVIDENCE, YOU WORK UP THE CASE, YOU BRING IN A JURY, AND THEN THEY CAN'T HEAR WHAT YOU BROUGHT THEM THERE FOR.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS.

WHEN I TALK TO MY JURORS, SOMETIMES THEY'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF GOES IN AND OUT, BUT I THINK WE GOT IT.

AND WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THEY GOT IT.

THEY NEED TO KNOW BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT WHAT THEIR, THEIR, YOU KNOW, DECISION IS.

AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON.

GOOD. AND NOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED THE COMMERCIAL PAPER, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASING.

AT LONG LAST, AND I'M SMILING BECAUSE I REMEMBER ALWAYS BOTHERING BEN ABOUT THE BROKEN ELMO AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.

SO THANK YOU.

WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING AGAIN THE LANGUAGE ACCESS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT KIND OF DUCT TAPING A SOLUTION, BUT REALLY WORKING IN CONCERT THROUGHOUT THE LEVELS OF COURTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE AND THEN LEARNING EACH YEAR SO THAT WE CAN KEEP GETTING BETTER.

SO I WELCOME YOUR ONGOING IDEAS AND POTENTIAL PATHS FORWARD AS TO KIND OF THE DATA COLLECTION PIECE AND WHAT WOULD BE NECESSARY BETWEEN OUR JP'S COUNTY COURTS AT LAW AND THEN THE DISTRICT COURTS.

SO AND JUST ON THAT POINT, WITH REGARD TO DATA, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, A LOT OF THAT DATA CAPTURE, WE'RE GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON OTHERS TO DO THE CAPTURE.

WE'LL UTILIZE THE DATA WHEN IT'S THERE, AND THAT WILL BE A WORK IN PROGRESS OVER TIME BECAUSE THERE ARE GAPS IN WHAT WE WILL NEED TO MANAGE THAT BETTER.

AND BY OTHERS.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN, MR. WELLS? J-WEB AGAIN, THE IJC, THOSE DEVELOPERS AND THE DISTRICT CLERK, EVERY PIECE OF DATA THAT WE ADD THAT'S NOT THERE TODAY IS ANOTHER PIECE SOMEONE HAS TO PUT IN RIGHT AT SOME POINT IN THE PROCESS.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REPORT ON IT.

AND SO YOU START TODAY.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE GOOD DATA TO LOOK AT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

AND I AGREE, AS LONG AS WE CAN COME UP WITH A SHARED PLAN TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

YEAR ONE, YEAR TWO, YEAR THREE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR WONDERFUL SERVICE TO OUR COUNTY AND EVERYTHING YOU DO TO ADVANCE JUSTICE.

THANK YOU JUDGE. THANK YOU, MR. WELLS. COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU HAVE NO REMAINING TIME.

PRECINCT ONE OFFICE.

YOU HAVE 45 SECONDS REMAINING.

FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

PRECINCT TWO, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER BRIONES CAN HAVE IT IF SHE WANTS IT, BUT I DON'T NEED IT.

THANK YOU.

I'M FINE FOR THE MOMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COURT OFFICES.

DIRECTOR WELLS, YOU NOW HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

IF I MAY STEAL THE LAST TWO MINUTES.

AS EVERYONE KNOWS, I'M JUDGE FINCH, THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF COURT NINE, AS WELL AS THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE COUNTY COURTS.

AS JUDGES, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING JUSTICE IN ALL CASES THAT COME, THAT COME BEFORE OUR COURTS WITH A SLOW BUT STEADY INCREASE IN BOTH THE VOLUME AND COMPLEXITY OF CASES. OUR RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED BEYOND THE LIMITS.

WE URGE YOU TO APPROVE OUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE SERVICES ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOCKET AND THE WEB DEVELOPER POSITION.

THE COURTS ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF INTERPRETERS, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN.

SO WE'RE STAND READY.

WE'RE READY TO ADOPT THAT PLAN, AND WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU WILL ADOPT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WILL MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE, AS GOOD AS IT MAY BE, IT WILL NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL IF IT'S NOT FUNDED APPROPRIATELY.

WE URGE YOU TO INCLUDE IN OUR BUDGET THE FUNDING NEEDED TO SUPPORT THIS PLAN.

ALSO, WITH THIS FUNDING, WE CAN ENSURE THAT ALL WHO COME BEFORE OUR COURTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS AND A MEANINGFUL UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PROCEEDINGS.

OUR VISION FOR HARRIS COUNTY JUSTICE SYSTEM IS ONE A FAIR, EQUITABLE, ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ONE THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME BEFORE THE COURT WITH CLEAR UNDERSTANDING. TWO A SYSTEM THAT IS EFFECTIVE IN ITS ABILITY TO CARRY OUT ITS CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY DUTIES.

THREE AN EFFICIENT SYSTEM IN ADHERING TO THE ESTABLISHED TIME STANDARDS AND CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT POLICIES, AND FOR A COURT SYSTEM IN WHICH THE JUDICIARY PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COURTS.

THIS IS OUR VISION FOR HARRIS COUNTY.

LIKE YOU, COMMISSIONER BRIAN, IS WE WANT TO LEAD THE NATION, NOT JUST THE STATE.

AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR ADOPTION OF THIS BUDGET, WE BELIEVE THIS IS A STARTING POINT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

IT PRIORITIZES JUSTICE, ACCESS AND DUE PROCESS AND ALL IN THE SUPPORT OF PUBLIC TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY.

[04:35:07]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME, COMMISSIONER AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE FINCH.

THANK YOU, MR. WELLS.

THANK YOU TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COURTS COURT OFFICES.

WE WILL NOW TAKE A BREAK UNTIL 4:15 P.M., AT WHICH TIME WE WILL HEAR FROM THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

WELCOME BACK. COURT OFFICES.

[Justice of the Peace]

WE WANT TO WELCOME JUDGE GOODWIN.

JUDGE TREVINO.

JUDGE CARTER AND JUDGE LOZANO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

JUDGE GOODWIN, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR AN INTRODUCTION.

THEN EACH COURT OFFICE WILL HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

THANK YOU. WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE.

I LOVE THE THE NEW DIGS HERE.

THIS IS AMAZING RIGHT.

THIS FEELS A LITTLE BIT LIKE ARGUING BEFORE AN APPELLATE COURT HERE.

SO THIS IS REALLY NICE.

JUDGE BRIONES AND FORMER JUDGE BRIDGEWATER HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH WITH THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO SO THANK YOU FOR FOR HOSTING US AS THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

I'M JUDGE LINCOLN GOODWIN HERE ON BEHALF OF THE 16 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR HARRIS COUNTY, SPREAD OUT IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ACROSS ACROSS THE COUNTY, WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND AND SEE A VARIETY OF THE TYPES OF CASES.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, AS THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE JUSTICE COURTS, FOR THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE TO EVERYONE, PRIMARILY INCLUDING GIVING ACCESS.

AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT WORD TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THEIR CASES HEARD.

WE'RE UNIQUE FROM THE COURTS DOWNTOWN.

THEY'RE ALL VERY SPECIALIZED IN THE TYPES OF CASES THAT THEY HEAR.

YOU HAVE THE JUVENILE COURTS, YOU HAVE THE CRIMINAL COURTS, YOU HAVE THE CIVIL COURTS, THE PROBATE COURTS, THE FAMILY COURTS, WHERE AS A COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION LIKE WE ARE, WE HEAR CIVIL CASES AND THERE'S A VARIETY OF CIVIL CASES.

AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, EVICTIONS IS A PRIMARY ONE.

DEBT CLAIMS SMALL CLAIMS. BUT WE ALSO HEAR CRIMINAL CASES WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL IS CHARGED WITH AN OFFENSE BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THEY ARE ALL CLASS C MISDEMEANORS.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, TRUANCY CASES.

SO THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF CASES THAT WE HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND AND BECAUSE WE ARE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE OFTEN SOMEONE'S ONLY INTERACTION WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THAT WE MAY BE THE ONLY EXPERIENCE WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OR THE COURT SYSTEM THAT THEY EVER HAVE.

AND SO ONE'S IMPRESSION OF WHAT JUSTICE LOOKS AND ACTS LIKE MAY ONLY COME FROM ONE OF THE JUSTICE COURTS.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR BUDGET.

GOT SOME GREAT COLLEAGUES HERE TODAY AS AS WAS MENTIONED, JUDGE TREVINO, JUDGE ERIC CARTER AND JUDGE DOLORES LOZANO ARE HERE.

SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE OTHER QUARTER HERE AS WELL.

SO A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT I THINK WILL BE FOCUSED ON TODAY AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ARE ONE INCREASED LABOR BUDGET AND RETENTION, KEEPING OUR PEOPLE WHO IN AN INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED JOB AT AT THE COURTS.

GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN IT'S STAMPING A PIECE OF PAPER AND HITTING HITTING NEXT AND JUST PUTTING IT IN THE FILE.

THESE ARE VERY, VERY SOPHISTICATED CLERK POSITIONS AND REQUIRE A LOT OF, OF TECHNICAL KNOW HOW, TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND LEGAL KNOWLEDGE.

AND SO THEY'RE VERY SOPHISTICATED POSITIONS ALSO ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TO DO IN ADDITION TO RETENTION IS, IS LOOK AT RESOURCES.

THE COURTS ARE ALL VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE PARTIES CAN CHOOSE WHERE THEY FILE THEIR CASES.

SOME COURTS HAVE VASTLY INCREASED DOCKETS INTO THE THOUSANDS.

AND SO BUT BUT THEIR CORRESPONDING BUDGETS HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED.

JUDGE DELGADO FOR ONE EXAMPLE.

JUDGE CARTER, WHO'S HERE, ARE NOW EXPERIENCING NEW NEW DOCKET SIZES.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS IN OUR BUDGET AND THEIR BUDGETS.

THANK YOU. JUDGE. EACH OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH PRECINCT THREE.

I'M ROGER BRIDGEWATER FROM COMMISSIONER PRECINCT THREE.

WE HAVE TO SAY THAT FOR THEM.

FOR THE RECORD TELL US IF YOU WOULD.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RESOURCES.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU MEAN.

THERE FOR YOUR BUDGET.

I'LL GET INTO JUST TO BACK UP AGAIN AND TO RESTATE WHAT I SAID.

SO BECAUSE PEOPLE WITHIN A PRECINCT AND THERE ARE EIGHT JUSTICE IN THE CONSTABLE PRECINCTS WITHIN THE PRECINCT, THERE ARE TWO JUDGES.

AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WHETHER JUST GEOGRAPHY, CONVENIENCE THE JUDGE, PEOPLE CHOOSE TO FILE THEIR CASES WHERE THEY WANT.

[04:40:03]

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I WANT TO THANK MR. RAMOS AND MR. FAGAN FOR WORKING WITH US IN IN RECOGNIZING THAT AND LOOKING AT REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FROM WITHIN THE COURTS, BECAUSE ONE COURT GETS SIGNIFICANTLY BIGGER THAN THE OTHER COURT.

AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY.

SO PERIODIC EXAMINATION OF WHAT THE COURT'S DOCKET SIZES ARE RELATIVE TO WHAT ARE THEIR STAFFING.

AGAIN, JUDGE CARTER, WHO'S HERE WITHIN THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, YEAR TO 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS HAS HAD A 50% INCREASE IN CIVIL CASES ALONE. IF I'M IF I'M CORRECT IN THAT, JUDGE CARTER.

SO CIVIL CASES ARE COMPLEX AND THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

THEY TAKE A LOT OF CLERK TIME AND THEY TAKE A LOT OF COURT TIME.

MOST OF THE JUDGE'S TIME IN OUR COURTS IS SPENT ON THE CIVIL SIDE.

THE NUMBERS MAY BE LOWER THAN THE CRIMINAL CASES BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL CASES ARE LARGELY TRAFFIC RELATED, AND PEOPLE CAN HANDLE THOSE THINGS ON THEIR OWN.

BUT LOOKING AT THE COURT'S SIZE, THEIR STAFFING NEEDS AND BASICALLY UNUSED RESOURCES IN OTHER AREAS, AND LOOKING AT PERIODIC REALLOCATIONS FROM PERHAPS EVEN ONE COURT TO ANOTHER.

AND, ROGER, JUST SO I'M ON THE RECORD ON IT, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS WHERE WE LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THE SPENDING ON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE CASELOAD OVER SOME PERIOD OF TIME.

I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT EXERCISE FOR US TO CONDUCT MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US IN THE BUDGET OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, WE GOT 16 DIFFERENT ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS, AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO REALLY PARSE DOWN TO HOW MANY CASES, WHAT'S THE REAL NEED, WHAT'S THE IMPACT ULTIMATELY TO THE RESIDENT THAT IS ACCESSING THAT SERVICE? RIGHT. YEAH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL FOR RIGHT NOW OKAY.

PRECINCT FOUR.

YOU WILL NOW HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, JUDGE.

AND THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH YOUR YOUR BUDGET REQUEST.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD WAS WITH REGARDS TO THE INTERPRETER OR THE INTERPRETER REQUESTS, COULD YOU PLEASE ELABORATE ON THAT AND HOW SOME OF THOSE NEEDS MAY HAVE EVOLVED OVER TIME? CERTAINLY.

SO A HANDFUL OF THINGS.

AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU TO, FOR, FOR, FOR FUNDING THE, THE TESTING THAT WE, OUR, OUR STAFFS HAVE ALL RECENTLY GONE THROUGH IN ORDER TO, TO DETERMINE PROFICIENCY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND THE INCENTIVES THAT ARE THERE.

SO THAT'S THAT'S ONE STEP, IS OFFERING INCENTIVES TO CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE EMPLOYED THAT SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE.

THE CHALLENGE, AS WITH ANYTHING WILL BE, IS FUNDING THOSE INCENTIVES.

ALL OF OUR STAFF, WHO IS THE CAPABILITY AND MANY OTHER COURTS HAVE TAKEN THOSE TESTS AND THEY'VE GOT THEIR, THEIR, THEIR QUALIFICATIONS TO DO THAT.

BUT IT WILL HAVE TO BE FUNDED.

NOW, THE JUSTICE COURTS, AGAIN, WERE UNIQUE FROM THE DOWNTOWN COURTS WHERE EVERYTHING IS CENTRALIZED.

WE'LL TAKE THE CIVIL COURTS, FOR EXAMPLE, BETWEEN THE DISTRICT COURTS AND THE AND THE COUNTY CIVIL COURTS, WHERE INTERPRETERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE SHARED, OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WHERE AS ACROSS ALL 16 OF THE JUSTICE COURTS HAVING INTERPRETER ON ON OUR STAFFS, ABSOLUTELY IDEAL, AND WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY WELCOME IT.

SOMEONE WHO COULD BE THERE.

AVAILABLE FROM 8 TO 5 AS A STAFF MEMBER IS IS THE IDEAL BECAUSE UNLIKE THE COURTS DOWNTOWN, WE'RE OPEN ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? AND SO THERE AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY WHO COMES IN WHO NEEDS AN INTERPRETER IN SPANISH, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO NEEDS A WRIT OF REENTRY AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON TO GET BACK INTO THEIR APARTMENT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY LOCKED OUT OF.

AND IF, YOU KNOW, WE'VE IF WE HAD TO REQUIRE AN INTERPRETER TO COME FROM SOME OTHER COURT, WE'D HAVE TO SAY, I'M SORRY, WE'LL HAVE TO RESET YOUR CASE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO RENT A HOTEL SOMEWHERE OR BE IN YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO IF WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE LANGUAGE ACCESS, WHICH IS OUR GOAL FROM THE 16 COURTS, HAVING SOMEONE THAT'S ON ON STAFF, FOR THE COURT STAFF AND AVAILABLE TO THE COURT, THE JUDGE TO GO INTO COURT TO GO TO ONE OF THE WINDOWS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

AND ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

AS YOU ALL MIGHT REMEMBER, WE COURT PASSED THE THE BILINGUAL PAY ITEM.

WE WILL, NOW THAT THE TESTS ARE COMPLETED, BE DOING JOURNAL ENTRIES OR BUDGET TRANSFERS TO THE REQUISITE DEPARTMENTS TO FUND THOSE AS THE RESULTS TRICKLE IN.

SO THE THE DEPARTMENTS WILL NOT BE EATING THAT COST.

THERE IS MONEY BUDGETED CENTRALLY, WHICH OVER TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT QUALIFY.

AND I THINK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT AVERAGES OUT TO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT QUALIFIED AT ONE OF THE HIGHER LEVELS, ABOUT A DOLLAR AN HOUR FOR ONE OF THE HIGHER

[04:45:08]

AND SO AGAIN ALMOST ALL COURTS AGREE THAT HAVING A, A, A PERSON WHO IS, IS AVAILABLE TO INTERPRET THAT IS PART OF THE COURT STAFF AS OPPOSED TO AN INDEPENDENT COUNTY AGENCY, IS GOING TO BE THE IDEAL SO THAT THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO THE COURT AND THEY CAN IF THEY'RE NOT INTERPRETING, THEY CAN ACTUALLY DO OTHER, OTHER COURT FUNCTIONS SAVING MONEY AS A, AS A, AS A COURT CLERK OR A COURT STAFF MEMBER.

THANK YOU. JUDGE.

AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CASELOADS AND HOW THEY ARE DISPROPORTIONATE ACROSS THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRAPES.

HAVE YOU ALSO SEEN ANY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE PARTICULAR TYPES OF CASES THAT HAVE INCREASED OVER TIME? I KNOW THERE'S EVICTION, TRUANCY, DEBT CLAIMS. IS THAT HAVE YOU SEEN A DISPROPORTIONATE RISE IN, YOU KNOW, OR THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES IN CASES AND DO THE BUDGET REQUEST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REFLECT THAT? SO WITHIN AND MR. WELLS MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THIS, GENERALLY SPEAKING AS THE POPULATION OF HARRIS COUNTY INCREASES.

YES. AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WITHIN A PRECINCT PEOPLE WILL DECIDE GENERALLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FILE.

AND SO SO YOU YOU MAY SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN CAYCE FILINGS IN ONE COURT VERSUS ANOTHER.

YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE BACK HERE SHORTLY FOR FOR POSTAGE, FOR MY COURT.

RIGHT. IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO, TO, TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHERE, WHERE WE CAN.

AND SO, SO YEAH, WE ARE SEEING INCREASED FILINGS ABROAD, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT EVEN WITHIN SPECIFIC COURTS.

JUDGE CARTER, JUDGE DELGADO, FOR FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT FILING INCREASES.

DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? I'M SORRY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT. YES YOU DID.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS ALSO.

SAMIR RANA FROM COMMISSIONER BRYAN'S OFFICE.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU NOW HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI. MEGAN DELGADO WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. I'D LOVE TO JUST PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE INTERPRETER QUESTION AND ASK IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE GENERALLY HOW THESE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED AT PRESENT. SO GENERALLY THERE'S THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS FOR INTERPRETERS.

YOU KNOW, THE COURTS DOWNTOWN, WHEN WE THINK OF INTERPRETERS, WE SEE EVERYBODY GOING INTO THE COURTROOM.

THERE'S MAYBE SOMETHING AT THE BENCH OR SOMEBODY ON THE WITNESS STAND, AND THERE'S AN INTERPRETER BY THE PERSON WHO NEEDS THAT.

AND THAT IS A SCENARIO WHERE WE DO NEED INTERPRETERS IS ACTUALLY IN THE COURTROOM, WHETHER IT'S IN TRIAL, WHETHER IT'S A BENCH HEARING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

MOST CASES AREN'T TRIED TO JURIES AND JUSTICE COURT.

MOST ARE TRIED TO THE JUDGE.

AND SO WE DO NEED INTERPRETERS LIKE THAT.

BUT UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER COURTS THAT ARE DOWNTOWN, OUR BUSINESS DOESN'T END JUST IN THE COURT.

WE'VE CONSTANTLY HAVE, IN CIVIL AND IN THE CRIMINAL SIDE, PEOPLE COMING TO THE WINDOWS TO TALK TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO HAVE QUESTIONS EITHER ON THE CIVIL CASE SIDE OR THE CRIMINAL CASE SIDE.

AND SO SO IT'S IT'S CONSTANTLY RUNNING DEPENDING ON HOW BUSY THE COURT IS.

OUR COURT IN PRECINCT FOUR PLACE ONE.

AND THERE'S THERE'S A HANDFUL OF OTHERS WHERE THE FLOW IS IS CONSTANT.

AND SO YOU MAY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS INTERPRETATION AT THE WINDOWS RIGHT, WHERE PEOPLE JUST COME IN.

AND, AND SO MAYBE THEY NEED SPANISH IS THE PREDOMINANT ONE.

WE HAVE TWO VIETNAMESE INTERPRETERS THAT ARE VIETNAMESE CAPABLE INTERPRETERS AT OUR COURT.

ONE IS CERTIFIED.

AND SO THAT'S GENERALLY WHERE, WHERE THE USE IS, IS, IS AT THE WINDOWS AND IN THE, IN THE COURTROOM.

JP'S ONE TWO AND TWO TWO, I BELIEVE IT WAS HAVE ENHANCEMENT REQUESTS RELATED TO AN EVICTION DIVERSION INITIATIVE NEEDING TO BE FUNDED FOR YEAR TWO. I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN SPEAK AT ALL TO KIND OF WHAT BENEFITS WE'VE SEEN FROM THESE INITIATIVES AND SOME OF THE IMPACTS WE EXPECT TO SEE IF IF THIS FUNDING ISN'T GRANTED. I'LL BE FRANK I THINK THERE'S A SPLIT BETWEEN MOST OF THE COURTS AND THOSE TWO COURTS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OF THOSE GRANTS AND THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. SO I SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SOME OF, I WOULD SAY, THE MAJORITY OF THE COURTS, THAT THAT MONEY COULD HAVE BEEN MORE USED WISELY IN TERMS OF IF YOU WANT TO TRULY DIVERT EVICTIONS, THEN MAYBE YOU'LL PROVIDE ACTUAL RENT AS HAPPENED.

RIGHT? YOU WILL DIVERT SOME EVICTIONS THEN?

[04:50:02]

EFFECTIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'LL YIELD MY TIME.

PRECINCT ONE. YOU NOW HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

HI, I'M ELENA CASTILLO, PRECINCT ONE.

THANK YOU FOR. HI.

HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

SIMILAR TO MY COLLEAGUES, I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT INTERPRETERS, AND I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE EVICTION DIVERSION.

BUT MY LAST QUESTION WILL BE, CONSIDERING THE RECENT RISE IN EVICTIONS, WHAT CHALLENGES DO THE JP COURTS FACE IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND HOW WILL THE JP COURTS CONTINUE TO BUILD EFFICIENCIES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL CLERKS? THE CHALLENGES IS THAT WE WILL SEE IN EVICTIONS YOU KNOW, REMAIN WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

RIGHT. THEY'RE VERY, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING CASES, VERY DIFFICULT TO HEAR BECAUSE YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO IS MAYBE THEM AND THEIR FAMILY ARE FACING SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THEY WILL EVER FACE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE.

AND SO WE ALWAYS STRIVE AS JUDGES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T CHECK OUR HUMANITY AT THE DOOR.

WE WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE, NOT LEASES.

NOW WE ARE LIMITED TO THE LAW, YOU KNOW, AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T ALWAYS FEEL THAT GREAT ABOUT IT WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

BUT THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PERSONAL ISSUE WITH THE JUDGE TO SAY, I AM GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW HERE.

AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT ARE SOMETIMES OFFERED OR PROVIDED, NOT NECESSARILY BY THE COURTS, BUT, BUT THAT ARE AROUND AND THAT THAT PEOPLE CAN GET DIRECTED, DIRECTED TOWARDS. SO IN TERMS OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, THAT WE FACE, CERTAINLY JUDGE CARTER'S COURT IS, IS A PRIME EXAMPLE.

JUDGE DELGADO'S COURT ARE PRIME EXAMPLES OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WHEN CASES MOVE, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO HANDLE THOSE CASES. AND EVICTION CASES ARE VERY LABOR INTENSIVE FOR THE STAFF NOW.

THEY DON'T ALWAYS TAKE A LONG TIME IN COURT IF THE FACTS ARE AGREED UPON.

IF THERE'S NO DISPUTE AS TO THE FACTS, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO TRY, BUT THEY'RE VERY LABOR INTENSIVE IN TERMS OF GETTING THE CASE PREPARED, GETTING NOTICES OUT, GETTING THINGS TO THE PARTIES, GETTING THINGS TO THE CONSTABLE WHEN NECESSARY.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT YOU NEVER SEE.

AND THE COURTROOM IS A VERY LITTLE AMOUNT OF TIME OF, OF THAT.

AND SO THOSE TWO COURTS, BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THEIR CASES, PRIMARILY EVICTION CASES THAT'S WHERE THAT NEED IS, IS PRIMARILY MET.

AND TO, TO KIND OF ADDRESS THE RETENTION ISSUE EARLIER, REALLY, I HAVE FOUND THE COURT WHERE I PRESIDE IS HAS THE MOST CASES FILED IN IT, AS I UNDERSTAND, MAYBE IN TEXAS, I THINK IN TEXAS, CERTAINLY IN HARRIS COUNTY, IT KIND OF HAS VARIED THROUGH THE YEARS.

BUT I THINK ALL COURTS AGREE THAT QUALITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND RETENTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, TRAINING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, BUDGETING, YOU CAN GET SO MUCH DONE WITH FEWER PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND RETAIN THEM, RATHER THAN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE TRAINING AND THE THE DESIRE TO STAY BECAUSE THERE'S SOME ADVANCEMENT EITHER THROUGH SALARY OR THROUGH POSITION. SO SO THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT TWO.

YOU NOW HAVE 11 MINUTES FOR QUESTIONS.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MATT GARY, POLICY ADVISOR FOR PRECINCT TWO.

THANK YOU, MISTER CHAIR. YEAH.

SINCE WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED INTERPRETER SERVICES AND EVICTION DEFENSE AT LENGTH, I'LL TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

WHAT INITIATIVES DO YOU HAVE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE COURTROOM? WHAT INITIATIVES DO WE HAVE IN TERMS OF.

COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE? YEAH. I TALKED TO ONE JUDGE ABOUT DEBT COLLECTION INITIATIVE THAT HE WAS RUNNING IN HIS COURTROOM TO HELP NOTIFY FOLKS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND I WAS CURIOUS, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING ELSE THAT Y'ALL WERE WORKING ON.

SO IN A DEBT COLLECTION CONTEXT, OR MAYBE EVEN AN EVICTION CONTEXT, RIGHT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COURT IS A PLACE WHERE, REGARDLESS OF THE SIDE THAT YOU ARE ON, WHETHER YOU ARE THE PERSON TRYING TO ENFORCE THE DEBT, WHETHER YOU'RE THE ONE THAT PERHAPS OWES IT, WHETHER THE LANDLORD, WHETHER THE TENANT, THAT IT'S A PLACE THAT YOU CAN COME, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR CASE HEARD, HAVE IT HEARD FAIRLY, AND YOU WILL HAVE BEEN TREATED WITH RESPECT. YOU MAY NOT GET THE RESULT THAT YOU WANT NECESSARILY AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT AT LEAST YOU FELT THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARD.

AS FAR AS INITIATIVES, MR. GARY, THE COURTS THEMSELVES AREN'T INITIATIVE DRIVERS, RIGHT?

[04:55:07]

IF THERE IS AN INITIATIVE RELATED TO ALTERING CIVIL RULES OR THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, THOSE EITHER COME FROM ONE OF TWO PLACES, THE LEGISLATURE OR THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

SO IN TERMS OF GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, INFORMING THE PUBLIC, THOSE ARE ALL WORTHY AND ADMIRABLE THINGS.

BUT FROM THE COURT'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT A JOB SPECIFICALLY THAT'S RELATED TO THE COURT.

NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN 1 OR 2 COURTS THAT HAVE TAKEN IT UPON THEMSELVES TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND AND DO THESE THINGS.

AND WHILE THE INFORMATION MAY BE HELPFUL THE COURT'S NEUTRALITY IS PARAMOUNT.

AND IF THERE WAS AN INITIATIVE TO TRY TO SAY, LET DEBT COLLECTORS KNOW, HEY, HERE'S HOW YOU ACTUALLY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO DEBT COLLECTION.

PEOPLE WOULD BE VERY SUSPICIOUS OF SUCH AN INITIATIVE.

AND SO WHILE WE CAN APPRECIATE PEOPLE HAVING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FINANCIALLY AND THOSE THINGS, AND WE DO AGAIN, WE DON'T LOSE OUR HUMANITY TO HAVE AN INITIATIVE THAT THAT THAT INFORMS ONE SIDE ONLY VERSUS ANOTHER, WHETHER IT'S IN LANDLORD OR TENANT OR DEBT COLLECTIONS OR IN A SMALL CLAIMS CASE.

IT'S IT'S JUST NOT THE PLACE THE JUDICIARY AS AN INDEPENDENT, COMPLETELY NEUTRAL BRANCH TO TO TO FORMULATE INITIATIVES.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT GENERAL LAW PROCEDURES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, DIFFERENT COURTS DO THOSE THINGS TO WHERE, HEY, HERE'S HERE'S HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. BUT BUT GENERALLY AS AN INITIATIVE TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S THAT'S LEFT TO Y'ALL, THAT'S LEFT TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT AS, AS AS AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND ARE THERE ANY NEW TECHNOLOGIES OR TOOLS THAT WITH A SMART INVESTMENT COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OR REDUCE COSTS THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF.

I WILL LET I THINK I WILL LET ED TALK TO TO THIS SO THAT I DON'T.

YEAH, I'VE GOT MY APPLE COMPUTER IN HERE.

RIGHT. BUT THAT MAY BE WHERE THE LIMIT TO.

YEAH. SO TECHNOLOGY IS A BIG PART OF THE JP COURTS.

AND FOR YEARS THEY'VE HAD A TON OF AUTOMATION.

THEY CURRENTLY ARE UTILIZING A CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CALLED ODYSSEY.

WE'RE IN THE IN THE MIDDLE OF TESTING AND UPGRADE TO A MUCH NEWER VERSION OF THAT, WHICH WILL GIVE US EVEN MORE ABILITY TO AUTOMATE THINGS.

AND I THINK THERE WILL BE BIG IMPACTS, FRANKLY.

WE WENT TO THIS SYSTEM TEN YEARS AGO, MAYBE FROM A SYSTEM THAT WAS HOMEGROWN HERE, THAT ACTUALLY HAD MORE AUTOMATION IN IT AT THE TIME, BUT WE COULDN'T UTILIZE THAT IN THE EARLIER VERSIONS OF ODYSSEY.

WE'RE GETTING TO THAT PLACE NOW.

I THINK COURTS WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT.

I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER POISED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, TO PARTIES IN CASES.

THINGS OF THAT NATURE CERTAINLY WILL BE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO DO REPORTING ON THE METRICS OF COURTS, STATISTICS IN THOSE COURTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

MUCH LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SHOWS PROMISE IN AUTOMATING SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY CONSISTENT PROCESSES. AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT.

AND I THINK BEYOND THAT, COURTS FOLLOWING GOOD PRACTICAL CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE THEM EFFICIENT. BEING PREDICTABLE, BEING CONSISTENT.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT PROMOTE EFFICIENCY IN A COURT.

AND I THINK COURTS ARE DOING THAT.

THE AUTOMATION IS JUST GOING TO HELP.

GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. GARY.

PRECINCT THREE. YOU HAVE EIGHT MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT? I DON'T THINK SO. AT THIS POINT, I THINK I'M SURE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL LET ME KNOW AFTERWARDS.

HEY, WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THIS? I'M. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, COLLEAGUES, IF YOU'RE WATCHING.

BUT I THINK WE'VE TOUCHED ON THE THE PRIMARY ISSUES THAT THE JUSTICE COURTS ARE FACING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

PRECINCT FOUR.

YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES AND FIVE SECONDS REMAINING FOR QUESTIONS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

YOU HAVE EIGHT MINUTES AND EIGHT SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. PRECINCT ONE.

YOU HAVE SEVEN MINUTES AND 45 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

[05:00:01]

THANK YOU. PRECINCT TWO.

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES AND 42 SECONDS REMAINING FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANKS.

Y'ALL JUST LOOKED AT HOUSTON TRANSTAR AND SAW WHAT THE TRAFFIC WAS, RIGHT? YES. SMART.

SMART. PRESIDING JUDGE GOODWIN, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR CLOSING REMARKS.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO I, I'M A MAYBE A PRETEND STUDENT OF HISTORY, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL REMEMBER A TIME IN OUR HISTORY LESSONS WHEN THERE ARE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHEN MAYBE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WASN'T PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE OR FAIR.

SELMA, ALABAMA.

PHILADELPHIA, MISSISSIPPI.

ARKANSAS. THE GOAL OF THE SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S FAIR, IT'S NEUTRAL.

AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU MAY NOT GET THE RESULT THAT YOU NECESSARILY WANT, BUT THE JUDGE AND THE COURT AND THE SYSTEM.

THERE WASN'T A FAVORITE WHEN SOMEBODY WALKED IN THE DOOR.

AND SO WHEN YOU AS COMMISSIONERS, COURT AND COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE.

ARE FUNDING THE COURTS, REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL, WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU ARE HONORING OUR COMMITMENT ALONG WITH YOU TO PROVIDE A FAIR PLACE FOR THE COURTS AND THE FAIR PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THEIR CASES RESOLVED, WHETHER THEY'RE CRIMINAL OR CIVIL, BECAUSE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ONE WILL EVER BE DONE WILL BE IN A COURT, IS SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN, IS SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE THEIR LIBERTY TAKEN AWAY.

PERHAPS SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE HOME THAT THAT THEY PURCHASED.

AND SO WHEN YOU ARE FUNDING THE COURTS, WHICH YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE YOU'RE HONORING THE COMMITMENT TO FAIRNESS AND YOU'RE RECOGNIZING YOUR COMMITMENT TO TO THAT FAIRNESS. SO THANK YOU FOR FUNDING THE COURTS.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE CONTINUING TO DO ON OUR BEHALF.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO RETAIN GREAT EMPLOYEES THAT ALLOW EVERYONE WHO COMES INTO THE COURT TO HAVE A FAIR, EARLY, EFFICIENT DAY THAT THEY CAN LEAVE AND MAYBE BE SURPRISED THAT THAT WAS MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER BE.

ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU TO JUDGE GOODWIN AND TO ALL OF OUR JUSTICES OF THE PEACE FOR PARTICIPATING TODAY.

AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JUDGE TREVINO RIGHT QUICKLY.

HE WILL BE HERE PRESENTING NEXT YEAR.

SO START DRAFTING VERY HARD QUESTIONS, OKAY.

SO WELL, COURT OFFICERS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS FOR OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING DAY.

WE WILL RESUME DISCUSSIONS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH AT 10 A.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.