Sep 18, 2020 Special Commissioners Court

[Call to Order by Chair Judge Hidalgo]

[Approval of previous Meeting Minutes 11.14.19]

[First Six Month Report of the ODonnell Consent Decree from the Independent Monitor and Deputy Monitor Professor Brandon L. Garrett and Professor Sandra Guerra Thompson]

[00:20:55]

AND AT FACT THAT A PERSON HAD BEEN IS THE PERSON INDIGENT.

[00:21:11]

[00:21:17]

[00:21:39]

[00:21:43]

>> KATHY GRIFFITH HAS JOINED US. JUST A REMINDER FOR FOLKS IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING TO MUTE YOUR MIC. TEXAS A&M WOULD BE LOOKING

AT THIS REFORM. >> FEW ARE IN THE JAIL. THE COST SAVINGS AREN'T WHAT ONE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED OR HOPED FOR THE COUNTY. BECAUSE THERE'S A SMALL SUBGROUP OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM THEIR JAIL STAYS ARE MUCH LONG SCPIRT COULD BE THAT THERE WERE DELAYS IN DOCK ITS LAST YEAR. IT WOULD BE THAT THERE ARE SOME SUBGROUP OF CASES WHERE THEY ARE JUST MORE SERIOUS CHARGES OR THERE ARE DELAYS IN SCHEDULING TRIALS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT FURTHER.

WHAT ARE THE TAX SAVINGS AND NEW COSTS CREATES AND THEN LAST NIGHT I JUST WANTED TO STOP QUICKLY AND JUST TO SAY SOME OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THIS CONSENT DECREE HAVE NOT YET TAKEN EFFECT ARE JUST BEING IMPLEMENTED NOW.

REALLY SOME REMARKABLE WORK WILL BE DONE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO EVALUATE IT AND REPORT TO YOU ON IT. IN THE NEXT SLIDE REAL QUICK. WE NOTE THAT THE ENTIRE COURT APPEARANCE SYSTEM THOSE COURT APPEARANCE POLICIES IN THE CONSENT -- COURT REMIND ERS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T MISS COURT. WITHOUT FEAR OF GOING TO JAIL.

THE RULES ARE SET OUT IN DETAIL NOW THERE WILL BE THIS ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO WITH LANGUAGE ACCESS ABILITY THAT WASN'T THERE IN THE PAST TO REALLY FACILITATE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE CASES. A LOT OF OUR WORK WAS FOCUSED SO FAR AT WHAT HAPPENED IN BOOKING AND THE IMAGINESTRATION THANK YOU AGAIN. WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR AND ASK US QUESTIONS

SEPARATELY ON THIS OCCASION AS WELL. >>.

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS IF FOLKS HAVE ANY.

[00:25:07]

>> I DID WANT TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT VICTIMS AND ADVOCATES.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO SOME OF THE MORE SERIOUS CHARGES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VICTIMS AND THE ADVOCATES AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE CASES THAT'S ALL HE TO

SAY. >> WE DO HAVE A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MEETING PLANNED ON TUESDAY WHERE PROFESSOR GARET AND I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE LEADERS OF ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE CITY THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH THESE GROUPS.

SO I THINK. WE'RE ALSO TALKING DOWN THE ROAD OF DEVELOPING DEVELOPING MORE TRUST RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACTUAL SURVIVORS SO WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH THEM DIRECTLY AND HEAR SOME OF THEIR STORIES AS WELL.

WE'RE NOT IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN DO THAT JUST YET. BUT IT'S VERY MUCH FRONT AND CENTER OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. JOIN US ON TUESDAY WE

WELCOME THAT AS WELL. >> I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN YOU ON TUESDAY.

I WILL UNFORTUNATELY HAVE, I HAVE A NATIONAL, A FEDERAL CASE THAT I HAVE TO APPEAR IN. BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE BE INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE NEXT ONES. I HAVE TO BE I'M OUT OF STATE, TUESDAY.

>> BUT IF I COULD GET YOUR INFORMATION, AND YOU AND I CAN TALK OFF LINE THAT WOULD

BE AWESOME. >> OKAY. I WILL SEND YOU AN E-MAIL

TODAY. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT.

HELLO. COMMISSIONER GARCIA. >> HEY, KATHY.

>> THANK YOU. >> YES, GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU.

JIM WERE SAYING SOMETHING? >> I WAS JUST SAYING HELLO TO EVERYONE.

I DID WANT TO I CHECKED WITH STEPHANIE WE DID NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC THAT HAD SIGNED

UP TO TESTIFY UNDER THIS ITEM. >> JUDGE.

>> YES, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU. I DID HAVE A QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT EARLY ON THERE WAS A BIT OF CONVERSATION RELATED TO THE MAGISTRATES AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHETHER WE HAVE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS SOME CONSISTENCY AND WHETHER FOLKS HERE ARE PRESENTING BELIEVE THAT THE MAGISTRATES ARE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE COME OUT OF THE O'DONNELL SETTLEMENT.

>> SURE. >> I WOULD SAY THAT THEY CERTAINLY HAVE DISCRETION BUT THE O'DONNELL SETTLEMENT DOESN'T ALTER. YOU WITH THE THAT SAID THERE ARE RULES TO BE FOLLOWED DURING THESE HEARINGS. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE SEE AS IMPROVEMENT THAT'S COULD ADD TO THAT CONSISTENCY.

ONE THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER AND WE HAVE RAISED IT AND ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT IS YOU KNOW, I MENTION THAT SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM WATCHING A VIDEO OR FROM READING THE DECISION THAT THEY ENTER, WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS OF SOMEONE'S RETRIAL RELEASE OR WHAT WERE THE REASONS FOR EITHER ORDERING AN UNAFFORDABLE BOND OR NOT OR EVEN WAS THIS BOND INTENDED TO BE UNAFFORDABLE BECAUSE OF THE DANGER THIS PERSON POSES OR WAS IT INTENDED TO BE AFFORDABLE. PART OF THE CHALLENGES THEY WERE JUST ONE FIELD OR SMORGASBORD OF REASONS CAN BE PLACED. THE JUDGES HAVE A DIFFERENT FORM WHICH SEPARATES OUT FACTS AND FINDINGS AND THE REASON WE THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE MAKE THEIR DECISION MAKING CLEAR TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IF THEY HAD SEPARATE FIELDS IN ORDER TO ENTER.

WAS THIS PERSON INDIGENT. WHAT ARE THE FACTS THAT ARE THE KEY ONES.

WHAT IS THE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE WHAT WAS MY GOAL HERE.

ONE OF THE PRETRIAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE IMPOSED. HEARING OFFICERS SEEM QUITE OPEN IT TO. BUT I THINK THERE'S A PROCESS FOR UPDATING COURT FORMS THAT MAY TAKE SOME TIME. HOPEFULLY NOT TOO LONG IF PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO IT. BUT IN TERMS OF IN GENERAL DO WE SEE EVIDENCE THAT CAREFUL DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. THAT THERE'S THOUGHT GOING INTO IT. THAT BOTH SIDES ARE MAKING A CASE AND THAT JUDGES ARE TRYING TO REACH A DECISION USING THEIR DISCRETION. IT CERTAINLY DOES LOOK THAT.

THERE ARE DETAILED PRESENTATIONS BY BOTH SIDES. THERE'S TIME TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES AND FOR THE HEARING OFFICERS TO REACH A DECISION.

IT'S MUCH LESS RUSHED THAN WAS IN THE PAST. HEARING OFFICERS ALSO HAVE

[00:30:03]

>> JUDGE, IN LIGHT OF THAT, I WOULD ASK FOR MR. BETHKE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY ON THIS ISSUE. THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE IN THIS REGARD I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL GET TO GET TO THE AREA OF DISCRETION IT IS DISCRETION.

BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM IS AS TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING.

I DO THINK THIS IS ONE AREA THAT WE REALLY SHOULD HONE IN ON AND ENSURE THAT IT IS

PERFORMING WITH WHERE WE EXPECT IT TO BE. >> COMMISSIONER WE ARE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO DO SO WITH A -- WE HAVE TAUGHT THAT WILL HAPPEN THERE IS WORK THAT'S BEING DONE NOW TO FACILITATE A TRAINING. WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT ALL THAT WORKED OUT AND THOSE DOWN AT THE COUNCIL COURT KNOW WHEN WE FACILITATE

THAT. >> WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, JUDGE.

>> QUESTIONS CONCERNING -- >> OH, GO AHEAD. >> I HAVE A QUESTION CONCERNING THE 25% OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DON'T GET A P.R. FOR THE MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. DOES A REPORT HAVE A BREAKDOWN AS TO THE JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE DENIAL OF THE BONDS IN THOSE MISDEMEANOR INSTANCES?

>> NO, WE DON'T. WE CERTAINLY READ MANY HUNDREDS OF OPINIONS AND SOMETIMES IT'S PRETTY CLEAR FROM THE OPINION WHY A P.R. BOND WAS DENIED.

BUT IT ISN'T ALWAYS AS CLEAR AS WE WOULD LIKE WHICH IS PART OF WHY WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE THE OPINIONS CAN BE STRUCTURED IN A WAY THAT WE CAN BETTER TELL WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE HEARING. IN GENERAL, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE DENIALS WHERE THERE WAS ACTUALLY A NONMISDEMEANOR REASON FOR THE DENIAL.

THERE WAS A FELONY HOLD OR AN ICE HOLD. SO IN THOSE CASES IT'S QUITE CLEAR WHAT THE REASON WAS. IN OTHER CASES IT TENDS TO BE BECAUSE OF BOND VIOLATIONS BECAUSE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THREAT AND EVEN IF IT'S NOT SPELLED OUT IN THE CHILL THAT WE ALWAYS WOULD LIKE IT'S FAIRLY CLEAR WHAT THE FACTS ARE THAT THE HEARING OFFICER WAS RELIED UPON. SO WE DO FEEL LIKE WE CAN BASICALLY TELL WHY DECISIONS ARE REACHED. BUT SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS. WE SEE THAT THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENT THAT'S COULD HELP US ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAIN BASIS WAS FOR THE RULING.

>> IF I COULD ASK, THE DENIAL OF PERSONAL BOND DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WILL NOT GET RELEASED. SO FREQUENTLY THESE PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING SOME -- THEY MAY RECEIVE SOME KIND OF, YOU KNOW, SECURE THE FINANCIAL BOND AND THEN BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT BOND. SO THAT'S FREQUENTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN.

>> I KNOW THAT THE D.A. HAS JOINED JUDGE CARTER, DR. SHAW AND I BELIEVE MIKE NICHOLS AS WELL. SO WELCOME. GRACIE HAD A QUESTION.

>> YES, I DO. I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GOT ON THE CALL, I NOTICED THAT ON ONE SECTION THERE HAS BEEN ONE SECTION IT'S LIKE HOW DO WE HOLD THE JUDGE'S ACCOUNTABLE ONCE THIS CONSENT IS FULLY ON, RIGHT.

HOW DO WE HOLD THE JUDGE'S ACCOUNTSABLE? THEY STILL AT THE END WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF DECISION BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO MAKE, RIGHT? SO I WAS WONDERING LIKE HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? LIKE HOW DO WE HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN NOES KNOWING THAT THINGS ARE BEING AS FOLLOWED AND THAT THEY'RE

GOING TO STICK WITH THEM? >> WELL, THE JUDGES ARE CERTAINLY APARTY TO THIS

[00:35:07]

BUT SOME OF THE OBLIGATIONS AND RULES IN THIS REALLY QUITE REMARKABLE CONSENT DECREE ARE BEING OPERA OPERATIONALIZED. SO THOSE RULES CREATE SOME AREAS IN WHICH THERE ISN'T DISCRETION THERE REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WAIVE CERTAIN HEARINGS OR RESCHEDULE THEM. IF A PERSON HAS MISSED REQUIRED SETTINGS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVEN'T APPEARED FOR COURT WHEN THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO SO AND THEY DON'T HAVE EXCUSES THAT CAN BE USED.

SO, SOME OF THIS REALLY IS JUST OPERATIONALIZED IN RULES.

AND SOME OF IT DOES PRESERVE JUDICIAL DISCRETION WHICH THEY CAN USE AS THEY SEE FIT GIVEN THEIR ROLE AND THEIR JUDGMENT. SO THERE'S A MIXTURE OF BOTH HERE. THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY BUT ALSO, THEY HAVE IMPORTANT JOBS AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM WHICH THEY BRING TO THEIR JOBS.

>> IN ADDITION WE ALSO HAVE TRAINING BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSENT DECREE THEMSELVES. SO THAT WILL BE FURTHER EXPLAINED. THERE ARE SOME AREAS THAT HAVE DISCRETION BUT OTHER AREAS WHERE WE DON'T. IT'S STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

>> MISS GONZALEZ YOU HAD A QUESTION. >> YOU MAY BE MUTED.

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? >> YES. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS MEETING TO JIM BETHKE AND THE MONITOR DOING THIS INCREDIBLE WORK HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO FACILITATE WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM US. YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEPS ESPECIALLY TO SEE ANY PROGRESS IN LOGISTICS TO ME THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO WORK IN BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE OPERATE WITHIN A SYSTEM THERE'S MANY, IT STILL SEEMS VERY FRAGMENTED AND EACH SPEP CAN BE DELAYED AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOCUS ON PROCEDURAL JUSTICE AND THE MORE WE CAN REDUCE THE TIME THAT PEOPLE SPEND INSIDE THE INCARCERATED SETTING MUCH BETTER IT IS FOR EVERYONE FOR OUR WORKFORCE AS WELL AS THOSE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY THAT ARE DETAINED.

I'M CONCERNED THE FACT THAT BEFORE COVID THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY AT THE HARRIS COUNTY JAIL WAS 132 DAYS. THAT'S NOW UP TO 214 DAYS. AND ALL PRETRIAL DETAINEES ARE STAYING AN AVERAGE OF 228 DAYS FOR PRETRIAL. WE NEED TO SEE HOW ALL THESE PIECES CAN BETTER WORK TOGETHER THAT NO ONE IS FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TRULY LOOKING AT AGAIN AT PROCEDURAL JUSTICE AND HOW DO WE INCREASE PROCESS BECAUSE TO THE PERSON THAT COMMENTED BEFORE, I THINK IT WAS GRACIE, NOT EVERYBODY WAS PART OF THE CONSENT DECREE PER SE IN TERMS OF BEING A DEFENDANT. SOME OF RUSS BEING HELD IN MORE OF A MICROSCOPE ON THE OUTCOME -- SOME OF US ARE BEING HELD IN MORE OF A MICROSCOPE ON THE OUTCOME.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EXPEDITING THIS PROCESS. THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF COMMENT THERE. ALSO, FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR WORK WILL TAKE A LOOK AT OUR -- HOW MUCH CONNECTION THERE IS BETWEEN COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS AND THEIR CLIENTS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. BECAUSE THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE I HAVE RAISED IT BEFORE, BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT.

I KNOW MR. BETHKE WAS GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION I KNOW ON OUR PART OF WHO ACTUALLY OVERSEES. BECAUSE MANY OF THE DEFENDANTS THAT I INTERACT WITH WHEN I WALK THROUGH OUR JAIL SYSTEM IT'S VERY COMMON TO HEAR THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE MAYBE ONLY HEARD FROM THEIR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE OVER THE SPAN OF LET'S SAY A YEAR.

SO ME THAT GOES BACK TO THE LACK OF PROCEDURAL JUSTICE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT CAN BE DONE AND I HOPE THAT YOUR WORK WILL AMPLIFY AND HELP US BECOME BETTER.

SO THAT'S THE END OF MY COMMENT IN QUESTION ABOUT THE COURT APPOINTED

ATTORNEYS. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SHERIFF. IF YOU DON'T MIND ME THANK YOU FOR THAT AND ALSO THANKING MAJOR DOUGHERTY ON YOUR STAFF WHO JOINS OUR WEEKLY CALLS AND THE INPUT

[00:40:01]

WE KNOW HAVE YOU BEEN MAKING SOME REAL STRIVES TO IMPROVE THE LOGISTICS.

SO MANY OF THESE ARE RELEASED BUT AS WE ALL KNOW IT CAN OFTEN TAKE MANY HOURS TO JUST PROCESS THE RELEASE. THOSE LOGISTICS COULD BE I WILL PROVED THE THERE'S NO COVID SECTION THIS WAS NEGOTIATED BEFORE COVID. THE FEWER PEOPLE THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE BETTER FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR FOR THE STAFF AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE JOINT PROCESSING CENTER.

SO EVEN THOUGH THE CONSENT DECREE DOESN'T SPEAK TO MANY ASPECTS OF THOSE LOGISTICS THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT. WE'VE ALSO SEEN CHANGES REFLECTED THAT HAVE REALLY ONE THANK THAT WE'VE SEEN TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF OUR MONITORING WE OFTEN SAW THAT PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND BEFORE THE TIME ELAPSED SO THEY WEREN'T AT THEIR HEARINGS. SO THEY WERE RELEASES. WE DON'T SEE THOSE NEARLY SO OFTEN ANYMORE. AND THAT'S REALLY POSITIVE. YOU ACTUALLY DON'T WANT PEOPLE DELAYED FOR MANY, MANY HOURS BEFORE HAVING PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND OR NOT BEING PRESENT AT THEIR HEARINGS. SO THOSE LAI GUESS I TICKS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. ANYBODY ABLE TO VISIT THE JPC AND BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND IT AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE LOGISTICS INVOLVED MYSELF.

BUT WITH THE COMPLEXITY OF THE OPERATION THAT YOU'RE RUNNING WE REALLY UNDERSTAND JUST HOW COMPLICATED IT IS AND THE KIND OF SYSTEM THINKING THAT IS INVOLVED IN GETTING IT RIGHT. WE REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS.

ALSO JIM CAN SPEAK TO THE MANAGED APPOINTED COUNSEL ROLE.

THAT HASN'T BEEN A FOCUS FOR THAT WORK OF APPOINTED COUNSEL WHICH SO MANY OF THESE CASES AFTER THE IMAGINESTRATION HEARING APPOINTED COUNSEL

REPRESENTING INDIVIDUALS. >> MR. ELLIS AND THEN CHELSEA GRIFFITH.

>> SIR, YOU MAY BE ON MUTE. >> MISS GRIFFIN YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD.

>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THE SHERIFF.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SHERIFF. WHOM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS? I'VE HAD ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR SEVERAL YEARS INMATES TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT GET THEIR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS TO MEET WITH THEM AND THAT IS A PROBLEM. I JUST, I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW

WHO MONITORS THEM DOING WHAT THEY ARE HIRED TO DO? >> JUDGE, CAN I RESPOND REAL

QUICKLY. >> YES. >> SHERIFF GONZALEZ WANTS TO.

WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH COURT ATTORNEY GETS APPOINTED IF IT'S PUBLIC DEFENDER THAT WILL FALL UPON ALEX BUNNON SOON THERE IS HOPE ON THE HORIZON WE ARE CO-ORDINATING WITH COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS AND OTHERS ON COMMUNITY GROUPS TO INTERVIEW THE COUNCIL DIRECTOR. IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A LENGTHY PROCESS THAT WE DONE A NATIONWIDE SEARCH. WE HAVE FOUR INCREDIBLE CANDIDATES THAT WE'RE INTERVIEWING NEXT WEEK. SO DEALING WITH COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WE HAVE OTHER AREAS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. COMMISSIONER ELLIS OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COURT HAVE DIRECTED US TO BEING MORE TRANSPARENT IN OUR OPERATIONS.

SO WE HAVE DASHBOARD THAT'S HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED. SO I THINK BRINGING SUNSHINE TO THIS WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON TO RAISE QUESTIONS.

IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, KATHY. THERE IS HOPE.

AND THERE IS, YOU KNOW, MEANINGFUL SUPPORT FROM BOTH OUR COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTS, OUR COMMISSIONERS COURT. SO I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

THANK YOU. >> I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

I WAS GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE SKIP OVER TO THE FINAL ITEM THE UPDATE ON THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE WHICH WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON THE BACKLOG.

I KNOW THAT'S A BIG ISSUE FOR A LOT OF THE FOLKS ON THIS CALL.

SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE DISCUSSION GOING ON THAT AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE OTHER MORE ROUTINE ITEMS. SO DO FOLKS HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE AND THE CASE

[00:45:03]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVINGS. -- FOR HAVING US.

>> JIM, THIS WOULD BE I.T. 8 I BELIEVE. AND THE CRIMINAL CASE

[Update on the Safety + Justice Challenge Sustainability Grant, including: Update on criminal case backlog in the courts Elaine Borakove, Justice Management Institute]

>> I'M HERE. >> ALL RIGHT. HELLO, ELAINE.

>> HI. >> OKAY. CAN YOU BRING UP THE SLIDE

STEPHANIE OR NAOMI? >> I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME SLIDE ISSUESFUL HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.

>> YOU JUST HAD IT STEPHANIE.

>> OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOUR CJCC.

AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE YOUR S.J.C. GRANTED IS ACTUALLY UP FOR RENEWAL THIS YEAR AND THE PROPOSAL IS DUE TO THE MCCARTHUR FOUNDATION ON DECEMBER 1ST.

THIS YEAR THE FOUNDATION HAS STARTED ITS PROCESS FOR WINDING DOWN THE S.J.C.

FUNDING AND THAT HAS A FEW IMPLY CAG THAT'S I WANTED TO TOUCH ON QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME OF THE INITIATIVES. NEW AWARDS WILL BE FUNDED AT LOWER AMOUNTS. WE DON'T CURRENTLY KNOW WHAT THAT REDUCTION AND FUNDING LOOKS LIKE. WE ONLY KNOW ALL SITES WILL BE FACING SOME TYPE OF REDUCTION. PART OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DETERMINING THAT IS BASE ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THEIR FUNDING. SO FIRST AND FORECAST MOST THE FOUNDATION WILL PRIORITIZE THE FOUNDATION IN WHICH THERE HAS BEEN THE GREATEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THEM. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT SITES THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED PROGRESS AND OUTCOMES ARE GOING TO RECEIVE PROBABLY THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR FUNDING REQUESTS.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR HARRIS COUNTY IS THAT THE FOUNDATION HAD ESTABLISHED A

TARGET JAIL POPULATION. >> THEY DID THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE S.J.C. AND THAT TARGET JAIL POPULATION WAS SET AT 6,943 AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION. THAT WAS BASED ON THE BASELINE THAT THEY TOOK FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE YOU WERE AT 8,789. SO WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE 20% REDUCTION IN YOUR JAIL POPULATION THAT THEY WERE EXPECTING TO BE ACHIEVED. SO NEW NUMBERS THAT I RECEIVED THIS MORNING FROM JIM ACTUALLY SHOW THE POPULATION AT 8,628 WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S SHOWN ON THE SLIDE. IN JULY YOU WERE SHOWING ABOUT AN 8% REDUCTION BASED ON TODAY'S NUMBERS THAT IS ONLY ABOUT A 2% DECREASE FROM THE BASELINE.

IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING HOW THAT COMPARES TO THE OTHER 25 JURISDICTIONS, IN THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE I CAN TELL YOU THAT ABOUT HALF OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN THE CHALLENGE HAVE SEEN SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN TERMS OF DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGES IN THEIR JAIL POPULATION. AND AMONG SOME OF THE LARGE JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE COMPARABLE IN SIZE TO HARRIS COUNTY MOST EITHER MET THEIR JAIL REDUCTION TARGET OR VERY CLOSE TO MEETING IT OR HAVE EXCEEDED IT.

SO THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF KIND OF WHERE YOU'RE SITUATED WITH REGARD TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DATA AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE AT THE FOUNDATION DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO SHARE YOU SPECIFIC DATA FROM SPECIFIC SITES.

I CAN ONLY GIVE YOU KIND OF THOSE GENERALALITIES BUT THE FOUNDATION WOULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU IF YOU WERE INTERESTED. THE OTHER NOTABLE CHANGE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IN THE S.J.C. THAT AFFECTS YOUR RENEWAL GRANT THE FOCUS OF THE FUNDING WILL BE ON DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABILITY PLANS FOR STRATEGIES THAT HAVE PRODUCED THE LARGEST IMPACT ON YOUR JAIL POPULATION.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE FUNDING ANY NEW STRATEGIES THEY ARE SIMPLY FOCUSED ON HELPING YOU SUSTAIN THOSE STRATEGY THAT'S HAVE YOU ALREADY PUT IN PLACE THAT ARE HAVING AN IMPACT. AS YOU KNOW HARRIS COUNTY HAS INITIATED A NUMBER OF

[00:50:01]

HOWEVER, OF THOSE THE ONLY REFORMS THAT FALL UNDER THE S.J.C. FUNDING AND THUS THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO FELONY CASE PROCESSING TO REDUCE THE CRIMINAL CASE BACKLOG WHICH I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL IN JUST A SECOND.

ALSO TO REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES TO DISPOSE OF FELONY CASES.

THE OTHER REFORM IS PRETRIAL SERVICES AND FELONY CASES. SO OUR GOAL OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS IS TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE JUSTICE STAKEHOLDERS TO ENSURE YOU HAVE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES IN PROCESSING AND PRETRIAL SERVICES THAT ARE IMPLEMENTED SO THEY CAN BE CONSIDERED FOR SUSTAINABLE FUNDING.

>> WITH THE FELONY CASE PROCESSING AND THE BACKLOG IN PARTICULAR, J.M.I. HAS MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH ALL THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS AT THIS POINT TO DISCUSS WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE. OBVIOUSLY, WITH COVID, THE HURRICANE, YOU KNOW THESE WERE ALL MAJOR SETBACKS FOR HOW QUICKLY CASES COULD PROCEED THROUGH THE COURTS. BUT THERE ARE NONETHELESS SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE EVERYONE TO BE APART OF THAT PROCESS. SO WE'RE CONVENING A COURT OF CORE STAKEHOLDERS TO COME TOGETHER FOR A BRAINSTORMING SESSION AROUND A VARIETY OF OPTION THAT'S WILL HELP HARRIS COUNTY TO BEGIN SYSTEMATICALLY AND FAIRLY ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG AND TO PROMOTE TIMELY DISPOSITION OF ALL NEW FILES, ALL NEWLY FILED FELONY CASES. THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO JUST TOUCH IS IS THAT ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE IN ADDITION TO REDUCING THE MISUSE OF THE JAIL HAVE BEEN TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY IN THE SYSTEM.

THIS YEAR'S GRANTS WILL PRIORITIZE EQUITY WITH THE INTENT THAT ALL STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED HAVE EQUITY AT THEIR CORE OR THAT THERE'S A PLAN TO ADVANCE EQUITY THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AS PART OF SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING.

AND YOU KNOW ADDING THOSE POSITIONS WILL REALLY HELP HARRIS COUNTY IN THAT REGARD.

GOING BACK NOW TO CASE PROCESSING, AS I SAID WE'RE CONVENING A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS TO BRAINSTORM SOME ISSUES. THE IDEA FOR THAT MEETING IS THAT WE WILL COME OUT WITH AN ACTION PLAN THAT CAN BE MOVED ON VERY QUICKLY.

THE TYPES OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT INVOLVE BOTH PROCESS AND POLICY CHANGES.

NOTHING IS FIRM ENOUGH AT THIS POINT TO GIVE YOU SPECIFICS.

BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH OF THOSE AS AREAS THAT NEED REFORM.

I'LL STOP THERE TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUICK QUESTIONS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION THIS IS MR. GONZALEZ THE SHERIFF. WHEN OUR EFFORTS ARE BEING REVIEWED OR CONSIDER DODD THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, AND NOT TO USE IT AS AN EXCUSE BUT OBVIOUSLY HARVEY HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT I THINK IT WOULD HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE MOMENTUM THESE LAST COUPLE YEARS, AND OBVIOUSLY, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THE IMPACT ON OUR COURT SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE FOLLOWED BY PANDEMICS AND ALL THAT. YOU KNOW, IT ADDED AN ADDITIONAL OBSTACLE OR OBSTACLES THAT WEREN'T ANTICIPATING WHEN THE NUMBERS WERE FIRST THE GOALS WERE BEING DETERMINED. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THEY GENERALLY TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND I'M NOT MAKING AN EXCUSE I THINK WE CAN STILL BE DOING BETTER. I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN MORE THAN A 2% REDUCTION.

>> YEAH, THAT CERTAINLY A GOOD POINT SHERIFF GONZALEZ. UP UNTIL HARVEY YOU ALL WERE MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS YOU WERE ON TRACK TO HIT YOUR TARGET A.D.P.

THEN OF COURSE, HARVEY HIT AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED EVER SINCE THEN.

SO YEAH, I THINK THERE IS SOME CONSIDERATION FOR THAT. THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S MORE CONSIDERATION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAN THERE IS FOR COVID.

ALL THE SITES EXPERIENCED COVID. ALL THE -- WE HAVE COLLECTED DATA FROM ALL THE SITES ABOUT THEIR RESPONSES DURING COVID HOW THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THEIR POPULATION. SOME FAIR BETTER THAN OTHERS.

CERTAINLY HARRIS COUNTY DID A DECENT JOB OF REDUCING THE JAIL POPULATION DURING COVID. BUT WE SAW OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE ABLE TO GET THAT JAIL POPULATION DOWN EVEN BELOW THEIR TARGET DURING THE COVID PERIOD, WHICH TECHNICALLY ISN'T REALLY OVER AT THIS POINT ANYWAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> UH-HUH. >> QUESTION.

OF THOSE JURISDICTION THAT'S HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THEIR POPULATION, INCLUDING DURING THE COVID PERIOD ARE THERE ANY THINGS THAT ARE CONSISTENT ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY'RE PROCESSING PEOPLE FOR FELONY CHARGES

[00:55:01]

>> SO THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION. THE FOUNDATION IS ACTUALLY COLLECTING AN INVENTORY OF PRACTICES RIGHT NOW. I CAN TELL YOU THAT OF THE SITES THAT J.M.I. WORKS WITH WE WORK WITH SEVEN OF THE 25 SITES, THERE ARE CONSISTENTCIES IN TERMS OF PEOPLE FOCUSING ON PRETRIAL REFORM, PEOPLE FOCUSING ON CASE PROCESSING. WE'VE ALSO SEEN SOME CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH REGARD TO SITE AND RELEASE. SOME CHANGES IN PROBATION, AND HOW PROBATION REVOCATIONS ARE HANDLED. SO ACROSS ALL THE SITES IT'S A VERY SYSTEMATIC APPROACH.

BUT I THINK THERE ARE THOSE KIND OF KEY AREAS THAT PEOPLE ARE FOCUSING IN ON.

THAT HAYES COUNTY IS AS WELL. -- THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS AS WELL.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE OF US REACHING AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK, I THINK THE CHALLENGE YOU HAVE IS THAT THERE IS THIS VERY LARGE BACKLOG OF CRIMINAL CASES. A NUMBER OF WHICH ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY AWAITING ADJUDICATION IN THE JAIL. THE SHEER VOLUME IN THAT BACKLOG HAS GOT TO BE TACKLED WITH REALLY A FEROCIOUS APPROACH.

EVERYBODY HAS TO BE COMMITTED. AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE LARGEST OBSTACLE IS HOW YOU GET THAT BACKLOG UNDER CONTROL AND MANAGED.

>> AND I WILL CHIME IN JUST A SECOND ON IT. A VERY GOOD QUESTION DEVIN AND ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE UNDER JURISDICTIONS WE'RE FACING THIS AS WELL IS THE ABILITY TO REALLY HAVE A MEANINGFUL JURY TRIAL THAT IS IN A CRIMINAL CASE AND LIKE CIVIL CASE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO WE'RE THINKING AS HARD OUTSIDE THE BOX AS WE CAN ON IT. BUT WE STILL, UNTIL THERE'S THE MEANINGFUL THREAT OF A JURY TRIAL, THAT'S GOING TO KIND OF HAMPER SOME OF THAT WITH AGAIN, WE'RE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. BUT, IN CRIMINAL CASES LIKE SEVERAL THERE'S MORE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES THERE IN PLACE.

>> ONE LAST THING. >> THIS IS RODNEY ELLIS CAN YOU HEAR ME.

>> YES GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER AND I KNOW MISS GRIFFITH. >> I'LL WAIT.

>> I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. [LAUGHTER] NO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TO MISS ELAINE QUICKLY WAS, ARE YOU TAKING UNDER CONSIDERATION HARRIS COUNTY'S CASE LOAD IS LIKE SOME KIND OF MONSTER ON STEROIDS WHEN THESE OTHER JURISDICTIONS DON'T HAVE AS MANY DEFENDANTS TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THE NUMBERS ON TOP OF THE CATASTROPHIC FLOODING AND HURRICANES AND OF COURSE COVID. I PRAY THAT YOU ALL WILL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION, TOO. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON PROGRAMS IN THAT JAIL FOR YEARS THAT HAVE IMPROVED OUR TURNOVERS THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN WORKING HARD AND ACCEPTING THE ONE THAT'S WE'RE GETTING PROGRESS FROM AND JUST CONTINUING THOSE THAT DON'T COUNT.

I KNOW WE WORKED HARD HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY, HARD, HARD, HARD.

I JUST WANT THAT TO BE CONSIDERED TOO BECAUSE WE GOT MORE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SHOWING UP UNDER THEIR NUMBERS AND ALL

THAT. THAT'S ALL. >> I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT.

AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT J.M.I. IS YOUR SITE COORDINATOR TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE DON'T MAKE THE FUNDING DECISIONS.

BUT YES, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. THE CHALLENGE HAS JURISDICTIONS OF ALL SIZES WE HAVE NEW YORK CITY, COOK COUNTY, LOS ANGELES, HARRIS COUNTY, DOWN TO VERY SMALL JURISDICTIONS RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SO YEAH THAT VARIATION IN THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> AND THE MARIJUANA COUNTIES THAT WE GET THOSE CASES BUT IT'S LEGAL IN SOME OF THOSE OTHER CASESES SO OF COURSE THEIR STUFF IS GOING TO DROP DRAMATICALLY.

IT'S NOT LEGAL HERE. JUST SAYING. >> YEAH, I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE

SAYING. >> SO JUDGE, IF I MIGHT ALONG THE SAME LINES, I MISED SOME OF IT BECAUSE HE TO GO ON AND COME OFF. BUT YOU CAN COMPARE US TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS SO HOW DO WE COMPARE WITH OTHER JURISDICTIONS? I AGREE WE WANT IT. IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THE COUNTY GOT IT.

[01:00:03]

BUT YOU CAN'T COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, OTHER COUNTIES OUR SIZE.

SO JUST GIVE US SOME SENSE OF HOW WE ARE DOING IN TERMS OF REDUCTION OF THE POPULATION COMPARED TO A COMPARABLE JURISDICTION, LIKE A COURT FUNDING?

>> SO COMMISSIONER THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE FOUNDATION HAS US UNDER A DATA USE AGREEMENT. I'M NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS OR MAKE SPECIFIC COMPARISONS IN A PUBLIC FORUM. WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING THAT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT OF THE LARGE JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE COMPARABLE IN SIZE TO HARRIS COUNTY THERE ARE FIVE.

THREE HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR TARGETS ALREADY. >> BECAUSE I WOULDN'T OBVIOUSLY WANT YOU TO BE IN A COMPROMISING SITUATION. WHEN YOU CAN DO IT PRIVATELY OR JIM, SOMEONE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US AN ANALYSIS OF OUR SUCCESS COMPARING IT APPLES TO APPLES. THAT GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO.

WE MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE IN PLACE.

>> COMMISSIONER OWENS AND ELAINE THIS INFORMATION WE WILL NEED TO UPDATE IT.

SO I'M NOT 100% CERTAIN. IF I RECALL CORRECTLY WHEN WE REACHED OUT TO COOK COUNTY, WHICH IS YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SAME POPULATION TO US, THEIR POPULATION I BELIEVE HAS DIPPED JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW 5,000. THEN NEW YORK CITY, WHICH IS KIND OF TWICE THE POPULATION, I THINK THAT THEY'RE UNDER 5,000.

AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THE ONLY JURISDICTION COUNTRY THAT HAS A GREATER POPULATION THAN HARRIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

AGAIN, THAT'S FROM 30 DAYS AGO FOR SOMETHING. COMMISSIONER MY STAFF AND I

WE CAN WORK ON A SHORT LITTLE BRIEFING ON THAT. >> I DON'T WANT US TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE NOT RENEWED OR WE ARE REDUCED AND WE'RE SAYING OH WE HAD NO IDEA. SO WHEN WE MEET AGAIN OR JUST GIVE US SOMETHING SO WE KNOW. I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY WITH THIS IN MY PREVIOUS JOB. I WROTE COMMISSIONER LEE AND THEY DID THE COUNTY DID

APPLY. >> IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN THE COUNTY GOT IT.

AND I DON'T WANT US TO LOSE WITH THE PROGRESS THEY HAVE MADE.

YOU ALL WILL GET A CHANCE TO SEE YOU KNOW WHAT THAT APPLICATION ENTAILS BEFORE

IT GOES IN. >> JUST ONE LAST QUESTION DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO REACH THAT TARGET WITHOUT DRAMATICALLY RELEASING IN THE COUNTY JAIL? GIVEN THE BACKLOGS THAT ALREADY EXIST DUE TO COVID IN THE FELONY COURT?

>> I THINK THAT IT HAS TO BE A MULTIPRONG APPROACH TO GET YOU THERE.

OBVIOUSLY PRETRIAL RELEASE IS AN OPPONENT OPPONENT OF THAT BUT SO IS CASE PROCESSING, LOOKING AT WHO IS ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND FOR WHAT TYPE OF OFFENSES.

>> THANK YOU, ELAINE FOR THE WAIT. HAVE YOU OUTLINED THIS WITH DATES AND THE MEETINGS AND REALLY A TIMELINE. SO WE CAN SORT OF LAND THIS.

SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO SORT OF GO BACK TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA DO FOLKS HAVE OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK COMMISSIONERS COURT MIGHT BE MISING WHEN IT COMES TO THE BACKLOG? THE OTHER STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO HEAR I THINK IT'S A GOOD

OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE LINE? >> SHERIFF IF I MIGHT ON THE LEGAL ISSUE ON THE BACK OR EXPANDED WHEN DOES THAT DASHBOARD GOING TO COME OUT? I KNOW THE LAW REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS OF THE JUDGES IN THEIR ROLES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT IF YOU GET TO THE FELONY SIDE. BUT I THINK TRANSPARENCY

MAKES US ALL MORE COGNIZANT OF WHAT'S GOING ON. >> COMMISSIONER OWENS I HAVE

[01:05:03]

THAT IS READY. WE'VE HAD THAT VALIDATED. I HAD PUBLIC THE REPORTS I WOULDN'T RELEASE UNTIL WE HAVE A MEETING. WE HAVE A MEETING SUNDAY OR MONDAY. THE DASHBOARD THAT'S READY. WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAT TIES IN TO MOTIONS THAT YOU FILED ON COMMISSIONER CAGLE HAS FIRED AND COMMISSION BRADIC HAS FILED DEALING WITH THE FINANCIAL SIDE. THAT ONE IS MORE COMPLEX THAT ONE IS VERY CLOSED SO ONE IS READY AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE READY TO DEPLOY MAYBE AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK. THE OTHER ONE THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF WORK THAT'S GOING ON. AGAIN THAT'S THE BIGGER BROADER VERY COMPREHENSIVE

ONE. >> LAST POINT. I'M TOLD THAT THAT CONTRACT ATTORNEY PROGRAM VIOLATES STATE LAW. I DON'T WANT ANY OF OUR JUDGES TO BE IN THE AWKWARD POSITION. SO WOULD YOU LOOK AT IT OR MAYBE TALK TO THE C.E.O. SEND A LETTER OUT SO THEY KNOW.

PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED MY OFFICE AND I THINK THEY WILL COME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TALK ABOUT IT. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BE BLIND SIDED.

>> I WILL DO THAT COMMISSIONER. I DO KNOW THAT MY FORMER AGENCY IS ACTUALLY DOING A FOLLOW UP ASSESSMENT LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE TERMS.

SO, YES, I WILL LET THE COURTS KNOW. >> LET'S GET AHEAD OF IT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE EMBARRASSED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU JUDGE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> JUDGE I THINK WE WERE AT THE NEXT PART OF THE AGENDA WAS BASICALLY MY PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ON

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS. >> YES.

>> JUDGE, IF I MIGHT WHEN I COULDN'T GET ON MIC I JUST WANTED TO ASK BETHKE I GUESS ON THE FIRST ITEM IS THERE ANY DATA YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOU NEED TO GET? ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT US TO DO THAT WE OUGHT TO DO? HOW U.A.L. GOING TO PUT THAT REPORT OUT ON MISDEMEANOR BAIL TO THE PUBLIC? BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING

ASK? >> OKAY, AS FAR AS THE DATA WE HAD THE THE LEADERSHIP AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A COUPLE OTHER COMPONENTS. I'M SEEING SOME BREAKTHROUGHS AND I STILL REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE USE OF FORCE REPORT THAT I HAVE SHARED WITH BOTH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE SHOWED WHAT NEW YORK HAS DONE, WHAT CHICAGO HAS DONE.

SO IT'S INFORMATION THAT'S BEING COLLECTED. PART OF IT I THINK SOME OF THE HESITANCY IS HOW SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS BEING COLLECTED.

AND OUR ROLE IS NOT TO JUST GO YOU GOT TO COLLECT THIS. KIND OF WORK WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES LIKE HOW CAN WE COLLECT THIS. AND BRANDI EBANKS WILL BE SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT LATER ON RACIAL ETHNICS AND DISPARITIES HAVE GOTTEN HERSELF APPOINTED TO A BOARD SO SHE'S ACTUALLY WORKING WITH A PROFESSOR ON -- I'M NOT GOING TO STEAL HER THUNDER. BUT SHE'S GOT SOMEBODY ON STAFF NOW THAT'S EMBEDDED WITH THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE TRAINING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON THE COLLECTION OF DATA. SO WE'RE KIND OF AT THE BEGINNING STAGES. LIKE I SAID I'M STILL REMAINING OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET WHAT WE NEED. MY DEPUTY A.J. ROY HAS BEEN IN CAN'T -- IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

>> GETTING THE WORD OUT JUST ASKING HOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET IT OUT.

[01:10:01]

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S GOOD NEWS THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE.

>> AS FAR AS I KNOW O'DONNELL, AGAIN, OUR DATA TEAM IS WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE MONITORS DATA TEAM AND PROFESSOR GARET AND PROFESSOR THOMPSON BOTH SAID ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE PUBLIC FACING.

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE DISCRETION ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT IT TO BE PUBLIC FACING OR NOT. IT'S BASICALLY A DIRECTIVE IN THE CONSENT DECREE.

SO THAT'S ACTUALLY SO WE'RE RESPONSIBLE AND THE COURT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT I'M GRATEFUL HAS PROVIDED US TWO DATA PERSONS TO WORK SPECIFICALLY ON THAT ITEM.

WE HAVE A PROJECT MANAGER SO THE GOOD THING IS Y'ALL HAVE PROVIDED US THE SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE MANAGERS AND WE CAN DELIVER UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS OF

THAT. >> SO PUBLIC MEETINGS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

>> SO THE PUBLIC MEETING THAT WILL BE SOMETIME IN OCTOBER.

WE NOW HAVE COMMUNICATIONS IN MEETING PERSON. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE PUBLISHING THAT OUT BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO RELY ON LIKE YOUR OFFICE, THE OTHER OFFICES, THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE TO BLAST THAT. WE HAVE A CALL SCHEDULED WITH PROFESSOR GARRETT AND PROMISE OF THOMPSON NEXT WEEK WE HAVE EVEN -- AND PROFESSOR THOMPSON NEXT WEEK. WE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT PIGGYBACKING OFF THIS MEETING BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

IN OCTOBER WE ARE GOING TO DO A COMMUNITY REPORT, BRANDON IF YOU ARE STILL ON THE LINE, MIGHT EVEN BE A REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE DONE LIKE TWO,LY TIMES A YEAR.

BUT I KNOW THAT LIKE TWO, THREE TIMES A YEAR. THE DATE HASN'T BEEN SET YET. WE WILL GET A DATE SOLIDIFIED I'M THINKING NEXT WEEK.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE JUDGE. >> JUDGE, YOU MAY BE MUTED.

WERE YOU GOING TO THE BY LAWS NEXT? THE JUDGE MIGHT HAVE THE

PROBLEM I HAD EARLIER. >> THIS IS THE VICE CHAIR ED GONZALEZ.

WHAT'S THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA STEPHANIE WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

TO DISCUSS THE BYLAWS. >> LET'S MOVE FORWARD FOR THE DISCUSSION OF THE BYLAWS

[Presentation and public discussion on proposed amendments to the Bylaws Jim Bethke, Director]

THE JUDGE GETS BACK ON. >> SURE. THAT WILL BE ME.

AND I WILL BE BRIEF. >> PLEASE PROCEED. >> IN YOUR MEETING MATERIALS BEGINNING ON AGE 84, 85, THE SHORT LITTLE SUMMARY AND THEN 86 TO 95 ARE OUR CONTINUE VOLUMES. SINCE THESE BYLAWS WERE PROMULGATED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

ONE BEING KIND OF THE FORMATION OF OUR OFFICE AND IN ORDER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNSEL TO REMAIN VIBRANT AND EFFECTIVE AND MEETING THE NEEDS PERIODIC REVIEW WITH THOSE BYLAWS ARE NECESSARY. SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT OTHER JURISDICTIONS AS A MATTER OF FACT I'M WORKING WITH THE JUSTICE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE. THEY HAVE A NATIONAL GROUP SO WE WANT TO PULL FROM THAT. THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN YOUR ACCOUNT ARE A LITTLE BIT BAND-AIDISH. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH A HANDFUL OF FOLKS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO FOLLOWING THIS MEETING WE ARE GOING TO SEND OUT A SHORT SURVEY TO ALL OF OUR VOTING MEMBERS, OUR NONVOTING MEMBERS, OUR WORK GROUPS GET FEEDBACK.

THERE ARE TWO PROPOSAL OR THERE'S TWO SETS OF BYLAWS. THERE'S A LOT OF ONES TO LOOK AT. ONE KIND OF REALLY INTERESTING ONE IS FROM HARRIS COUNTY -- ANDERSON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. I THINK IT TIES INTO WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS COUNTY. IT'S A VERY FORWARD THINKING WHERE WE HAVE KIND OF THE POSITIONAL GOVERNMENT BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE KIND OF THE REPRESENTATION PIECE.

IT WON'T BE NECESSARILY SUPER SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT BUT I THINK IT WILL REALLY KIND OF REFLECT THE LABOR OF SOME OF THE REFORM EFFORTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE

[01:15:05]

WE WILL COMPILE THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY. THEN AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, YOU KNOW, PROPOSE CHANGES. ONE OF THE AREAS IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOKING AT KIND OF THE STRUCTURE MEMBERSHIP I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT A LITTLE SMALLER. I'M NOT SURE WE'LL REALLY BE ABLE TO GET IT MUCH SMALLER BUT JUST SO THERE'S A TAD MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE EFFORTS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED BE PROBLEM SOLVERS AND YOU KNOW KIND OF BUILD CONSENSUS AND TRUST. SO WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO.

BUT THE RESEARCH AND THE THINKING BEING DONE NOW WE JUST NEED TO GET INPUT FROM OUR MEMBERS AND THEN CIRCLE BACK AND MAKE -- INSTEAD OF DOING A BAND-AID NOW WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET IT SO WE'RE GOOD FOR A WHILE ANYWAY. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> SO, SHERIFF -- >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME ALL RIGHT.

>> JESS, JUDGE. >> YES, MA'AM. --

>> JUDGE I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT RAISE YOUR HAND THING AND I CAN'T FIND IT.

BUT I DID HAVE A QUESTION. >> I'M LOOKING FOR THAT RAISE YOUR HAND THING.

SO JIM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUSHED TO MAKE THIS SO LARGE. I THINK I WAS THE ONE THAT ASKED THAT THE ENTIRE COMMISSIONERS COURT GO ON IT. I WANT YOU IF YOU CAN NOW WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH THE DEAL A COUPLE QUESTIONS. WHAT'S THE TYPICAL COMPENSATION OF ONE OF THESE. DO OTHERS PUT THE WHOLE COURT ON IT OR NOT. AND WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE OF THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCILS FROM THE RESEARCH TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL? OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE THE CHANGES COME TO THE COURT I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY FELT INCLUDED NOT THAT ALL OF US WILL FIND I'M TO GET ON HERE ANYWAY. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO TAKE -- WOK ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN. -- WORK ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IN I THINK WE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE

WE'RE IN LINE WITH WHATEVER BEST PRACTICES ARE. >> PRACTICES AND JUDGE I WILL BE SUPER, SUPER BRIEF ON THAT. REALLY KIND OF HIT THE ELEMENTS OF KIND OF THE HIGH FUNCTIONING CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL.

FIRST, WE NEED ACTIVE AND ENGAGED MEMBERSHIP. WHICH WE HAVE THAT WITH OUR COORDINATING COUNCIL. TO KEEP PEOPLE ACTIVELY ENGAGED FOLKS ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE THE LEVEL OF -- AND THE OTHER HAVE MADE THIS A POSSIBILITY.

FOR THESE TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE -- SO WE CAN PROVIDE THAT THIS IS KIND OF OUR DEPARTMENT REALLY COMES INTO PLAY. IT RELATES TO YOUR OTHER QUESTIONS. STRUCTURED DISCIPLINE DAILY GUIDED.

SO WE ARE DOING ANALYSIS WITH THE DATA SO WE COME BACK TO THE POLICYMAKERS SITTING AROUND THE TABLE SAYING OKAY, WHAT'S THE SOLUTION.

HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WHERE IT'S AT THE HIGHER LEVEL WHERE IT'S NOT JUST, IT'S NOT JUST THE SHERIFF BUT IT IMPACTS THE COURT.

SO WHEN WE'RE KIND OF AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL. SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF LIKE THE ELEMENTS REGARDING ALL OF THE CORE THERE IS NO OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE COUNCIL THAT HAS THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT BODY. AND THAT DOES KIND OF LIMIT KIND OF THE FLEXIBILITY NIMBLENESS OF THIS. I WOULD BE RECOMMENDING, AGAIN THIS IS KIND OF KEY ECONOMICS -- I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING A LOT ON THE REPRESENTATION SIDE. THERE'S ONE PIECE. I THINK WE PROBABLY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AND KIND OF BE THINKING THROUGH THOSE ITEMS.

[01:20:01]

SO IT'S NOT JUST MY DEPARTMENT AND RESEARCH PAPERS.

I WANT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THAT COUNCIL KIND OF BEHIND IT TO DO IT. SO THOSE ARE MY QUICK THOUGHTS ON IT.

JUDGE MUTE AGAIN. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> YES, I DID. AT SOME POINT WE WERE DISCUSSING FORMATION OF COMMITTEES TO MEET. IS THAT STILL ON THE TABLE? I KNOW THE WORLD ENDED

BEFORE WE HAD A CHANCE TO GET BACK TO THAT. >> YES, CHRIS.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE FORMING ANY COMMITTEES TODAY. AGAIN, WE RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK. WE PUT FORWARD JUST A PROVINCIAL ON RACIAL ETHNICS AND DISPARITIES COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN -- WE DO HAVE A VICTIMS COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED AHEAD OF AND POPULATED. PART OF IT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT MEMBERSHIP ON THOSE COMMITTEES.

BUT YES, WHEN WE DO THE RETOOL OF THE BYLAWS IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE THAT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING FOR I WELCOME THAT.

KIND OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES WITH VERY NOW IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S THE RACIAL ETHNIC IN DISPARITY. IT MIGHT BE RELEASE SOME OTHER ONES TO HAVE.

>> I WASN'T VOLUNTEERING FOR ANY MORE WORK [LAUGHTER]

I WAS JUST ADDING TO THE DISCUSSION. >> I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON IT

THOUGH. >> AND I SEE WHEN I RAN THE AGENCY THE REAL WORK HAPPENED AT THE COMMITTEE LEVEL MANY THEN WE HAD GOOD POLICY DISCUSSION.

SO THE COMMITTEES THEY CAN BE MEETING ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND TACKLING THOSE PROBLEMS. SO I'LL BE -- I WAS HOPING I WAS COMING ALONG WITH THE RESTRUCTURING AND REFORMING. BUT WE'RE CLOSE. THIS IS SOMETHING, THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT LEADS TO, YOU KNOW -- I KNOW WE CAN GET IT.

>> JIM, I KNOW THE NEXT ITEM IS ON RACIAL EQUITY. SO IT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION

[Presentation on addressing Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Brandi Ebanks Copes, Racial Disparity and Fairness Administrator]

IT'S A PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEM, ITEM 5. >> YES, JUDGE.

AND I WILL BE TURNING IT OVER TO BRANDI EBANKS COPES WHO IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS OUR FAIRNESS ADMINISTRATOR SHE JOINED OUR TEAM IN LATE JANUARY.

SHE WILL GIVE A STATE OF THE STATE AS KIND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO BRANDI, ARE YOU UNMUTED AND READY TO GO? >> I AM.

ALL RIGHTY. GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. AS JIM MENTIONED EYE MAIM IS BRANDI EBANKS COPES AND I SERVE AS THE RACIAL DISPARITY AND FAIRNESS ADMINISTRATOR. I'M PLEASED TO SHARE WITH EACH OF YOU THE DETAILS OF OUR WORK TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY THUS FAR. EARLIER THIS YEAR I WAS BROUGHT ONTO THE TEAM IN JANUARY AND SUBSEQUENTLY WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER IN MARCH. WHILE 2020 HAS BEEN ATYPICAL FOR EACH OF US, I'M CERTAIN WE HAVE MANAGED TO US THIS FAR COLLABORATE WITH PARTNERS TO ADDRESS COVID-19-RELATED ISSUES, DISCUSS EQUITY, AND ALSO THINK FURTHER ABOUT HOW TO SHIFT OUR STRATEGIES TO BOLSTER OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT. AND FINALLY, THROUGH THE SAFETY AND JUSTICE CHALLENGE. WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO EXISTING DISPARITIES IN OUR SYSTEM. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AS PART OF THE CHALLENGE WE ARE SUPPORTED BY VARIOUS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS SUCH AS J.M.I., WE HEARD FROM EARLIER, AS WELL AS THE W. HAYWARD YOU BURNS

[01:25:07]

SO LIKE MANY JURISDICTIONS THERE ARE DISPARITY GAPS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE BLACK PEOPLE REPRESENT 19% OF OUR COUNTY'S POPULATION, IN 2018, THEY REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 45% OF BOOKINGS IN OUR JAIL. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE BLACKS REPRESENT 40 PER OF OUR POPULATION WE LACK ACCURATE DATA ON HOW OUR SYSTEM CURRENTLY IMPACTS THEM AS WAS PREVIOUSLY STATED BY OUR CONSENT DECREE MONITORS.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. THE BURNS INSTITUTE REPORT FOCUSES MAINLY ON ONE KEY DECISION POINT IN OUR SYSTEM WHICH IS PRETRIAL ADMISSIONS. ON THE GRAPHS YOU CAN SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, YOU WILL NOTE THAT BLACK INDIVIDUALS ARE NEARLY 2.50 TIMES AS LIKELY AS THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS TO BE ADMITTED INTO PRETRIAL JAIL AS LONG AS NATIVE AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS ARE APPROXIMATELY TWO TIMES AS LIKELY TO BE ADMITTED.

BELOW YOU SEE A GRAPH RELATING TO THE TOP FIVE OFFENSES AND THE DISPARITIES THERE GROW EVEN STARKER. I WILL SAY THAT THE BURNS INSTITUTE AT THE TIME OF THEIR ANALYSIS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL DATA BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW FROM LOOKING AT AVAILABLE STATISTICS FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS THAT SOME OF THESE DATA POINTS MAY NOT ACCURATELY DEPICT THE TRUE FORM OF THE DISPARITY. ACCORDING TO THOSE STATISTICS, THERE IS A NEARLY THREE TIMES AS LIKELY DISPARITY FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS AND PRETRIAL NEARLY FIVE TIMES AS LIKELY DISPARITY AS IT RELATES TO INCARCERATION.

SPECIFICALLY, FOR POSSESSION OF COCAINE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE POSSESSION IN GENERAL IS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE CHARGES INSIDE OF THE COUNTY THAT'S DEPICKED.

BUT THERE IS NEARLY SIX TIMES AS LIKELY DISPARITY FOR BLACK INDIVIDUALS OVER THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS TO BE IN THAT SYSTEM FOR THAT OFFENSE.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO IT'S IMPORTANT ALSO TO THINK ABOUT THE TRENDS OVER TIME. I THINK J.M. SCPIRNG ELAINE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN SAYING THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS. SO WE ARE WHILE IN A STATE OF ALARM NOT IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR. YOU WILL NOTE OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD WE HAVE MADE SOME MODERATE -- IN DISPARITY CLAIMS DROPPING FROM 3.3 TO ALMOST 2.50 OF THE DISPARITY GAP. HOWEVER, YOU WILL SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A GROWTH AROUND NATIVE AMERICAN DISPARITY GAPS AND WE ARE FURTHER INVESTIGATING THAT. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO NOT ONLY DID THE INSTITUTE PROVIDE US REQUEST DATA ABOUT -- US WITH DATA AROUND PRETRIAL THEY ALSO PROVIDED THE COUNTY WITH 17 DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ESSENTIALLY FALL INTO THE THREE CATEGORIES BELOW. GOVERNANCE WAS ONE OF THE TOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY TOUCHED UPON. THERE THERE WAS A CLEAR PUSH FOR DIRECTION OUTLINING OF ROLES AND GOALS FOR COMMITTEE THAT'S ARE TO ADDRESS RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A FOCUS AROUND DATA ANALYSIS WHICH WE TOUCHED ON. REALLY NOT ONLY JUST IDENTIFYING DISPARITIES BUT UTILIZING THAT INFORMATION TO RIGHT SIZE BOTH POLICY AND PRACTICE. AND THEN FINALLY, A RECOMMENDATION AROUND

[01:30:05]

NOT UNLIKE MANY JURISDICTIONS THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT IS DEPLOYING EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND NOT JUST IN RESPONSE TO THE BURNS INSTITUTE REPORT BUT REALLY THINKING FORWARD ABOUT THE WORK IN GENERAL.

HOW WE HAVE CHOSEN TO APPROACH THE WORK IS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON SHIFTING OUR PERSPECTIVE NOT NECESSARILY AGAIN THINKING ABOUT OUR SYSTEM BEING IN DISREPAIR BUT ULTIMATELY LOOKING FORWARD TO A SYSTEM THAT CAN ACHIEVE EQUITY.

ADDITIONALLY WE ARE WORKING TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER DATA-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, BUILD OUR CAPACITY AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE EXTENDED MEMBERS OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. THEN FINALLY, MAKING A SHIFT IN BOTH POLICY AND PRACTICE THAT TARGET EXISTING DISPARITIES.

AND I WILL GO FURTHER INTO EACH OF THESE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO OUR EQUITY APPROACH IS ONE THAT FOCUSES AND BUILDS UPON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

SO ON THE SLIDE I WILL JUST SLOW DOWN JUST A LITTLE BIT JUST TO ENSURE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE USING INSIDE OF OUR CONVERSATIONS AND INSIDE OF THE WORK. SO TWO PIECE THAT'S ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR EQUITY WORK IS BOTH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. AND DIVERSITY IS THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE ALL HAVE. WE HAVE DIFFERENT WORK STYLES, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC STATUSES. EACH OF THOSE GIVES US A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WITHOUT INCLUSION IT'S HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVES OR THE DIFFERENCE OF EACH OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

SO IN OUR WORK WE ARE WORKING TO ACHIEVE OUTCOME THAT'S ARE NOT DETERMINED BY AN INDIVIDUAL'S DIFFERENCE AND ARE TRULY FAIR. SO THAT'S HOW WE ARE CENTERING OURSELVES IN THIS BODY OF WORK. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AS WE WORK TO INCREASE OUR CAPACITY WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE DAY TO DAY IS THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF OUR DATA AND INSIGHTS ABOUT DISPARITIES.

SO RIGHT HERE YOU SEE A SNAPSHOT OF ONE DASHBOARD THAT WE HAVE CREATED IN-- INTERNALLY THAT ALLOWS US TO AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE REALLY GET A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF WHAT THE EXISTING DISPARITIES ARE IN THE SYSTEM BASED ON THE OFFENSE TYPE.

I WILL BRIEFLY ALSO POINT TO THE FACT THAT WE ALSO CAN LOOK TO IDENTIFY DISPARITIES BASED UPON HOMELESS INDICATOR AND EVEN MENTAL HEALTH INDICATOR.

SO WE'LLER ARE TRYING TO ELEVATE THOSE ISSUES AND ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

-- SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO ELEVATE THOSE ISSUES AND ADDRESS THAT AS WELL.

WE HAVE TOUCHED SEVERAL TIME THE LACK OF RACE AND ETHNICITY, MORE SPECIFICALLY ETHNICITY DATA AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BURNS INSTITUTE INSIDE OF THEIR REPORT AND THROUGH COMMISSIONERS COURT. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING AND SUBSEQUENTLY RELEASING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL THAT WILL FOCUS ON ANALYZING THE DISPARITIES AND REALLY HELPING THE COUNTY DIG DEEPER TO IDENTIFY WHERE THEY ARE AND IDENTIFY MECHANISMS FOR HOW WE CAN BETTER GATHER DATA.

ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH A&M SYSTEM IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THEY ARE ESTABLISHING A NEW INSTITUTE THAT WILL BE ANALYZING STATE LEVEL DATA FROM ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND RACIAL PROFILING.

I KNOW WE HAVE MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON THIS CALL.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR MOST OF THESE AGENCIES, IF NOT ALL, SUBMIT A RACIAL PROFILING SURVEY TO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY HAVE JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATED TEMPLATE AND THIS INSTITUTE WILL BE RECEIVING THAT DATA AND WORKING TO ANALYZE IT AND HARRIS COUNTY IS -- THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT RATHER, HAS BEEN SELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THAT INSTITUTE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE.

AROUND STRENGTHENING OUR NETWORK AND GROWING OUR ABILITY FOR COMMUNITY

[01:35:03]

IF YOU WOULD ALLOW I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK REGARDING THAT ITEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT UP FOR A VOTE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK.

CERTAINLY THE IDEA IS TO TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM 6 ON THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE FOLKS HAVE INPUT SO THAT IT CAN COME BACK AT A LATER DATE ONCE IT

HAS BEEN INCORPORATED. IF FOLKS HAVE INPUT PLEASE. >> JUDGE, IT'S RODNEY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> BRANDI EUBANKS COPES THANK YOU, WHAT A GREAT JOB. YOU MENTIONED ACCORDING YOUR PRESENTATION ON SOME DATA BEING MISSING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN DO OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING I OUGHT TO PUT ON THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AGENDA, OR ASK THE JUDGE TO DO IT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THE DATA. THEN I WANT YOU TO JUST GIVE SOME COMMENT ON WHO THE BURNS INSTITUTE IS? I'M AWARE OF THEM FROM WORK I DID YEARS AGO WITH THE INNOCENCE PROJECT OUT OF NEW YORK THEY'RE WELL RESPECTED.

WHAT IF SOMEONE HAD BROUGHT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THINGS WE COULD DO.

AS IT RELATES TO THIS ITEM THAT YOU MAKE REFERENCE TO, PEOPLE ARE JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE DURING THIS ERA OF FOCUS ON EQUITY, THAT IT IS TAKEN SO LONG FOR US TO GET THE DATA. WE DIDN'T HAVE YOU HERE, BRANDI, BUT WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STAKEHOLDERS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN US. SO I'M SURE Y'ALL WILL COME BACK WITH SOMETHING SO THAT THEY WILL CONFIDENT THAT IN NO WAY WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE ANY OF THE DATA.

I THINK Y'ALL CAN ADDRESS THAT. ON THE TWO BROADER ISSUES I WANT TO LET YOU COMMENT ON THOSE WHETHER IT'S NOW OR LATER.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO COMMENT ON THOSE NOW IF THE JUDGE IS OKAY WITH THAT.

>> YEAH, GO FOR IT. >> AWESOME. AS IT RELATES TO THE BURNS INSTITUTE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THEY REALLY PUSHED US ON ENSURING THAT THERE'S CLARITY FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THAT THERE IS SUPPORT. SO HAVING A CLEAR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND REALLY BEING ABLE TO DELIVER ON WORK OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE.

THEN BEYOND THAT I THINK WHAT WAS PROBABLY THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT PIECE WAS AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH I DO THINK THAT ALL OF THE CALLS THAT YOU HAVE SEE ALSO ELEVATE THAT AS WELL. THAT WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK IS NOT JUST CENTERED AROUND INDIVIDUALS FEEDBACK AND ENGAGEMENT BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES ARE HEARD AT THE TABLE. AND THEN LASTLY, THEY LIKE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE PUSHED US ON THE DATA ANALYSIS PIECE.

NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DATA TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHICH DISPARITIES EXIST BUT DIG DEEPER AND TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSES OF THOSE DISPARITIES WHICH THINK THE TIMELINESS OF THOSE IN YOUR ITEM IN COURT WAS ALMOST AROUND THE SAME TIME. IT SO WAS VERY APPROPRIATE. AND YOUR QUESTION AROUND THE

[01:40:01]

I WILL SAY I DO KNOW OUR TEAM HAS BEEN HAVING OPEN CONVERSATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS THAT DO HAVE ACCESS TO DATA AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY WE HAVE BEEN GETTING MORE. BUT UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THAT OUR PROCESS AND HAVE TO DEPLOY THE DATA AND YOU KNOW CONFIGURE IT IN THE WAYS IN WHICH THAT WORK FOR A PARTICULAR CONSULTANT I CAN'T SAY AT THIS MOMENT THAT WE HAVE ANYTHING IN

PARTICULAR. >> BRANDI QUICK QUESTION. HOW QUICKLY WOULD YOU LIKE

TO SEE THE RED COMMUNITY REFORM? >> SO, I WILL SAY THERE ARE ITEMS OF WORK THAT I DO THINK THAT HAVING THE RED COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED SOONER THAN LATER WOULD BE IDEAL. FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GRANTS.

THAT RIGHT NOW IT HAS NO OVERSIGHT OTHER THAN THE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE IN ORDER TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND FAIRNESS, HAVING A COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED TO NOT ONLY REVIEW PROPOSALS BUT AFFIRM ANY DECISIONS WOULD BE IDEAL. SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE'RE PROPOSING A SOONER MEETING OF THE COORDINATING COUNCIL. BUT IF WE CAN DEFINITELY HAVE IT FORMED BY THIS FALL OR BY THE END OF THE YEAR THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE

IDEAL FOR ME AGAIN. >> YES I HAVE A QUESTION CONCERNING THE COMPOSITION.

>> YES. >> OKAY. >> I SAW THAT THE COMPETITION -- COMPOSITION WAS TO INCLUDE SYSTEM SYSTEMS, PEOPLE PUBS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE RATIONAL BEHIND THAT COMPOSITION WOULD BE.

AND THAT THAT COMPOSITION COULD BE MORE BALANCED TOWARDS COMMUNITY

REPRESENTATIVE? >> DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, TOO?

>> YEAH, I DID. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS I CAN WAIT.

I'LL JUST GO. I JUST WANT TO SAY SIMILAR QUESTION.

BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THAT THE BURNS INSTITUTE I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH THEM WHEN THEY CAME TO HOUSTON ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS.

THEY'RE A NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION WITH EXPERTISE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AND ESPECIALLY A FOCUS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE.

SOMETHING THAT THEY SAID IN THEIR REPORT I THINK IS A REALLY GREAT REPORT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH ALSO FOR THE PRESENTATION. I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS REPORT. SOMETHING THEY SAID IN THE REPORT WAS THE COUNCIL SHOULD USE A STRUCTURAL RACISM FRAMEWORK TO ENGAGE BROAD GROUP OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVES. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IS THE STRUCTURAL RACISM. WE CANNOT, WE CAN NO LONGER WAIT. THESE NUMBERS ARE JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT IN THE NEWS AND A LOT OF CONVERSATION AND APPLAUD EVERYONE IN COMMISSIONERS COURT WHO IS MAKING EFFORTS. I WAS ON THE RED COMMITTEE THREE YEARS AGO, I THINK, AND NOTHING MOVED. THE DATA HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ISSUE AND IT'S STILL AN ISSUE. I'M SORRY IT'S NOT OKAY THAT WE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY CONFINING PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS MANNER.

IT'S JUST NOT OKAY ANYMORE. AND THE REALITY IS THAT THIS IS A RACIST SYSTEM.

THAT'S WHAT THESE NUMBERS SHOW. THEY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT PEOPLE OF COLOR. SO I REALLY JUST -- I HAVE TO SAY THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKER AND WHAT BURNS IS TALKING ABOUT IS REALLY NEEDS TO BE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN EQUITY SHOULD ACTUALLY BE AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING.

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS BASED ON THE RACIAL DISPARITY AND IT'S THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM. IF WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE THIS WORK THE WORK OF THE RED IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE UPLIFTED AND BE THE CENTER OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING ON THIS COMMITTEE. AND IN ADDITION TO A

[01:45:03]

SO THE RECOMMENDATION TO PUT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THE COMMUNITY IMPACTED COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE EXPERTS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. SO I JUST REALLY WANTED TO UNDERSCORE THAT. I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE THE IDEAS AND I ALSO THINK $100,000 IS NOT ENOUGH. THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE FUNDING TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO OFFER MYSELF AS SOMEONE WHO WILL SUPPORT YOU WITH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORK THAT I DO.

I'M HAPPY TO HELP HOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS AND SUPPORT CONNECTING TO COMMUNITY

ORGANIZATIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU BOTH DEVIN AND FRANCIS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH YOU. I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT THE BURNS INSTITUTE WILL BE WORKING WITH US AS FAR AS AN APPOINTMENT STRATEGY RELATED TO THE COMMITTEE AND IN THE FUTURE WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AROUND THE PROPOSED STRATEGY AND THE RATIONALE FRANCIS ALLUDED TO. THIS BUT THE COMMITTEE IN ITS PREVIOUS STATE WAS QUITE LARGE. WHILE I WASN'T PRESENT AND I DO KNOW THAT THE COMMITTEE MADE A GREAT FOUNDATION FOR THE WORK, WE ARE IN A SPACE AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS OR CENTURIES, WHERE IT'S TIME TO MOVE WORK FASTER AND QUICKER AND BETTER. AND PARTOVER THAT -- PART OF THAT WAS THE DESIRE TO HAVE A SMALLER MORE EFFICIENT COMMITTEE. THE OTHER PIECE AROUND THE PLACEMENT OF 10 GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WAS REALLY AROUND ENSURING THAT EACH DEPARTMENT THAT HAD A PART IN THIS SYSTEM HAD SKIN IN THE GAME.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN TO HAVE A POLICY PROPOSAL AND THAT DEPARTMENT NOT BE APART OF THAT COMPENSATION AND THEN ON THE BACK END REALLY NOT BE AMENABLE TO ANY SUGGESTED CHANGES OR VOTED ON CHANGES. SO THAT WAS THE DESIRE TO HAVE SO MANY AGENCIES PRESENT BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE A STATED OR A CLEAR CONNECTION TO THE SUCCESS OF THE WORK. THEN AROUND THE PIECE AROUND ONLY HAVING FIVE SEATS ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.

THOSE ARE FIVE VOTING SEATS. WE ABSOLUTELY WILL LOVE TO HAVE MORE MEMBERS BUT TO ADDRESS THE LOPSIDEDNESS OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE DIFFICULT YOU POWER DYNAMIC.

IN CONVERSATION WITH BURNS WE DID DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY WOULD THOSE FIVE SEATS STILL HAVE POWER BUT THEY COULD MOVE WORK THROUGH THE COMMITTEE AND PART OF THAT MEANT THAT IN ORDER FOR A VOTE TO PASS IN THAT COMMITTEE IT NOT ONLY HAD TO HAVE A GENERAL MAJORITY BUT ALSO NEEDED TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY SEATS VOTING FOR OR AGAINST. LAST PIECE I'LL SAY THEN I'LL PAUSE IS THAT -- I LOST MY THOUGHTS. SO I WILL JUST PAUSE AT THIS

POINT AND 73 THERE IS ANY FEEDBACK. >> THANK YOU.

I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WE HAVE 10 MINUTES WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD AN UPDATE ON THE MOTION THE ITEMS THAT EACH CHARGED WITH RIGHT AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST.

>> BRANDI, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE OR CLOSING THOUGHTS?

>> I DO JUST BRIEFLY WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYONE ABOUT THE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMMITTEE AND THEN WHAT YOU WILL SEE ON YOUR PRESENTATION NOW IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT KIND OF SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THAT WAS ELEVATED EARLIER. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WITH OUR YOUG AGES 16 TO 24 BUT THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE IS FOR YOUTH AGE 16 TO 24 AND IT'S ADDRESSING THOSE WHO HAVE FELONY OFFENSES THAT ARE BEING RELEASED ON BOND BUT CONNECTING THEM TO BOTH

[01:50:03]

WE HAVE SEEN SOME EARLY SUCCESSES AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU

IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. AND HOW TO BUILD A BETTER COMMITTEE HOPEFULLY WE CAN HAVE SOME SPECIFIC DIRECTION IN THE NEXT STEPS AT THE

NEXT MEETING. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE.

I WILL MOVE INTO THE NEXT SECTION I WILL BE VERY BRIEF ON THE STATS OF THE NEXT

[Report from the Justice Administration Department, including update of George Floyd related items Jim Bethke, Director]

I'M GRATEFUL THAT THE COURT HAS ALLOWED TO US BUILD OUT OUR TEAMS AND ACTUALLY ADDRESS WORK THAT'S COMING FORWARD. WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT EVERY PERSON WHO IS ON OUR TEAM HAS FIRE BURNING IN THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO PLEASE WITH THE FOLKS THAT WE -- WE ARE LOOKING WITH THE DATA SIDE WE HAVE OUR PROGRAMS AND OUR ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE LUCAS WITH OUR MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AN AREA WHERE I KNOW I HAVE FALLEN WOEFULLY SHORT SINCE COMING ON. THE STRUCTURES COMING TOGETHER.

NEXT SLIDE. WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF OTHERS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING IS GOING THROUGH EXPANSION. BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IT MINDLESSLY. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATE WAY TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE SUPPORTING COUNCIL SO WE CAN HAVE HIGH QUALITY DELIVERABLES COMING OUT THAT WE HAVE RESTORATION SPECIALIST THAT'S ARE JOINING US. A POLICY ANALYST AND ANOTHER POLICY ANALYST.

THE POSITIONS ARE OPEN. THERE'S A COUPLE DATA. THERE'S A BUDGET ANALYST AND GRANTS MANAGER. THAT POSITION WILL PROBABLY IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES WE'VE GOT WE'LL BE GETTING THAT ADDED ON. SOME OF THE OTHERS WE MAY NOT KNOW IMMEDIATELY.

NEXT SLIDE. >> ON JUNE 9TH, RIGHT AFTER THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD COMMISSIONERS COURT PASSED A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS DIRECTING OUR DEPARTMENT ALONG WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT SERIOUS ITEMS LOCALLY AND ALSO ON THE NATIONAL FOREFRONT.

BRANDI JUST PROVIDED AN OUTSTANDING REPORT ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC DESPAIRS IT AND THE WORK WE'RING -- DISPARITIES AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING ON THAT.

WE WERE DIRECTED TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT DEVELOP A COUNTY WIDE POLICY.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THE EXPERTISE ARE IN OUR VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES.

THE SHERIFF HAS TAKEN LEAD HE HAS A POLICY TEAM HE HAS A COUNCIL WHERE THEY'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE KIND OF IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THAT. THEIR COUNSEL HAS SAID THAT SHE WILL SHARE THAT DRAFT REPORT. I HAVE, WE'VE DONE A PRELIMINARY REPORT JUST BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR STRATEGY.

PROFESSOR GARRETT IS INVOLVED IN THIS AREA. HE SHARED SOME REALLY GOOD RESOURCES TO LOOK OVER WHAT IS TO BE DONE. ONE BONUS THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE HAPPENSTANCE THINGS THAT HAPPENED BUT IT WORKED OUT REALLY GOOD.

L.A. COUNTY JAIL IS UNDER A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE FOR SOME PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD WITH USE OF FORCE. THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME IS BOB HOSKIN OUT OF NEBRASKA.

I HAVE THE CHANCE TO VISIT WITH HIM AND L.A. COUNTY HAS OFFERED GUIDANCE ON IT.

SO I'M ANTICIPATING I'LL BE GETTING A DRAFT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A COUNTY WIDE POLICY THAT OUR JUSTICE COMMUNITY IS PROUD OF THAT WILL SERVE THE NEEDS THAT ARE NEEDED AND ONE OF THE AREAS THE COMMISSIONER HAS STRONGLY EMPHASIZED WAS THE TRAINING PIECE. I SHARED WITH BOTH LAW

[01:55:03]

CRIME BE HONEST I'M PIGGYBACKING OFF THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT IS BEING DONE.

SHE IS GOING TO HIT ON THESE NEXT ITEMS. >> HI EVERYBODY, IT'S GREAT SEEING ALL OF YOU I HOPE YOU'RE WELL. SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON SUCH TIMELY AND IMPORTANT POLICY ISSUES THAT NOT ONLY IMPACT OUR BUDGET BUT ALSO IMPACT THE LIVES OF HOUSTONIANS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THESE THINGS THAT WE REALLY CARE ABOUT AS JIM MENTIONED WE ALL HAVE FIRE IN THE BELLY WE WANT TO GET THIS DONE AND FINALIZED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND THE RESOURCES. THIS PERTAINS TO THE ALTERNATIVES TO PEER TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSES WITH VERY SUBMITTED A PRELIMINARY REPORT WE ARE ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH PRECINCT 1 TO DEVELOP THE SCOPE OF WORK.

SO FAR WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 51 NONPUNITIVE PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS POVERTY WHOLENESS AND HEALTH. WHETHER OR NOT THE PROGRAMS WILL BE DUPLICATED THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT BUT THAT'S THE WORK.

THE OTHER PIECE IS, WHICH IS VERY TIMELY, IS LOOKING AT THE VISIBILITY OF CREATING AN INDEPENDENT LAW ENFORCEMENT OVERSIGHT BOARD TO REVIEW ALLEGATIONS OF USE OF FORCE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY. THAT PRELIMINARY REPORT WAS SUBMITTED PURCHASING HAS BEEN GREAT. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A CONSULTANT THAT IS GOING TO HELP US COMPLETE THAT REPORT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT ELEMENTS SUCH AS SUBPOENA POWER, INDEPENDENCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE ORDER TO HOW TO TRAIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND JUST MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS INITIATIVE HERE IN HARRIS COUNTY. WE'RE ALSO WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUDGE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FROM YOUR TEAM ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUDGETING PROGRAM. AS IT PERTAINS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BUDGET AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH YOU BUDGET MANAGEMENT AS WELL TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN FOR THE COURTS CONSIDERATION. WE ARE ALSO EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT ANALYST OFFICE FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING ON THE COUNTY LEVEL EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONDERS STUDY AS WELL AS THE VIOLENCE INTERPRETATION STUDY.

THAT THOSE -- INTERRUPTION STUDY. THOSE TWO REPORTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED FOR PRELIMINARY ITEMS. SOMETHING THAT IS COMING UP ON ITS WORK ON THE VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION IS WORKING WITH PURCHASING TO DEVELOP, TO IDENTIFY WAY THAT'S WE CAN ACTUALLY DO HARRIS COUNTY VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION AND HOSPITAL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION AS SOMETHING FOR THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER.

AND ALONG THOSE LINES WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND HARRIS HEALTH -- HARRIS CENTER FOR HELPING US WITH THIS CAHOOTS MODEL THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT KATIE SHORE'S TEAM HAD IDENTIFIED AS A GOOD WAY OF MOVING FORWARD IN HARRIS COUNTY. SO I CAN GO ON AND ON.

A LOT OF THESE STUDIES ARE LISTED IN THE MEMO FROM PAGES YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IT IS PAGES 125 TO 1RUN IN. AND I'LL -- TO 131.

AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> DO THE FOLKS HAVE A MINUTE WORK OF COMMENTS.

WE HAVE TO KEEP IT AT TIME. JIM ARE YOU GOOD? >> I'M GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT WITH COVID BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU AND YOUR TEAMS ARE DOING. LEANING INTO THESE CHALLENGES.

PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AND MY TEAM AS WELL IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO HELP. THANK YOU GUYS. JIM ANYTHING ELSE.

>> NO, THAT'S IT. WE'LL GET WITH THE MEMBERS ON COORDINATING THE NEXT

MEETING. >> WE VOTED ON EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO VOTE ON?

>> IT WAS JUST THE MINUTES THIS ENDED UP BEING A DISCUSSION MEETING SO IT'S

2:30 NOW. >> THIS IS ED GONZALEZ I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

>> HEY JUDGE WHERE'S THE LUNCH? [LAUGHTER]

>> JUDGE, JUDGE. BEFORE THAT MOTION IS EXPECTEDDED I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE JUVENILE COURTS. THOUGH WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS

[02:00:03]

I KNOW WE TALKED IN NEW YORK AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND MAYOR BLOOMBERG HAD -- DIDN'T HE GATHER UP ALL THE GUNS OF NEW YORK CITY? IN TEXAS WE HAVE SUCH A GUN CULTURE. SO I JUST WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND MAYBE WE CAN FOCUS SOMETHING ON MANAGING THIS GUN PROBLEM WE HAVE THAT'S GLAMORIZED AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TEXANS AND THEY'RE PROUD OF THEIR GUNS. THEY'RE COMING ALL THROUGH JUVENILE COURT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I JUST WANTED TO PUT A BUG

IN YOUR EAR ABOUT THE GUNS. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. >> I'LL CALL THE JUDGE I HAVE AN IDEA WE'LL PUT A LITTLE MONEY UP FROM PRECINCT AND PROBABLY PRECINCT 2. MAYBE WE CAN DO A BUYBACK. BUT I'LL CALL YOU.

>> OKAY. >> I'LL REACH OUT AS WELL. >> THANK YOU ALL.

>> WE HAD A MOTION BY GONZALEZ. >> I SECOND THE MOTIONS AND

I SECOND -- >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OPPOSED TO ADJOURNING? ALL RIGHT. IT'S 2:32 AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, JUDGE. THANKS EVERYONE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.