Monday, May 3, 2021
The Hays County Commissioners will vote on the long-awaited resolution directing the grant application for holistic public defense to be submitted. If approved, the application would be submitted to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) for the Hays County Holistic Public Defense Office and Managed Assigned Counsel Program in the amount of $1,085,325.
This grant is intended to fund the first year of the proposed Holistic Public Defender Office and Managed Assigned Counsel Program.
From the grant application, the program calls for, “Sound hiring and state-of-the-art training; supportive supervision and oversight of attorneys; available investigation and social work services; ongoing data review and evaluation; and sustainable solutions to long-standing issues will generate improved case outcomes for clients and promote the smooth administration of the county s criminal justice system.”
Thursday, April 29, 2021
A Pretrial Services Office and Public Defender is close to becoming a reality in Hays County with a recent recommendation that the commissioners apply for funding.
The Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission voted in its meeting Wednesday to recommend that the commissioners court submit an application for grant funding from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission for the proposed department and programs.
The proposal comes from Neighborhood Defender Services (NDS), a pioneer in holistic defense in the United States, and outlines a plan for a holistic Public Defense Office and Managed Assigned Counsel Program in Hays County.
“I think this is a really good time for us to begin this process,” Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. “I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to work with NDS. I think they have shown us and proven that they have a really great program and I think it will work well with Hays County.”
He says he hopes that showed.
After 16 years in office, Commissioner McCay will be stepping down at the end of the week when commissioner-elect Terence Kovar is sworn in as commissioner of Lubbock County s Precinct 1.
McCay came into office in 2005, and has served four terms. He says it doesn t feel like he s served four terms. He said time flies when you re having fun. I love what I did, and I hope it showed, McCay said about his time in office. I love everything about the job the phone calls, the complaints at all hours of the day, on weekends and evenings. I hope folks know I loved what I was doing, and I worked hard at it. I think I fulfilled my campaign promise, which was to work as hard as I could.