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Isidro “Sid” Sepulveda, Jr. Hidalgo County Indigent Defense Director. POLITICS. Webster Definition of Politics. 1c: The art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government 5a: The total complex of relations between people living in society. Hidalgo County.
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Isidro “Sid” Sepulveda, Jr. Hidalgo County Indigent Defense Director
Webster Definition of Politics 1c: The art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government 5a: The total complex of relations between people living in society
Hidalgo County • 7th Largest county in Texas • Population of 725,978 • Border County • 10 District Courts • 6 County Courts at Law • Average Yearly Criminal Cases Filed 22,662
HIDALGO COUNTY2003 HOT TOPICS Jail Population Senate Bill 7
Taskforce Grants Hidalgo County Year 2003 • Formula Grant - $271,296.00 • Discretionary Grants - $115,000.00(Video Teleconference Equipment and Indigent Defense Coordinator) • Total Grant Amount - $386,296.00
Video Teleconference • Magistration from Justice of the Peace Offices to Jail • Attorney Client Visitation from County Courthouse to Jail
Staff Hon. Aida Salinas Flores State District Judge 398th State District Court Program Overseer Isidro Sepulveda, Jr. Program Director David Sinder Compliance Monitor Alex Ochoa Systems Integrator Saul Sosa Indigent Defense Coordinator Baldemar Hernandez Indigent Defense Coordinator Robert Vega Indigent Defense Coordinator Elida Garcia Coordinator
Systems Integrator • Collects date form magistrate forms submitted by Municipal and J.P. Courts. • Compiles reports. • Assures that all computer hardware, software, and other electronic communications be technologically integrated.
Indigent Defense Coordinator • 3 Housed at the County Jail1 Housed at the Courthouse • Interviews inmates requesting court appointed counsel. (Gathering of financial information from accused) • Reports and monitors timeliness on attorney/client visitations at the jail.
Compliance Monitor • Magistration time period. (24 hours from the time of arrest) • Attorney appointment time period. (24 hours from the time the request is made) • Attorney accept/decline response. (24 hours after case received by attorney)
Compliance Monitor • Attorney visitation. (24 hours after notice given to attorney) • Attorney CLE requirements(10 hours for criminal cases, 6 hours for juvenile cases) • Attorney application. (Creates File and record of CLE hours.)
Workflow • Accused booked in County Jail • If no bond, accused is magistrated by JP Judge via video teleconference. • Jail ID Coordinator interviews every detainee for a court appointed attorney. • Courthouse ID Coordinator receives all applications and sends to appointing Judge.
Workflow • Once application is returned Courthouse ID Coordinator sends notice to appointed counsel. • Attorney sends acceptance/decline form back to the ID Office. • Attorney is monitored until he has made his initial visit with client.