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What has worked in Hidalgo County

Around the State: What’s Working Hidalgo County Indigent Defense Office Public Defender’s Office Isidro Sepulveda, Indigent Defense Coordinator Jaime (Jimmy) Gonzalez, Chief Public Defender. What has worked in Hidalgo County. Communication

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What has worked in Hidalgo County

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  1. Around the State: What’s WorkingHidalgo CountyIndigent Defense OfficePublic Defender’s OfficeIsidro Sepulveda, Indigent Defense CoordinatorJaime (Jimmy) Gonzalez, Chief Public Defender

  2. What has worked in Hidalgo County • Communication • Create a working dialogue that EVERYONE can understand • Criminal Justice Workshops • Invite all the players in the criminal justice process; • Identify the goals of every player in the process; • Identify the bottlenecks; • Understand why the bottlenecks occur; and • Find solutions together

  3. Indigent Defense Goals vs. County Goals • Indigent Defense Goals • To quickly and efficiently interview and identify all individuals requesting the assistance of indigent defense representation and determine their eligibility status; and • To provide the highest level of criminal representation.

  4. Indigent Defense Goals vs. County Goals • County Goals SAVE US $$$$$$$$!!!!!!

  5. HIDALGO COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICEMISDEMEANOR JAIL CASES* 1.0 DAYS 7.3 DAYS 6.7 DAYS 0.2 DAYS 2.0 DAYS ARREST APPOINTMENT INTERVIEW COMPLAINT SIGNED COURT HEARING/ DISPOSITION RELEASE W/ JUDGEMENT 10.3 DAYS 15.2 DAYS 17.2 DAYS ARREST TO APPOINTMENT 2.0 DAYS APPOINTMENT TO INTERVIEW 1.0 DAYS ARREST TO COMPLAINT 10.3 DAYS INTERVIEW TO COMPLAINT SIGNED 7.3 DAYS COMPLAINT SIGNED TO COURT HEARING 6.7 DAYS COURT HEARING TO RELEASE 0.2 DAYS APPOINTMENT TO COMPLAINT SIGNED 8.3 DAYS APPOINTMENT TO RELEASE 15.2 DAYS ARREST TO RELEASE W/ JUDGEMENT 17.2 DAYS * REPRESENTS 1,433 JAIL CASES

  6. Be Proactive not Reactive • For Example: • Weekly inmate roster checks; • Push police departments to file reports faster; • File bond reductions at JP, Municipal Court, County Court at Law and District Court levels for ALL inmates; • Contact the courts to set jail cases for hearing as soon as the cases are filed by the Clerk’s office; and • Work with the county jail to help secure quick release of MHMR inmates and inmates requiring medical attention.

  7. No Problems Only Solutions • Daily jail population has stabilized; • Cost to house inmates out of county has stabilized; • Inmates arrest to release time has decreased; and • Representation of Indigent Defendants has not been compromised.

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