Around the State: Whats Working Hidalgo County Indigent Defense Office Public Defenders Office Isidr

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Around the State Whats WorkingHidalgo
CountyIndigent Defense OfficePublic Defenders
OfficeIsidro Sepulveda, Indigent Defense
CoordinatorJaime (Jimmy) Gonzalez, Chief Public
Defender
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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

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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.

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Indigent Defense Goals vs. County Goals

• County Goals
• SAVE US !!!!!!

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HIDALGO COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDERS
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
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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 Clerks
  office and
• Work with the county jail to help secure quick
  release of MHMR inmates and inmates requiring
  medical attention.

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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.