Texas County Progress
The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
“People should always be treated with dignity and respect. While we cannot ignore or forget the past, we also don’t have to let the past define us or others.” Cass County Judge Travis Ransom In April, I had the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone. I participated in a “Prison Reentry Simulation” which replicates the challenges and struggles faced by thousands of … [Read more...] about In Their Shoes
Editor’s Note: In many counties, the county jail has become a de facto mental institution, housing mentally ill inmates awaiting due process without their medications and/or life-sustaining therapies. The situation is lose-lose-lose; the inmates and their families, fellow inmates and jail staff, and the taxpayers are all affected. Money has been appropriated, and … [Read more...] about A Ray of Hope
REFERENCE POINTS: Texas Administrative Code TITLE 37 – PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS PART 9 – TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS TALKING POINTS: The Texas Legislature created the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (Commission) in 1975 to implement a declared state policy that all county jail facilities conform to minimum standards of construction, … [Read more...] about KEY CONCEPT: Texas Commission on Jail Standards
As we begin FY21, there are two items for county officials to be aware of. These two items are the last portions of the 85th Legislature’s Senate Bill 1849, commonly referred to as the Sandra Bland Act, and their effective dates. The first deals with how quickly a county must provide access to medical and mental health services. When first passed into law, the way the bill … [Read more...] about Jail Commission Update
The public health emergency caused by COVID-19 has impacted daily life across the country and around the world, including essential government operations like our justice system. In Williamson County, our justice system responded to the coronavirus through innovation, ingenuity, and a commitment to service. The courts in Williamson County have long embraced technology, … [Read more...] about Williamson County Judges Innovate Virtual Justice During Pandemic
