Texas County Progress
The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
The mission of the Lubbock County Judicial Compliance Department is straightforward: Enforce the collection of court-ordered fines, court costs, and attorney fees as an extension of the Lubbock County criminal courts. The methods to achieve the mission are sometimes roundabout, but for good reason. For Collections Compliance Assistant Erma Robinson, it all comes down to the … [Read more...] about Fine and Fee Collections
Kelly Rowe learned a valuable lesson his first day on the job in the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department back in 1999. “When I first walked into the old Lubbock County Jail, which was built in 1931, I made a lot of notes to self,” recalled Rowe. “One of those notes was to tour the jail before accepting my next job. I accepted this job, and then I toured the jail. I walked … [Read more...] about Time and Attention
When it comes to a county road, there’s a great deal beneath the surface. Just ask Hill County Commissioner Steven Sulak. In the November 2012 election, 61 percent of Hill County voters cast their ballots in favor of a transition from the Ex Officio Road System, known as the precinct system, to the County Road Department System, commonly referred to as the unit system, which … [Read more...] about Street Smart: Precinct, Countywide Road Systems Meet Varied Needs
By Lubbock County Commissioner Bill McCay, Newly Elected Director, West Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association My commitment to public service started early. I was raised in a county jail helping my mom serve meals to inmates. We lived on the first floor of the Comanche County Jail where my dad served as a deputy, and my mom cooked for the inmates. My dad’s law … [Read more...] about Officially Speaking: Teamwork With a ‘Can-Do Attitude’
Slowly but surely, the state of Texas is trying to turn a complicated, costly, and often heartbreaking saga into a coordinated, comprehensive service delivery system – and counties are right in the thick of it. Anywhere from 16 percent to 20 percent of offenders in the Texas criminal justice system have a mental health diagnosis, said Leon Evans, director of the Center for … [Read more...] about Jail Diversion Programs Target Offenders With Mental Illness
