The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) awarded more than $5 million in Improvement Grants to establish regional public defender offices serving nine counties, create specialized defender programs to help defendants with mental illness, and streamline attorney appointments. “This regional collaboration grant is a game-changer for our five Hill Country counties,” said Medina County Judge Chis […]
Special Jail Section
TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION TIDC Awards Grant to Fund Public Defender Program in Willacy County On Aug. 21, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC or Commission) awarded a two year grant for $313,308 to provide funding for the Willacy County Public Defender Office (WPDO). Willacy County is currently facing a financial crisis due to […]
Texas Indigent Defense Commission: Legislative Impact Report
During the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 26 bills, signed 1,361 bills, and allowed 13 bills to become law without his signature. Of the 1,361 signed bills, four bills are of particular interest for indigent defense: S.B. 1, S.B. 1044, H.B. 1318, and H.B. 1245. Per the Texas Indigent […]
Task Force Awards $2.5 Million to Improve Indigent Defense
Five Counties Secure Discretionary Grant Money The Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense approved more than $2.5 million in new funding to five Texas counties to improve their indigent defense systems. Programs in Dickens and Lubbock counties will provide direct representation to the poor in rural counties, and improvements to indigent defense processes will […]
Indigent DefenseTask Force Changes Plan Submission Process
The Task Force on Indigent Defense (Task Force) has developed a new process for submission of indigent defense plans resulting in a single, uniform, accessible indigent defense plan for each court level in each county that may be amended and searched, said Task Force Director Jim Bethke. The changes were initiated based on internal audit […]
