Department: County Administration
Department Head/Elected Official: Leah Barton, Deputy County Administrator
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Discussion Item
Project ID (if applicable): ARPA_AJS
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Office of County Administration for approval of $2,131,484 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to continue Court Backlog activities, including six Associate Judge positions and six supporting positions for the District Criminal Courts, effective October 2024.
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Background and Discussion:
The Harris County District Criminal Courts established the two-year Associate Judge (AJ) program in January 2022 to address the case backlog caused by displacement from the courthouse following Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic.? Recently, the ARPA Steering Committee approved $2.1 million in additional funding for the program's continuation through FY25, as well as new program metrics. ?
Expected Impact:
This funding will support six Associate Judges, three court coordinators, and three court reporters with recommendation to help support in-custody cases ?
* Five Associate Judges will continue in their positions, with one additional position currently being recruited. ?
Key performance indicators will be utilized to track the impact of these roles on the reduction of the jail population. Examples of intended metrics to measure success include:
1. Jail cases disposed by Associate Judges
2. Jail cases progressed by Associate Judges and disposed at home courts
3. Total # of cases referred and progressed by Associate Judge dockets/disposed by Home Court
4. Jury selection docketed with Associate Judges?
Alternative Options: N/A
Alignment with ...
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