Primary Department: County Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Wells
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by County Courts for approval of the creation and funding for six (6) staff attorney positions to support identification of GOB eligible and carve-out misdemeanor defendants and otherwise ensure County compliance with Local Rule 9 and the ODonnell Consent Decree.
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Background and Discussion:
The ODonnell Consent Decree and Local Rule 9 of the County Criminal Courts at Law require all misdemeanor detainees to be released on a General Order Bond (unsecured $100 bail) unless they fall into one of six carve-out categories requiring the detainee to appear before a judicial officer for review of probable cause, setting of bail, consideration of a personal bond (unsecured bail), and any non-monetary conditions of release. A looming change in the procedures supporting this requirement necessitates the creation of these positions to ensure Consent Decree compliance with the efficient issuance of GOB’s, the timely release of those GOB eligible detainees, and identification of carve-outs that protect public safety and the safety of victims.
Expected Impact:
The staff attorney positions are necessary to review and identify GOB and carve-out individuals in a timely manner to ensure the expedited release of all GOB eligible detainees. In addition to GOB/carve-out identification, the requested staff attorneys will support the Criminal Law Hearing Officers with legal research necessary during dockets and other appropriate duties in support of the 24/7 operation of PC Court. Six positions are necessary to cover 5 shifts throughout the week and provide coverage for leave.
Alternative Options: The creation of additional five (5) Criminal Law Hearing Officer positions. This option provides the most flexibility, but attracting, hiring, and retaining Criminal Law Hearing Officers continues to be challenging.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 1. Make Harris County safer and more just.
County Strategic Plan Objective: B: Reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): B4: Increase the jail deflection and diversion rate.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: Efficient and timely identification of GOB eligible detainees reduces congestion in the Joint Processing Center and the impacts of arrest and booking onto the Harris County Jail.
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Location:
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Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Service Name |
Probable Cause Court |
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Existing Budget |
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$ |
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Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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1000 - General Fund |
$746,415 |
$20,000 |
$766,415 |
$1,552,830 |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$746,415 |
$20,000 |
$766,415 |
$1,552,830 |
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Total Funding Sources |
$746,415 |
$20,000 |
$766,415 |
$1,552,830 |
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Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
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Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
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$ |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
15 |
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15 |
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Additional Positions Request |
6 |
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6 |
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Total Personnel |
21 |
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21 |
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County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
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CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
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CAO Review Completion Date |
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Anticipated Court Date: 2/26/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 4/1/2026
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ed Wells, Court Manager, Office of Court Management
Attachments (if applicable): 3441