Primary Department: Pretrial Services
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Natalie Michailides, Pretrial Services
Secondary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 4
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Commissioner Lesley Briones
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): Arnold Ventures
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Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Transmittal by Pretrial Services of a Letter of Support for a planning grant to Arnold Ventures for approximately $100,000 with no required matching funds. The initiative, Harris County Smart Reminders & Navigation Tool, is a combination of automated appointment reminders, two-way communication, and AI-enabled identification of client needs represents a promising, scalable approach to enhance the support we provide to pretrial supervisees. This collaborative initiative is between Harris County, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Reconnect.
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Background and Discussion:
The proposed project directly aligns with Harris County’s long-standing efforts to modernize pretrial supervision and reduce barriers that can lead to failures to appear, technical violations, or re-arrest. The initiative’s combination of automated appointment reminders, two-way communication, and AI-enabled identification of client needs represents a promising, scalable approach to enhance the support we provide to pretrial supervisees. By improving navigation of court and supervision requirements, and connecting individuals with timely and relevant resources, this project has the potential to strengthen both client stability and broader community safety.
This initiative is only for people supervised by Pretrial Services.
Expected Impact:
By improving navigation of court and supervision requirements, and connecting individuals with timely and relevant resources, this project has the potential to strengthen both client stability and broader community safety.
Alternative Options:
Not applying for this planning grant would mean the County's missed opportunity to modernize a complicated system to navigate for defendants for supportive services. Providing supportive services may improve public safety and reduce unnecessary pretrial failures.
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): B1: Increase the use of effective and efficient deflection responses using non-criminal justice resources for non-violent behaviors, particularly those primarily related to substance use, mental health, poverty, and homelessness.B1
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Anticipated Court Date: 12/11/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 1/9/2026
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Contact(s) name, title, department: Natalie Michailides, Pretrial Services, Executive Director
Attachments (if applicable):