Primary Department: Commissioner, Precinct 3
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Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
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MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
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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):
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Request for the Office of County Administration, and other relevant County departments, to develop a centralized Harris County Crime Victim Navigation and Information Initiative using existing County resources where practicable; and to return to Commissioners Court on January 14, 2027, with implementation recommendations, an inventory of existing victim services, identified gaps in victim handoffs, and options for future improvements.
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Background and Discussion:
Crime victims and their families often interact with multiple agencies as a case moves from investigation through prosecution, the courts, and post-conviction proceedings.
Harris County already provides numerous victim services, but those resources are spread across different agencies, websites, phone numbers, and systems. Victims may have difficulty determining who to contact, how to find case information, what court events mean, or where to obtain assistance.
This is particularly important when a case transitions from the investigating law enforcement agency to prosecution and the court system. Victims should have a clear way to determine where to go for information and assistance without having to understand the structure of County government.
This initiative is not intended to create a new department, add positions, or duplicate existing services. The initial goal is to better organize existing resources, create a clear starting point for victims, improve handoffs between agencies, and identify service gaps before Commissioners Court considers additional programs or expenditures.
Expected Impact:
• Centralized victim resource webpage: Create a single starting point for existing victim resources, contacts, and services.
• Criminal justice process guide: Provide a plain-language overview of the process from investigation and arrest through prosecution, court proceedings, sentencing, supervision, and post-conviction matters.
• “Who Do I Contact?” guide: Identify the appropriate agency or office based on the stage of a case.
• How-to guides and videos: Explain common tasks such as finding a case or court date, understanding case status and resets, registering for notifications, applying for Crime Victims’ Compensation, and locating assistance.
• Printable QR-code resource: Create a one-page resource that law enforcement agencies, victim advocates, prosecutors, courts, hospitals, and nonprofit partners can provide directly to victims.
• Inventory existing services: Identify current victim-service programs, contacts, staffing and caseload information where available, funding sources, technology, and referral procedures.
• Identify handoff gaps: Identify significant gaps when responsibility for assisting or communicating with victims moves between agencies, particularly from investigation to prosecution.
• Future options and costs: Return with options and estimated costs for improvements such as a one-victim/one-navigator model, enhanced services for homicide families, centralized intake, improved handoffs, peer-support partnerships, technology solutions, and available grant funding.
Alternative Options:
County Strategic Plan Goal: N/A
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Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/15/2026
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Nick Radack, Director of General Services
Attachments (if applicable):