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.
end
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 Goal(s):
X Justice and Safety
_ Economic Opportunity
_ Housing
_ Public Health
_ Transportation
_ Flooding
_ Environment
_ Governance and Customer Service
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/12/21 |
18 |
Request for discussion and possible action on the criminal case backlog including 1) update on the status of initiatives to reduce the backlog; 2) request to provide $657,465 in ARPA funding for 31 temporary positions to process evidence at the DA as well as 3 programmer positions effective October 23, 2021, while they finalize the technology improvements needed to create a permanent solution; 3) request to approve $1,637,519 in ARPA funding and positions for Associate Judges for the District Criminal Courts effective January 7, 2022. |
|
2/22/2022 |
22 |
Approval to fund court backlog initiatives through SFY 22 and relocation of Jury Operations to the Family Law Center |
|
5/10/2022 |
175 |
Approval of District Courts Case Management Coordinator positions |
|
9/13/2022 |
13 |
Approval of FY2023 Court Backlog funding |
|
2/21/2023 |
223 |
Approval to supplement FY2023 Court Backlog funding for District Courts |
|
6/6/2023 |
363 |
Approval of FY2024 Court Backlog funding |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Associate Judges and Supporting Positions |
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Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
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Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
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Funding Sources |
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Existing Budget |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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2651 - American Rescue Plan 2021 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$2,131,484 |
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Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
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Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$2,131,484 |
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Total Funding Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$2,131,484 |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
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Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Anticipated Court Date: August 6, 2024
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Tonya Mills, Managing Director, Justice, Office of County Administration;
Romeo Solis, Director, ARPA Portfolio Management Office, Office of County Administration
Attachments (if applicable): N/A