Department: County Courts
Department Head/Elected Official: Ed Wells
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Position
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWDBE Participation (if applicable): N/A
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval to reclassify and update two part-time Hearing Officer positions to full-time effective December 4, 2021 using $70,626 from the department’s existing budget.
end
Background and Discussion:
All Class B and above arrests in Harris County are processed through the Joint Processing Center (JPC). Detainees are booked and either released or presented to a Criminal Law Hearing Officer for consideration of probable cause and magistration. Dockets run multiple times a day with 24/7 support of operations. Dockets that run long can delay the start of the next docket, can delay review of search warrant requests, and can delay magistration of out of county/state detainees. Converting these two positions to regular employees will provide additional judicial officers to support more timely processing of those arrested and booked through the JPC. In recent years it has become increasingly difficult to find and retain qualified individuals to fill temporary hearing officer positions. OCM will monitor the impacts this change has to the timely start and conclusion of probable cause dockets.
Expected Impact:
These positions will facilitate more timely processing of defendants and cases through the probable cause/magistration and warrant processes at the Joint Processing Center.
Alternative Options:
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 |
|
N/A |
|
|
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Choose an item.
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
Budget and Performance |
|
|
FY 21-22 |
FY 22 |
Next 3 FYs |
|
Incremental Expenditures (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
|
Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$70,626 |
$565,011 |
|
Non-Labor Expenditures |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Incremental Expenditures |
$ |
$70,626 |
$565,011 |
|
Funding Sources (do NOT write values in thousands or millions) |
|
Existing Budget |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Current Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Requested |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Requested |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$70,626 |
$565,011 |
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
|
Current Position Count for Service |
|
10 |
12 |
|
Additional Positions Requested |
|
2 |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
|
12 |
12 |
Anticipated Implementation Date: December 4, 2021
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Ed Wells, Court Manager, Office of Court Management
Attachments (if applicable):
3441(s), Budget Position Form