Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 (Agenda)
Item 18
18.Consider and take appropriate action on the request by the offices of child representation (ocr) and parent representation (opr)to: add one attorney to each office in fiscal year 2011; and b, funding ocr and opr in fiscal year 2012.
good morning.
>> good morning.
>> I am roger jeffreys, county executive for justice and public safety and they will introduce themselves.
>> leslie hill.
>> good morning, laura kennedy, the attorney for the parent representation.
>> good morning, senior planning with criminal justice planning.
>> for the last couple of months we have had two work sessions with you all.
one to go over the operations of the offices of child and parental representation, as you recall, they have been partially funded by the Texas supreme court, a commit on child and family services, I think is what it's call and those grants are about to end this fiscal year, so, again, we gave you update on operations of the office and came back a few weeks later of a cost benefit analysis.
in that analysis we were able to document that these folks do a terrific job of achieving the outcomes that were set out as far as the adjudications and as far as the cost.
they can do really what we were able to document is they can do a better job at a lower cost than private attorneys in this particular field.
at the time we recommended -- one -- two of the recommendations is you continue funding o.p.r.
and o.c.r., but also it would be in the best interest of the county to add an attorney each to the offices.
they are are at capacity now but we have seen 59% increase of case filings in the last year and we have been able to work up some projections that show that it's going to continue, at least at that level, and the that by adding an attorney to each office, we would be able to save the county money, both this fiscal year and in the next fiscal year.
so at the time of the work session, you all asked us to get with pbo to determine a source of funding.
we have been able to do that.
we have worked -- we have been working with pbo and the recommendation is if you all approve it we would go forward with an attorney at each office this fiscal year, that is this year, for the allocated reserve and forward, fy '12, these offices be included in the preliminary budget with funding coming from the increase is for civil defense funds for fy '12.
>> it would be good to -- I applaud you for what you are doing here.
we will wrestle with this issue to some degree and I think we are pleased with this resolve for this particular representation, whether it be a child or a parent and I think it's a good model for a lot of folks probably to even follow.
I do know that we are saving money by using the attorneys and others the way we are doing here now.
in other words, what it would probably cost a heck a lot more, and, of course, in fact, we know that.
but then with the 59% increase in the caseload, the workload there, that is -- that's really something that we are trying to offset.
it would be good to know as far as I am concerned, to have maybe a quarterly report that we can see the progress of where we are doing.
then in some of these things can maybe be turned around, there is a reason for the increase.
of course hopefully, with this type of increase, as far as participation, especially with the two attorneys, per se, hopefully we can make sure that the workload and the caseload on this particular setting, on either side can decrease.
so if -- if at all possible, I would like to see a quarterly report to see how much progress we are making, what are the impact and effect of what we are doing here, to make sure that we are are tracking this, and I think you have done some good analytical work.
it's not that.
but I think we need to see -- or I need to see.
I can't speak for nobody else but me.
I would like to see a quarterly report, maybe, you know, four reports a year, as even going into 2012, when we know that we continue to see the increase as far as caseload.
what kind of impact are we really having here?
>> yes.
we can certainly do that.
>> I would really appreciate that.
>> would be glad to do that.
>> move approval of 18, which will cost $42,455.48s if we make these two effective July 1 of 2011, with a source of funding be allocated reserved.
>> second.
>> second by Commissioner Eckhardt.
discussion on the motion?
>> the data that's been coming out of these two offices, to track the progress has been really remarkable, as well as the analysis by criminal justice planning to see why the data is -- is exhibiting the way it is.
it's just -- a pleasure to watch and I look forward to the day we have that level of analysis, no matter what we do.
>> all in favor.
>> judge, would that include -- could it be possible to include the quarterly report, maybe, or is that something I can get individually?
>> it is something you can request.
I do think we ought to look at the format if we plan to systemize it.
>> okay.
because I think it would be good to track.
>> probably require another posting, too, but in terms of reporting.
we generate a lot of reports, already, it could be if same information and data collected in current reports could be put in another format to satisfy future needs.
>> okay
>> how is that?
>> okay.
because I remember, I was sitting on the committee, and we have seen a whole lot more data than we are used to seeing.
>> yeah.
>> but we ought to look at whether that's in the to formatwe need and want.
>> that's good.
>> all those in favor?
this passes by unanimous vote.
and it would be part of 2012 budget submission.
>> yes.
>> probably is already.
>> yes, sir.
>> I can fell you, though, if you have internal -- I can tell you, if you have internal lawyers working on these cases, it is a whole lot more affordable and less costly than appointment of outside private counsel.
there is no way of of getting around appointing some private lawyers but to the extent we can reduce that number, it benefits us financially.
>> yes.
>> is that okay for b?
we will see it again, anyway.
>> yes.
>> thank you.
>> thank you very much.
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