Criminal justice reform groups return to court’s agenda for discussion

The two bodies working on criminal justice reform in Hays County have places on the Hays County Commissioners Court agenda this morning. 

The commissioners are set to hear an update on the county judge’s Criminal Justice Task Force, a group formed recently to examine ways to make the county’s criminal justice system more efficient. The group held its first meeting last week. 

The commissioners are then set to discuss and possibly take action on the bylaws and composition of the Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, a group that Precinct 3 Commissioner Lon Shell has said is the better vehicle for pursuing criminal justice reform.

“The Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee has been active on and off for at least 10 years,” the agenda item reads. “Following Court action on April 2, 2019 the new name will now be the Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission. Proposed bylaws are included with this item.”

The bylaws give the commission the charge of serving as “the planning and advisory body for the criminal justice system in Hays County” and developing consensus, setting priorities and promoting “an accountable, efficient and coordinated use of resources within the criminal justice system in Hays County.”

The commission is to be made up of two commissioners court representatives, a district judge representative, a county court-at-law representative, representatives from the law enforcement and corrections arms of the sheriff’s department, the district attorney, the community supervision and corrections/adult probation director, the district clerk, the county clerk, representatives for the justices of the peace and constables, the information technology director, the juvenile probation director and a countywide operations criminal justice analyst. 

The bylaws state that if the county judge is not chosen as a commissioners court representative, his chief of staff can serve as a voting member of the commission. 

In other business this morning, the commissioners will consider the interlocal agreement between the county and the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter for the provision of animal shelter services at a cost of $259,596. Commissioners will also consider several agreements for plans, specifications and estimates services for road projects: the Jacobs Well Road Corridor Study in Precinct 3, the Ranch Road 12 safety improvement project near the intersections of Mountain Crest and Skyline Drive, and the safety improvement project at the intersection of Ranch Road 12 and Farm to Market Road 3237. 

The Hays County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse, 111 San Antonio St. Meetings are also streamed live.