The Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission will meet Thursday for the first time since November to discuss again, the possibility of a Public Defender Office in Hays County.
Despite missing the priority deadline for grant applications to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) on May 11, there is still an opportunity to apply if the commission agrees to move forward.
The TIDC customarily provides decreasingly supportive 4 year grants to counties to kickstart their Public Defender Office. For example, in the first year the TIDC may provide 80% of the funding and Hays County would provide 20%. In the second year, TIDC may provide 60% and Hays County would provide 40%. The cost for Hays County would increase until it is fully funding the office in year five.
