Creating a Public Defender Office could close a 30% gap in indigent defense spending for Hays County, according to an analysis of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) Indigent Defense Expenditure Reports.
The Hays County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission restarted conversations to consider opening a Public Defender Office in Hays County. While many in attendance, including Commissioners Lon Shell and Debbie Ingalsbe, were in support of the holistic approach of this criminal justice reform, some were concerned that the added cost may not justify the benefits.
District Attorney Wes Mau said during the May 28 meeting, “It’s pretty clear there are valuable benefits for a Public Defender Office: accountability and availability. But how valuable are they and are they valuable enough to justify the extra expense they will cost us?”
