Commissioners approve software updates

Programs to curb jail, court problems 

Judge Don Kirkpatrick and Van Zandt County Commissioners took one step in the right direction of alleviating some of the problems that the county faces including the high cost of capital murder trials and that of overpopulation within the county jail.

Jack Stoffregen with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission approached commissioners Oct. 27 with a request for the county to join in the commission program, Regional Public Defender Office for Capital Cases.

The program would provide a mechanism for counties to join together through interlocal agreements to solve common needs in the area of indigent defense.

Stoffregen broke the program down to commissioners explaining that the county would pay an annual membership cost to be part of the program.

Three years ago, VZC had opted out of the program and was ineligible to participate in the program until now.

The Texas Legislature appropriated additional general fund revenue for indigent defense, which allowed the program to reduce participation costs for counties. 

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