Tag Archives: Travis County Sheriff
Stakeholders urge county to hurry up on implementing legal defense at bail hearings
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Travis County Commissioners Court, a coalition of people impacted by the justice system, community organizers and county staff gathered to urge commissioners to develop a permanent program allowing people who have just been arrested to…
Public Safety • By Lina Fisher • Jun 20, 2024
ACLU sues Travis County for failing to provide legal counsel
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class action lawsuit against Travis County for its failure to provide arrestees access to a court-appointed lawyer preceding their first hearing before a judge, known as counsel at first appearance, or CAFA. …
Courts • By Nick Erichson • Apr 16, 2024
Incarcerated Travis County residents at drastically higher risk of accidental overdose death
People who have been incarcerated in Travis County die of accidental overdoses at drastically higher rates than the overall population, according to new data. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court held a news conference in conjunction with the Travis…
Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 28, 2023
Scrambling to fill unwanted correctional jobs, the county approves advertising contract
Travis County just granted the Sheriff’s Office a substantial chunk of money to help remedy its vacancy problem. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court approved the transfer to the Sheriff’s Office to pay for a $483,000 contract with Palladium Media –…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • May 11, 2023
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Travis County honors Sheriff’s Office, in light of substantial correctional staffing shortages
The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a proclamation Tuesday that recognized the week of May 7 as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week in Travis County. Commissioners announced the proclamation before a group of several county correctional officers, including Travis…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • May 4, 2023
Austin airport passenger wrongful arrest lawsuit on hold
Attorneys representing an Austin-Bergstrom International Airport passenger, who contends that failure on the part of airline staff and Austin police officers to accommodate her hearing impairment resulted in a wrongful arrest and injury at the Travis County Jail, are in…
Transportation • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 13, 2023
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County nixes license plate surveillance cameras on public land
A minor debate flared up at Tuesday’s Travis County Commissioners Court meeting about installing Flock, a license plate surveillance system, on public lands in the county – specifically Rob Roy, a private residential neighborhood in Austin. Members of the homeowners…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Jan 12, 2023
Travis County launched a program to provide lawyers at the county jail. It lasted nine days.
A pilot program to provide legal representation to people in custody at the Travis County Jail had to be put on hold after just nine days because of staffing shortages. The grant-funded program was part of a Texas A&M study to…
Travis County • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Apr 27, 2022
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'Corporal' added to law enforcement roster in Travis County
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved the addition of a new “corporal” position, and its related funding, to the existing lineup of titles in law enforcement in the county. In terms of rank, the position will be situated…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Dec 8, 2021
County staffers update commissioners on the jail plan resolution
Last Tuesday’s Commissioners Court session focused on the future of the women’s jail. The Planning and Budget Office reported on the June 15 resolution, which asked county staff for strategies to reduce the number of incarcerated women and enhance jail…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Oct 25, 2021
Commissioners extend deadline on adult correctional systems report
The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to grant a 45-day extension to a forthcoming report about the Travis County adult correctional system. The report is being prepared by a collaborative group including Justice Planning, Health and Human Services, and…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Aug 12, 2021
County budget office weighs up new correctional complex
At their May 27 work session, Travis County commissioners fielded a presentation on the 20-year road map for the Travis County Correctional Complex. Representatives from the Planning and Budget Office, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Justice Planning Department…
