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13 Document(s) [ Subject: Indigent criminal defense ]

Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Asset forfeiture | Bail | County jails | Family violence | Fees | Indigent criminal defense | Innocence projects | Parole | Probation | Protective orders | Technical parole violations |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 C868
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [55 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine the feasibility of utilizing GPS monitoring in protective orders as a tool to help reduce family violence; study programs and identify best practices focused on the intervention and prevention of family violence and consider statutory changes needed to further deter the offense of family violence and domestic abuse.
2.	Review pretrial service and bonding practices throughout the state. Examine factors considered in bail and pre-trial confinement decisions, including the use of risk assessments; assess the effectiveness and efficiency of different systems in terms of cost to local governments and taxpayers, community safety, pretrial absconding rates and rights of the accused. (Joint charge with the House Committee on County Affairs)
3.	Examine the use of asset forfeiture in this state, including data reporting on forfeiture actions and procedures from seizure through forfeiture in both contested and uncontested cases. Make recommendations for improving these systems that balance law enforcement needs, private property rights, and government transparency.
4.	Study the constitutional requirements and local practices for the appointment of counsel to indigent defendants and the operation of innocence projects at the state’s six public law schools. Compare different indigent defense plans and the innocence projects across the state and identify best practices for system management, including appointment methods and timing, cost effectiveness, timeliness of case disposition, compensation of counsel, quality of representation, and protection of procedural rights. Consider the effectiveness of each of the programs currently funded and the funding strategy as a whole.
5.	Examine fees and revocations for those on probation and parole; examine effectiveness of fees imposed as a condition of probation and parole; study technical revocations in adult probation to identify drivers of revocations, disparities across the state, and strategies for reducing technical revocations while ensuring program effectiveness and public safety. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Corrections)
6.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 82nd Legislature / Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
Subjects:	Alcohol-related deaths | Alternatives to incarceration | Blood alcohol concentration | Child abuse | Child sexual abuse | Community notification of sex offenders | Concealed weapons | Crime laboratories | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | DNA testing | Driving while intoxicated | Forensics | Indigent criminal defense | Jail Standards, Texas Commission on | Juvenile detention facilities | Juvenile justice system | Juvenile Probation Commission, Texas | Mental health services | Mentally ill inmates | Municipal jails | Prison security | Public Safety, Texas Department of | Recidivism | School discipline | Sex offender registration | State Health Services, Texas Department of | Texas Fair Defense Act | Witnesses | Youth Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number:	L1836.81 C868
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View report [115 pages  File size: 3,355 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the efficiency and fairness of the current sexual offender registry system and make recommendations to improve the system, if necessary. Study the issue of compliance with the Adam Walsh Act, focusing on the associated costs to the state and the punishment of juveniles. Examine the risk assessment tools used to measure the likelihood of recidivism of sexual predators.
2.	Review statistics regarding the crime of driving while intoxicated, including accident statistics, alcohol-related deaths and injury, and other impacts on the community. Examine enforcement options used nationwide to deter driving under the influence and make recommendations to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities and accidents in Texas.
3.	Review the performance of the Fair Defense Act and the Task Force on Indigent Defense. Study key outcomes of the law, including: appointment rates in felony and misdemeanor cases; state and county indigent defense expenditures; attorney caseloads; attorney compensation; access to investigators and experts; and overall quality of counsel for the indigent. Examine the Task Force on Indigent Defense's effectiveness in monitoring and enforcing standards and design strategies to improve the delivery of services for indigent defense, including timing of the appointment of counsel, the use of the appointment wheel and the monitoring of workloads and performance of attorneys.
4.	Study and make recommendations related to municipal jails and other detention facilities that operate without state agency oversight. Identify the number of such facilities and the population detained, as well as best practices for municipal jails. Make recommendations to improve services and consider options for oversight of facilities by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
5.	Review the detention of juvenile offenders in local jails, state jails, and Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison units by examining conditions of confinement, including quality of education, mental health treatment and medical services, rehabilitative treatment, and equality of access to services for young female inmates. Review access to administrative and inspector general grievances in TDCJ facilities. Make recommendations for improving the system and reduce recidivism of juvenile offenders.
6.	Study and make recommendations to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of testing done in Texas forensic laboratories, including DNA and blood/alcohol testing. Assess and make recommendations for improving the capacity of Texas criminal laboratories to process evidence, identify ways to reduce the backlog of DNA evidence processing, identify ways to encourage qualified applicants for crime lab jobs, ensure adequate training for new crime lab technicians, ensure the availability of efficient crime lab processing to all regions of the state, and determine the impact of additional collection requirements on the capacity of Texas crime labs to process evidence. Consider the costs and benefits of creating a statewide crime lab.
7.	Assess how the Commission on Jail Standards, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Criminal Justice, and Department of State Health Services are working together to identify defendants with mental health issues, notify magistrates when defendants have been identified and, where appropriate, provide crisis stabilization services to defendants. Monitor legislation passed by the 81st Legislature for mental illness and make recommendations for any needed improvements to improve mental health services and reduce recidivism.
8.	Study and evaluate the success of juvenile probation pilot programs aimed at community-based diversion of youth from Texas Youth Commission facilities. Make recommendations for needed legislative action and additional programs to increase the number of delinquent youth successfully rehabilitated in their home communities.
9.	Consider the impact that secondary education school disciplinary laws and policies have on the juvenile justice system and the adult prison system. Recommend changes, if needed, to current law.
10.	Evaluate the usage of current Texas practices for facilitating the fair and accurate courtroom testimony of children and reducing the trauma associated with testifying, particularly for children who are victims of sexual abuse. Specifically consider recent efforts and trends across the nation to develop best practices, including "court orientation" programs, and ensure that courtrooms are more child friendly and accommodating for young victims to reduce the trauma associated with testifying in court while ensuring that fair and accurate information is solicited from the child as a witness.
11.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, 81st Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Study the impact of certain provisions in the 2009 DPS Sunset bill on the timely processing of concealed handgun license applications and the issuance of licenses. Monitor and make recommendations, if needed, on actions by TDCJ to improve security and reduce contraband.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Testimony, Ana Yáñez-Correa, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Regarding Interim Charge 3 (Fair Defense Act)
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1803.9 C868 81 2010: MAY 13
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View document [11 pages  File size: 1,689 kb]
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Testimony, Dr. Tony Fabelo, Justice Center, The Council of State Governments, Indigent Defense Reform in Texas: The Record of the Last Ten Years and Emerging Challenges
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1803.9 C868 81 2010: MAY 13
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View document [25 pages  File size: 31,808 kb]
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Testimony, Materials submitted to the Committee by the Task Force on Indigent Defense (Dr. Tony Fabelo testimony, overview of Task Force on Indigent Defense and Fair Defense Act of 2001, key data collected since implementation of FDA, indigent defense county data, attorney caseloads and compensation, fiscal and policy monitoring, strategies to improve indigent defense)
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1803.9 C868 81 2010: MAY 13
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View document [161 pages  File size: 69,779 kb]
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Testimony, Texas Fair Defense Project, Interim Charge 3 (Fair Defense Act; including American Bar Association, Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System, February 2002, and Benefits of a Public Defender Office, September 2009)
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1803.9 C868 81 2010: MAY 13
Session:	81st R.S. (2009)
Online version:	View document [63 pages  File size: 3,881 kb]
Committee:	House Local Government Ways and Means
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Local Government Ways & Means, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 2006 : a report to the House of Representatives, 80th Texas Legislature
Subjects:	Air quality | Appraisal districts | County government | Disaster relief | Federal mandates | Homeland security | Indigent criminal defense | Indigent health care | Juvenile justice system | Probation | Property taxes | State mandates | Tax appraisals | Tax rollback elections | Undocumented immigrants | Water quality management |
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 L786w
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [92 pages  File size: 23,908 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the current system of appraising property located in more than one appraisal district as created in HB 703, 78th R.S.. Determine if one fair and equal value per property for ad valorem taxes is preferable to the current system, and whether it is more efficient to appraise property on a county line basis or on a jurisdictional line basis.
2.	Research and make recommendations regarding the Central Appraisal Districts in Texas: evaluate the makeup of the board of directors; examine whether consolidation of certain appraisal districts would save money; review appraisal districts' methodology in arriving at appraisal values; determine the impact of the Comptroller's Office audit on the operation of the appraisal district and its derivation of appraisal values.
3.	Compare and evaluate how counties and school districts impose (levy) property taxes, including a study and evaluation on the effective tax rate, the rollback rate, and rollback elections.
4.	Study the impact of unfunded mandates by state and federal governments on cities.
Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1998 : a report to the House of Representatives, 76th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	At-risk youth | Child crimes | Civil commitment of sex offenders | Court costs and fees | Criminal Justice, Texas Department of | Good-conduct time | Indigent criminal defense | Juvenile crime | Juvenile justice system | Pardons and Paroles, Texas Board of | Parole | Sex offenders | Sexual assault | Youth Commission, Texas |
Library Call Number:	L1836.75 c868h
Session:	75th R.S. (1997)
Online version:	View report [186 pages  File size: 7,610 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review and assess the consistency of all statutes that pertain to the age of criminal responsibility.
2.	Study the issues relating to the civil commitment of violent offenders after their criminal sentence is served. Review civil commitment laws enacted in other states.
3.	Study the cost of legal services for the indigent in the Texas criminal justice system.
4.	Assess the effect that state-imposed municipal and county court fees have on a city, municipality, or county's revenue over time, and how it affects the violator's ability to pay.
5.	Examine the policies of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles regarding parole revocations, and to examine the calculation of current time, the forfeiture of good time, and program options for all felony cases, with special attention to substance abuse initiatives.
Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, Texas House of Representatives interim report, 1994 : a report to the House of Representatives, 74th Texas Legislature.
Subjects:	Adoption | Capital punishment | Child custody | Executive clemency | Gubernatorial pardons | Indigent criminal defense | Kidnapping | Pardons and Paroles, Texas Board of | Searches and seizures |
Library Call Number:	L1836.73 c868hj
Session:	73rd R.S. (1993)
Online version:	View report [86 pages  File size: 3,861 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review the laws and procedures related to death sentences in Texas, including filing deadlines and automatic stays of execution during habeas proceedings; bans on successive petitions and compensation of counsel for defendants; the roles of the Governor and the Board of Pardons and Paroles under the clemency laws; and any other related issues.
2.	Review asset forfeiture statutes and the use of proceeds from forfeitures, including the audit process for the expenditure of forfeiture proceeds.
3.	Study the problem of parental kidnaping and adoption abuse. Examine current practices of advertising for persons seeking adoptions and persons willing to relinquish parental rights.
Committee:	Joint Judiciary, Select
Title:	Interim report
Library Catalog Title:	Final report and recommendations to the 69th Legislature / Select Committee on the Judiciary.
Subjects:	Court reform | Indigent criminal defense | Judicial selection |
Library Call Number:	L1836.68 j899
Session:	68th R.S. (1983)
Online version:	View report [115 pages  File size: 4,319 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Study issues affecting judicial quality, selection, salaries and retirement benefits, efficiency of judicial administration and allocation of judicial resources.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Joint Judiciary, Select
Title:	Notices of public hearing and agendas
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1801.9 J898S 68
Session:	68th R.S. (1983)
Online version:	View document [26 pages]
Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	To the speaker and members, Texas House of Representatives, 68th Legislature : report of the / Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, 67th Legislature.
Subjects:	Appellate courts | Bail | Criminal appeals | Criminal justice | Illegal video recordings | Indigent criminal defense | Penalties and sentences (Criminal justice) | Privacy | Recidivism | Searches and seizures | State income taxes |
Library Call Number:	L1836.67 j979cr
Session:	67th R.S. (1981)
Online version:	View report [58 pages  File size: 1,900 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Review federal and state wiretap statutes and court cases related to wiretapping and electronic surveillance to determine if pen registers, devices which record the numbers dialed by a particular telephone, are covered by the procedures, restrictions and safeguards of the state wire communications laws. *
2.	Compare Texas' statutes with those of other states to assess differences in programs and compensation for counsel appointed to defend indigents.
3.	Compare our penalty schedule, including the habitual criminal law, and our recidivism rates to those of other states to determine if any other penalty schedule tends to reduce recidivism more than our present penalty schedule.
4.	Consider whether the Courts of Appeals are able to effectively accomplish their constitutional and statutory duties in disposing of intermediate criminal appeals. Determine what resources are necessary to allow the Courts of Appeals to handle the larger load of criminal cases. *
5.	Make recommendations for clarifying the status of habeas corpus orders issued by Courts of Appeals. *
6.	Monitor the implementation of HB 360, 67th R.S..
7.	Monitor the implementation of SJR 36, 67th R.S., through the requirements set by SB 265, 67th R.S..
Committee:	House Criminal Jurisprudence
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	To the speaker and members of the Texas House of Representatives, 66th Legislature : report of the / Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, the Texas House of Representatives, 65th Legislature.
Subjects:	Adult Probation Commission | Capital punishment | Criminal records | Expunged criminal records | Indigent criminal defense | Pardons and Paroles, Texas Board of |
Library Call Number:	L1836.65 c868
Session:	65th R.S. (1977)
Online version:	View report [36 pages  File size: 1,215 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	A study of the provisions in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure whereby indigent defendants are provided with counsel appointed by the Court. Special emphasis shall be placed on the determination of the relative effectiveness of appointed counsel versus retained counsel and the fees paid to appointed attorneys throughout the state as prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure.
2.	A study of the statutes in Texas which provide the death penalty for crimes with singular emphasis on any recommendations for changes which may be necessary to avoid successful constitutional challenges to the Texas penalty.
3.	A study of the probationary systems and services in the State with particular emphasis on the variations thereof and recommendations as to the extent and desirability of statewide uniformity.
4.	A study of the methodology by which criminal records are compiled, kept, disseminated and expunged by the various law enforcement agencies of the State and local government.
5.	Study the administration and operations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles with recommendations as to necessary changes, if any, therein.

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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