New Court Speeding Process In Texas County
A newly formed county court is helping to speed up the wheels of justice while lowering its jail population, court officials say.
Jail court, which began in October, is the result of a plan from the Council of Judges to lower the number of prisoners in the Nueces County TX Jail awaiting trials. A visiting judge will preside over the court on the first and third Mondays of each month. The first jail court started Oct. 20. Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, administrative judge for the local district judges, said she already has seen the benefits of jail court. One defendant who had been in jail for 260 days was sent to jail court and his case was disposed. By referring that case to jail court, the judge was able to try another case at the same time in her court. That defendant had been in jail for 163 days …
Ramos said the Commissioners Court allocated about $71,000 for the jail court, which will be used to pay the visiting judges. There is no additional cost to the county for staffing the jail court because existing resources are being used — but some planning is required. Ramos’ court manager handles the referrals for cases from the district courts and prepares the lists of cases for jail court. The court administrator also makes sure there is a court reporter, clerk and bailiff available for each jail court. The jail court’s location will depend on which courtroom is available that week, Ramos said.
More on this interesting development at the Caller Times.