Winter Garden Today

Over $5 million was awarded to five counties in Texas by the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, with Atascosa County receiving $1.5 million.

Other counties awarded the grants are Kerr, Galveston, McLennan and Nueces, according to the Texas Association of Counties. Atascosa County proposed the creation of a regional defender office to serve Atascosa, Wilson, Karnes and Frio counties. 

"Its proposal was awarded more than $1.5 million," the Texas Association of Counties reported in the press release. "These counties plan to contract with Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid to operate the office, which will provide representation in nonconflict felony, misdemeanor, juvenile and appeal cases. Atascosa County Judge Robert Hurley explained to the commission that this funding will 'streamline the justice system in all four counties and will provide better indigent defense.'"

The largest sum – $2.5 million – went to a project proposed by Kerr County to establish the Hill Country Public Defender Office to serve Kerr, Bandera, Gillespie, Medina and Kendall counties. 

A grant of $780,000 was awarded to Galveston County to establish a misdemeanor mental health public defender office. Additionally, $169,280 will go to McLennan County for a mental health managed attorney program, and $135,121 will go to Nueces County for a indigent defense coordinator services.

“They’re already hitting the ground running,” Kerr County Judge Robert Kelly said, the Texas Association of Counties reported.