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Bell County approves midyear district attorney hires after debate over jail days and screening
Summary
Bell County Commissioners on March 10 approved funding from vacancy savings to add one assistant district attorney and one investigator to the district attorney's office, following extended discussion about reducing jail days and adding front-end case screening to speed case dispositions.
Bell County Commissioners on Monday authorized two midyear hires for the Bell County District Attorney's Office: one assistant district attorney funded from vacancy/overhire dollars and one additional investigator, after more than an hour of discussion about case-processing delays and jail bed costs.
The additions were approved as separate motions. Commissioner Woodson moved to approve funding for an assistant district attorney using existing vacancy funds; Commissioner Snyder seconded, and the court approved the motion by voice vote. Woodson later moved and Commissioner Schneider seconded approval of an additional investigator position; that motion also passed.
Why it matters: April Newell, Bell County district attorney, told the court her office's caseload has grown and that more front-end screening and personnel are needed to reduce the number of people held in county jails pending resolution. Newell said the office files…
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