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District attorney reports indictments rose nearly 50% in 2024; child‑abuse and domestic‑violence cases increased
Summary
Washington County District Attorney Derek Estep on Thursday reported a near‑50% rise in indictments in 2024, and notable increases in child‑abuse and domestic‑violence prosecutions.
Washington County District Attorney Derek Estep on Thursday presented his office’s 2024 annual data to the Commissioners Court, reporting a near‑50% increase in indictments and notable rises in certain violent‑crime categories.
“In 23, we indicted 330 cases. And in 24, we indicted 494, which is a substantial increase. It's just a shade under 50%,” Estep said, citing state court reporting compiled by the Office of Court Administration. He said case dispositions also rose and that the office was moving cases more quickly in some measures: 37% of cases were disposed of in less than 90 days in 2024, up from 30% in 2023.
Estep told the court the office’s child‑abuse prosecutions rose 42% year over year and that domestic‑violence cases increased 56%. He said those categories require time‑consuming trials and that the office has increased investigative and discovery capacity to keep pace. “We have a 2 person discovery division,” Estep said, noting that peer offices commonly have only one staffer; local defense counsel and out‑of‑county special prosecutors had praised the county’s discovery processes.
Estep also said the office had adjusted indictment drafting practices to include more counts per indictment in some matters, a change that affects reporting metrics. He cited changes in local law‑enforcement staffing and said the district attorney’s office has coordinated with the court to identify small procedural improvements and larger strategic needs, which will be folded into a court‑level strategic plan.
Court members thanked the DA for the data and noted that the information helps budget and staffing decisions. Estep said the office will continue to brief the court as staffing and case‑load trends evolve.
Why it matters: A large increase in indictments and rising rates of child‑abuse and domestic‑violence prosecutions can affect criminal‑justice resources, court scheduling and long‑term budgeting for prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement.
