Polk County accepts state grant to create public defender office, approves job description

Polk County Commissioners Court on Oct. 14 accepted a FY 2026 improvement grant from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission to establish a public defender's office and approved a chief public defender job description, court records show.

County staff told the court the award provides $760,607 for personnel, benefits, equipment and contracts; the grant package in the meeting packet allocated $590,454 for six full‑time positions and listed a county match requirement of 20 percent, calculated as $190,001.52. Court members were told the county did not include the grant in the adopted FY 2026 budget because the award was uncertain when the budget was prepared.

Court staff said the award would reduce some current indigent defense spending by shifting work from contract-appointed attorneys to staff public defenders. The county will still need to identify its 20 percent match; staff recommended using general fund reserves if necessary. The court discussed pursuing a regional grant with neighboring counties so the state would fund a larger portion of the office on an ongoing basis.

During discussion, court members asked about the long‑term funding risk if the regional, perpetual funding were not secured. Staff replied that if Polk County accepts the money it will ultimately employ the staff whether or not the state funding continues, and that the regional approach is the route to sustained state support.

The court also approved a job description for a chief public defender, a position the packet describes as necessary to begin hiring and building the office. Staff said the public defender program and hires will be subject to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission’s approval and any program rules required by the grant.

The measures passed by voice vote with no recorded roll call in the minutes.

Court members and staff said the office is intended to speed case processing and provide earlier attorney contact for people held in the county jail, which county representatives said should help reduce jail populations and related costs over time.

The court’s acceptance of the grant and approval of the chief public defender job description mark the county’s formal commitment to creating the office; staff said they will move forward with hiring and additional coordination with neighboring counties and the state commission.