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District judges pitch Bee County pretrial services office to reduce jail stays and improve court appearance rates
Summary
District and multi-county judges presented a plan to create a Bee County Pretrial Services Office to monitor defendants released before trial, coordinate appointed counsel, and connect people with mental‑health and supervision services; the court received the briefing but took no vote.
District and multi-county judges and probation officials briefed the Bee County Commissioner's Court on a plan to establish a county pretrial services office that would assess defendants, supervise release conditions and help ensure people appear for hearings.
The presentation on Monday, May 12, was led by third-district Judge Jana Watley and included Judge Hardwick, Jason Woods (chief adult probation officer), and Kelly Adkins, director of the San Patricio County pretrial office. No formal action was taken; presenters urged the court to consider funding a position beginning Oct. 1 of the county’s next fiscal year.
Judges and probation staff described how a local pretrial office would check defendants’ eligibility for appointed counsel, track compliance with bond conditions such as interlock devices or no‑contact orders, and use electronic monitoring and…
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