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Travis County court approves expansion of counsel-at-first-appearance staffing, advocates press for 24/7 coverage
Summary
After months of hiring and pilot shifts, the Commissioners Court unanimously authorized creation and posting of 43 new county positions to add an early-morning ‘A’ shift for counsel at first appearance (CAFA). Advocates and public defenders urged faster, 24/7 implementation and flagged interpreter and scheduling gaps.
Travis County Commissioners Court on Jan. 28 unanimously approved a plan to create and post 43 new county full‑time positions to staff an “A” shift for the county’s Counsel at First Appearance program (CAFA), expanding coverage as officials move toward 16 hours a day of magistration coverage across two shifts.
The court’s vote followed a presentation from Travis Gatlin, the county’s budget director, and Gabby Douthat, the CAFA project lead, who said the county previously authorized 43 positions for the B shift and transferred $5.8 million earlier in FY25. PBO recommended the additional 43 A‑shift positions with a target start date of Feb. 15 and an expected ongoing annual cost of roughly $6.9 million, with one‑time hiring costs to be covered from vacancy savings.
Why it matters: CAFA places defense counsel at the earliest magistrate appearance, a step county officials and advocates say reduces unnecessary detention and protects constitutional rights.…
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