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County Attorney asks for additional attorneys and a victim advocate as protective-orders and child welfare work rise
Summary
The County Attorney described rising protective-order and child-welfare caseloads and asked commissioners to retain a legal secretary (ARPA-funded), add two attorney positions and create a victim's advocate position; the personnel fiscal impact was presented at about $311,000 with other modest increases for postage and training.
Nicole, representing the County Attorney's Office, told the commissioners the office is handling an increasing volume and complexity of legal work — protective orders, DFPS/child-welfare litigation, involuntary mental-health commitments, contract review, public-information requests and federal litigation — and requested added personnel to meet demand.
She asked the court to retain a legal secretary position previously funded with ARPA, to restore an attorney 3 position that had been absorbed into other budgets, to add an attorney 2, and to hire a victim's advocate to help callers and protective-order petitioners navigate the process. She said several of the county's most time- and resource-intensive dockets (protective orders and CPS/DFPS matters) have risen sharply and driving increased hearings and evidentiary work.
Nicole pointed to increased protective-order filings and a near-50% jump in DFPS/child welfare work over recent years and argued that early legal intervention and sustained representation are cost-effective and reduce future litigation. She said the direct fiscal impact of the personnel asks is approximately $311,000 and that the hospital district has agreed to reclassify and cover certain costs for its attorney post (a reclassification with no net county cost). The office also requested modest increases in postage, Westlaw and CLE funding to keep staff current and to process larger volumes of certified mail.
Commissioners praised the office’s work and asked for cost details and follow-up, but did not act on the request during the workshop.
