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Harrison County approves plan to combine SART meetings with Gregg County; Gregg’s approval required
Summary
Madison Hood, chair of Harrison County’s assault response team, asked commissioners to approve combining meetings with Gregg County’s SART to reduce duplicative attendance; the court approved the request and noted Gregg County must also approve the change.
Madison Hood, introduced as chair of the Harrison County sexual assault response team (SART), told the commissioners the chief deputy in Gregg County had approached her about combining the two counties’ SART meetings. Hood said many partner agencies already serve both counties and that alternating meeting locations would reduce duplication and ease participation.
"A lot of our community members are the same in Gregg and Harrison County, since they are so close together," Hood said, urging the court to approve consolidation of the meeting schedule. Hood said proposed scheduling would alternate meetings between the two counties to make participation more equitable.
County staff and commissioners noted the SART requirement came from the 87th Legislature and listed partner agencies that already cooperate across county lines, including CHRISTUS, Good Shepherd, the Women’s Center of East Texas, Community Health Corps and the Martin House. The court approved the request; Judge and staff noted Gregg County must also place the item on its agenda and approve the consolidation for it to take effect.
Why it matters: SARTs coordinate medical, law-enforcement and victim-support services following sexual assaults. Combining meetings aims to reduce duplication of effort for regional partners and improve operational coordination across adjacent counties.
What’s next: Implementation depends on Gregg County’s approval; if approved, the teams plan to meet twice in Harrison County and twice in Gregg County to share best practices and reduce travel burdens for partner agencies.
