Job Description for
Indigent Defense Coordinator (IDC) & Pretrial Services Director
(35th Judicial District of Texas/ Brown/Mills Counties)
Posting date: September 24rd, 2013
Job Title: Indigent Defense Coordinator/Pretrial Services Director
Job Description: Set out below
Summary: This is a newly created position with two main areas of responsibility: (1) the coordination of indigent defense among all of the courts of Brown and Mills County, and (2) directing the pretrial services office of Brown and Mills County which will serve as a personal bond office created by the 35th Judicial District Court with the approval of the Commissioners’ Courts of Brown and Mills Counties.
Primarily the Indigent Defense Coordinator’s part of this job is designed to assist the Counties and the Judges in these two counties with compliance with the Texas Fair Defense Act and the counties policies. The employee in this position is responsible for preparing and maintaining a variety of records and files, conferring with court officials and answering inquiries from court officials and clients. The employee works closely with individuals requesting appointment of representation as well as the attorneys appointed to cases. This position accomplishes their work at the courthouse, in courtrooms, and at the juvenile and adult detention facilities. This position is under the supervision of the local Administrative District Judge.
The Pretrial Services Director part of this position is designed to help establish and direct the newly created office of the counties in the establishment of the personal bond office pursuant to Article 17.42 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. In this role, the employee will be responsible for assisting in the creation and once created, being responsible for the maintenance of the personal bond pretrial release office in accordance with the law of the State of Texas. The employee in this role will confer with the court officials and work closely with requesting individuals who have been arrested to determine whether or not they are entitled to release by a court on a personal bond in accordance with the law and the policies and procedures established by the counties and the judges for the administration of this personal bond office. This portion of the position as well will be under the supervision of the local Administrative District Judge.
Monthly Salary Range: $2,870.42 plus fringe benefits
Type of Job: Full time
Primary Location: Brown County Courthouse, Brownwood, Texas
Travel Required: Yes
Closing date: October 15, 2013
Essential Job Functions:
1. Advise the Commissioners’ Courts and court officials on compliance issues with the Texas Fair Defense Act and the Brown and Mills Counties Indigent Defense Plan
2. Manage a database for appointment of attorney’s to cases with indigent defendants
3. Assist with ensuring compliance with the Texas Fair Defense Act by monitoring compliance with policy by court appointed attorneys
4. Keep track of the number of people in jail with or without court appointed attorneys
5. Confer with court officials; answering inquiries from court officials, attorneys, inmates and the public
6. Maintain a variety of records, documents, calendars, etc., pertaining to the Texas Fair Defense Act
7. Summarize related data for the appropriate judge or Commissioners’ Court for the preparation of weekly and monthly reports
8. Review defendants applications for court appointed attorneys and determine indigence of defendant, forwarding the information to the appropriate judge
9. Maintain a variety of files; filing and retrieving the information as necessary (according to policy) or as requested
10. Work independently to handle calls and visitors; recording the information and relaying it to the appropriate court officials
11. Complete forms for correspondence, reports and spreadsheets.
12. May advise court officials on the appropriateness of policy
13. Perform administrative and secretarial work in support of Judges and county officials in the court system as well as the Commissioners’ Courts
14. Attend conferences, seminars and workshops to enhance and maintain knowledge of trends and developments in the area of the Fair Defense Act
15. Develop a policy and procedure manual by working with the judges to approve the manual and designate the Indigent Defense Coordinator as appointing authority with conditions
16. Develop a modified system with magistrates and jails that involves the Indigent Defense Coordinator
17. Examine improved methods to deal with individuals with mental illness who have been arrested
18. Meet with stake holders to discuss the Indigent Defense Plan and report any issues to judges with possible solutions
19. Maintain a count of the number of interviews with defendants and appointments of attorneys
20. Measure and report impact of the Indigent Defense Coordinator on compliance with time frames in the Fair Defense Act
21. Perform all requirements of the Indigent Defense Coordinator outlined in the Statement of Grant Award from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission for this position in the grant issued for fiscal year 2014 – Grant Number 212-14-D11
22. As Pretrial Services Director, under the direction of the Administrative District Judge, establish and maintain a personal bond office for Brown and Mills Counties in compliance with approved procedures and the provisions of Article 17.42 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure
23. As provided in Article 17.42, Brown/Mills County Pretrial Services shall operate a personal bond pretrial release office, and in accordance with the law, do the following:
(a) Prepare a record containing information as required about any accused person identified by case number only who, after review by the office, is released by a court on personal bond;
(b) Update the record on a monthly basis;
(c) Post a copy of the record in the office of the clerk of the county court in any county served by the office.
24. Must manage the graduated list of court appointed attorneys for judges and receive applications for advancements or adjustments as higher qualifications are met by attorneys
25. Must review invoices submitted by attorneys and compare to appointment schedule prior to judicial approval
26. Develop procedures to track attorney contact with client, which includes tracking, investigating and reporting allegations of attorneys not meeting their clients within statutory or plan requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of the organization and operations of the County and District Courts
- General knowledge of criminal law
- Knowledge of a variety of legal documents as it relates to county policy
- Skill in operating computers and other common office machines
- Ability to perform accurate detailed work with permanent records, maintaining neat, well-organized records while dealing with numerous interruptions
- Basic mathematic ability
- Ability to work quickly and accurately
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county officials and employees, attorneys, and inmates and other clients
Working Conditions: Majority of the work is indoors in an office environment. Standard ventilation and lighting conditions. However, this position also has work at the Brown County Jail, the Mills County Jail, and other similar facilities from time to time. While at the jail the person is in contact with inmates without close supervision from the corrections officers.
Physical Demands: Bending, squatting, kneeling, twisting upper body and lifting. Frequent sitting, standing and walking. Must be able to verbally communicate in person, online via computer, and with the telephone.
Minimum Education: High School diploma required, although a college degree in Criminal Justice, Sociology or related field would be preferred.
Minimum Years of Experience: 2 years
Minimum Experience/Training: Experience in Criminal Justice System, preferably to include data entry, working knowledge of various computer software programs is helpful and the understanding of the court system and legal documents. Must be able to perform duties under high stress, at times often dealing with difficult and/or hostile inmates or clients. Must have good organizational skills. A person who is bilingual in English/Spanish is preferred, but not required.
Special Requirements: valid Texas Driver’s license and personal vehicle.
Applications forms can be picked up and completed forms will be accepted until position filled at the Office of the Administrative District Judge for Brown and Mills Counties, Judge Stephen Ellis, Courthouse, 2nd Floor, 200 S. Broadway, Brownwood, TX 76801. Phone number is 325/646-1987. Fax number is 325/643-6396. Resumes may accompany applications but will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Following a screening of applications, interviews of qualified applicants who have sent in a completed application will be scheduled.
Brown and Mills Counties are Equal Opportunity Employers and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any request for reasonable accommodations needed during the application process should be communicated by the applicant to Ann Krpoun, Brown County Human Resources Officer, at 325/646-6033.
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