Core Services

Basic supervision funded programs and services supported by supervision funding are:

Absconder Caseload
Pre-sentence Investigation Reports
Felony and Misdemeanor Court Services
Felony and Misdemeanor Deferred Adjudication Supervision
Felony and Misdemeanor Regular Supervision
Drug and Alcohol Testing
Community Service Restitution
Alcohol and Drug Assessments and Education
Other Adjunct Services
Victim Impact Panel - MADD
Staff Training
Ignition Interlock Caseload
Special Needs Caseload

Absconder Caseload

The Absconder Caseload/Unit was created in 1992 as a result of increasing caseloads and the line officers’ inability to focus their time and attention on supervising fugitives. In 1996, the department began focusing harder on locating these offenders. As a result, the use of modern technology was implemented. At present, the absconder officer uses various means of technology in locating individuals. Among these are the Internet, Texas Workforce Commission databases, credit bureaus, and local, state, and national criminal justice databases. Contacts with law enforcement, community members, and other government agencies also assist in the location of these individuals.

Felony absconders are placed in the Williamson County Crime Stoppers web page and many have been apprehended by 'hits' from this web page.

Offenders on this caseload consist of those that have failed to comply with their conditions of supervision, have fled supervision, and have active warrants on their cases. During FY ‘00, the Absconder Unit located 967 individuals. The average number of individuals on the caseload each month were 264 Felony and 600 Misdemeanor. The unit collected a total of $94,127.06 from offenders that had fled supervision. Of this, $20,164.54 was restitution; $34,191.44 fines and court costs; and 39,711.32 supervision fees.

Pre-sentence Investigation Reports

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 42.12, § 9, pre-sentence investigation (PSI) reports are conducted on all felony and some misdemeanor cases summarizing the circumstances of the offense, the restitution amount, the criminal and social history of the defendant, and any other relevant data the judge requests.

The department has three PSI writers who screened 648 defendants in FY ‘00, a decrease of 35% from the previous year. The decrease is due to a change of law that no longer requires CSCDs to conduct PSIs on offenders sent to prison directly from court. The previous requirement was that a pre-sentence investigation report be written on all offenders, even when community supervision was not an option.

Felony and Misdemeanor Court Services

The CSCD has three felony court officers and two misdemeanor court officers who work closely with the district and county courts-at-law, coordinating a variety of activities and services. A third county court at law and a fourth district court were created by the 76th Legislature and implemented in FY 2000. Court officers act as liaisons between the court and the department.

Judge Kevin Henderson presides over County Court-at-Law #1 and Judge Robert "Skip" Morse presides over County Court-at-Law #2. On January 1, 2000, a new County Court At Law was opened. Judge Don Higgenbotham is the presiding Judge. The misdemeanor unit works closely with the county courts-at-law judges, county attorney, and county clerk. Officers and staff coordinate a variety of activities, including the development of a criminal history, and a substance use and abuse history.

Although the number of cases transferred in from other jurisdictions fluctuates yearly, FY'00 showed a significant increase of 51% from the previous year. County court cases showed an increase of 17% since FY ‘96. The numbers appear steady when compared to the most recent fiscal years. The following table compares misdemeanor court cases from fiscal years ’96 - ’00:

Misdemeanor Court Services
Fiscal Years '96 - '00

	FY ‘96	FY ‘97	FY ‘98	FY ‘99	FY'00
County Court Cases	1,552	1,631	1,781	1,819	1,818
Transfer-In Cases	123	131	124	144	218
Total Gained	1,675	1,762	1,905	1,963	2,036
Average Caseload Size	2,585	2,952	3,141	3,376	3,233

Williamson County has four district courts, served by Judge John Carter, 277th Judicial District Court; Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield, 26th Judicial District Court; Judge Burt Carnes, 368th Judicial District Court; and 395th Judicial District Court, Judge Michael Jergins. The latter was implemented January 1, 2000.

Felony court officers represent the department in the district courts and respond to supervision related requests by the judges, including early termination requests and intermediate sanctions for supervision violators. Officers interview offenders, prepare offenders to go to court, submit recommendations to the district attorney’s office, and represent the department during revocation hearings.

District Court cases have increased 23% since fiscal year ’96; transfers from other jurisdictions have increased 31%. Felony court cases have increased by 26% over the last five fiscal years and average felony caseloads increased by 33%.

The following table compares District Court cases from fiscal years 96 - 99:

Felony Court Services
Fiscal Years '96 - '00

	FY ‘96	FY ‘97	FY ‘98	FY ‘99	FY '00
District Court Cases	347	429	462	445	428
Transfer-In Cases	187	367	226	205	245
Total Gained	534	796	688	650	673
Average Caseload Size	1,703	1,821	1,986	2,077	2,268

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