Some forms of violent crime are increasing in Harris County. These increases are unacceptable, and necessitate a strong policy response. However, some connect recent increases in crime in Harris County to misdemeanor bail reform. This memo shows that there is little evidence for such a link.

This report outlines the potential for growing the PDO into a robust, full-service defense program suitable for the third-largest county in the nation, including increased caseload, expansion of services, additional personnel, space requirements, cost, and effect upon the use of private appointed counsel. Other needed reforms to the County’s indigent defense system will be described as well, including expanding the Managed Assigned Counsel program (MAC), instituting a centralized indigency determination and appointment of counsel process, and enhancing JAD’s indigent defense research capabilities.