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The Source

Study: Reforms Needed To Ensure Indigent Defendants Aren't At A Disadvantage In Bexar County

A recently released report evaluates Bexar County's Indigent Defense System, which provides legal services to defendants who cannot afford their own counsel.


According to County Judge Nelson Wolff, approximately 80% of cases filed in the criminal justice system relate to indigent defense.


Though researchers acknowledge the positive impact of Bexar County's specialty courts and the speed of magistration, they also found that not everyone receives the same quality of service or defense.

Forty percent of those who must rely on indigent defense don't meet their attorney until they show up to court. Ultimately, defendants with money to hire their own counsel get better results than those who can't.


How does indigent defense work in Bexar County? What are the biggest issues within the system as it currently exists? Who is most affected?


What policy and data recommendations does the report make for Bexar County? Will changes be made based on these findings and if so, how?


For more, you can tune into The Source Monday-Thursday from noon-1 p.m. on KSTX



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© 2024 by Beyond The Gavel with Judge Ron Rangel

Disclaimer: Judge Ron Rangel is providing this podcast and website for educational purposes only, as well as to give the public general information regarding topics related to the criminal justice system. The views, thoughts, and opinions of his guest speakers are the speakers' own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of Judge Rangel. 

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