Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC)

The 77^th Texas Legislature, through the passage of the Fair Defense Act, established the blueprint for meaningful interaction between State and local government through the creation of the first state body to administer statewide appropriations and policies ( SB7 bill text, Fair Defense Act, 77th Legislature, June 2001). During the 82nd Legislature Governor Perry signed a law (see HB1754) establishing the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (Commission). This organization replaced and renamed the Task Force on Indigent Defense on September 1, 2011. In exchange for State fiscal assistance, the local judiciary is required to report its plan for delivering indigent defense services. The Commission publishes these local plans on its website for all to view. Statute also requires local county auditors to annually report county expenditures pertaining to criminal indigent defense services. The county expenditure reports are also published on the Commission website.

Through the analysis of this local data and site visits, the Commission monitors county compliance. The mission of the Commission is advanced through the collection and publication of this local data as well as through the promulgation of uniform indigent defense policies and model forms and procedures. See also other publications and resources provided by the Commission.

The Commission serves as a standing committee of the Texas Judicial Council and is composed of eight ex officio members and five members appointed by the Governor.

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission provides financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain quality, cost-effective indigent defense systems that meet the needs of local communities and the requirements of the Constitution and state law.

Please see Strategic Plan 2010-2015.

Goals:

Policies and Standards Development

• Improve indigent defense by policies and standards development, Section 71.060, Government Code through collaboration with stakeholders
• Promulgate guidelines, model forms, and proficient practices
• Develop proposals for the Legislature to improve the delivery of indigent defense services as required by §71.061, Government Code
• Develop proposals and provide recommendations pursuant to legislation (HB 498)

Evidence-Based Practices and Outcomes

• Promote local compliance, proficiency, and accountability in meeting statutory and constitutional indigent defense requirements guided by evidence-based practices
• Collect, publish and monitor county expenditure data
• Collect, publish and monitor county indigent defense plans
• Collect, publish and monitor state-funded Innocence Project reports
• Facilitate research and evaluation to support policy and program development
• Offer professional development educational programs to enhance understanding of FDA
• Serve as clearinghouse of indigent defense information

Funding Strategies

• Allocate and account for the effective distribution of state funds
• Develop specific program and communication strategies to provide information that demonstrate how to spend state resources in a more effective manner
• Promote the effective use of state and local funds at the local level
• Work with local government to develop and promote new local programs to enhance the delivery of indigent defense services