The mission of Indigent Defense is to improve the delivery
of indigent defense services through fiscal assistance, accountability
and professional support to local judicial and county officials, and to
promote justice and fairness to all indigent persons accused of criminal
conduct, including juvenile respondents, as provided by the laws and constitutions
of the United States and Texas.
The 77th 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. In exchange
for State fiscal assistance, the local judiciary is required to report
its plan for delivering indigent defense services.
