Washington County suspends Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee

HEAL IS FACING CHARGES OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER TAMPERING WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WHICH FOCUSES ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, WAS SUSPENDED LAST WEEK. 40/29’S JACOB MURPHY IS LIVE AND TELLS US MORE ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND WHY IT’S CURRENTLY ON HOLD. THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE OCTOBER 2017. THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE SAYS THAT MEMBERS CAN ONLY BE ON THE COMMITTEE FOR TWO THREE YEAR TERMS. WHICH MEANS THE COMMITTEE WAS FORCED TO BE PUT ON HOLD. <> “The committee has been here for six years. And it’s time for us to ask the question, what do we have to show for that? I don’t think there’s much there.” (7:46-7:53) THE COUNTY DISCOVERED THE ORDINANCE LAST WEEK. WHICH SAYS THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD ONLY STAY FOR SIX YEARS. <> “we immediately communicated to all the members chairman, Prosecutor, Matt duret, that they the members are no longer valid, this committee needs to be suspended until further notice.” (2:41- 2:51) WASHINGTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR MATT DURRETT SERVES AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. <> “it caught me off guard. But it’s, it’s, it’s clear. And it’s not really an interpretation of the ordinance. It’s what the ordinance says.” (7:33- 7:45) TODAY HE EXPLAINED THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE. <> “It was to provide oversight for the CSU, but also to look into ways to increase the efficiency of the criminal justice system.” (1:50-2:00) AND HOW IT’S GROWN OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS. <> “Probably 2020 or so shifted from solely the CSU, to focusing more on on the criminal justice system itself.” (2:05-2:15) THE COMMITTEE’S WORK HAS LEFT JUDGE DEAKINS FEELING UNDER WHELMED. <> “where my disappointment lies, is there’s some low hanging fruit that we could be doing that the committee has holistically not pursued.” (7:07-7:14) TODAY, DEAKINS AND DURRETT AGREE THAT THE COMMITTEE NEEDS TO RE-SHAPE SOME THINGS. <> “we’re going to estimate where we’re at as the county and really consider the future of this group, both who we would want impaneled on this group who brings the value to the county. But also what do we want this group’s focus to be moving forward?” (4:17-4:28) WHILE ALSO FOLLOWING THE ORDINANCE.. AND THE LAW. <> “we don’t step outside of what we’re permitted to do, both by the orbits from the from the quorum court, but also by state law.” (8:39- 8:47) BOTH DURRETT AND DEAKINS SAY THEY’RE UNSURE ABOUT THE TIMETABLE FOR WHEN THEY’LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY’L

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