It is now possible to do business at the Brazos County Public Defender Office.
Chief Public Defender Nathan Wood discussed the ways in which the office will assist the neighborhood in its time of need.
“We will give representation to anybody who has been charged with a criminal crime in Brazos County and does not have the financial means to employ their own private lawyer,” said Wood. “We will provide this representation free of charge.”
According to Wood, the mission of this office is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic standing, is treated fairly by the legal system.
From 2021, preparations have been made to open the office.
“Lawyers and judges got together, went to the county judge and the county commissioners, and said, ‘Hey, there’s grant money available to seed and plant public defender’s office, so why don’t we plant one here?'” “Lawyers and judges got together, went to the county judge and the county commissioners, and said, “Hey, there’s grant money available to seed and plant public” Wood stated.
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission provided a large grant in the amount of $1.8 million, which made it feasible for everyone to participate.
“That’s money that became available because of the backlog that Brazos County has suffered as a result of the epidemic,” said Wood. “That’s money that became available because of the pandemic.”
According to him, there is an increase in the number of cases that are being filed in criminal courts.
“From March 1, 2020, all the way through August 20, 2021 — simply during that 18-month period when the courts were closed due to the epidemic,” stated Wood.
There was a rise of more than ten percent in the number of current criminal cases that were being considered.
Debbie Batten, the Case Manager of the Brazos County Public Defender Office, has stated that it is her responsibility to attend to the requirements of the defendant.
According to Batten, one of the responsibilities of her work is “to figure out why they committed the offense that they did, and to get them hooked into resources that can help them.””
Batten advised, “Just let the customer know that you made a mistake, but that it is not the end of your life and that there are things you can do to improve your life, and that we want to help you accomplish that.”
Batten also has the intention of assisting with matters pertaining to school, work, housing, and food, as well as assisting children who may be engaged in these circumstances.