Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo announces major expansion of jail competency to cut backlog

Judge Lina Hidalgo asking county attorney’s office to consider authority to require commissioners to attend court meeting

HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a major expansion of the jail competency restoration program to cut the backlog and reduce jail population.

The program was approved by Harris County Commissioners Court last week.

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According to a news release, the program will also double the number of individuals who can stand trial.

The program is also set to “provide services to individuals found incompetent to stand trial, typically due to an active mental illness or intellectual disability.”


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A graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown, Ana moved to H-Town from sunny southern California in 2015. In 2020, she joined the KPRC 2 digital team as an intern. Ana is a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, a catmom of 3, and an aquarium enthusiast. In her spare time, she's an avid video gamer and loves to travel.

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