Travis County's new grant-funded public defender office is up and running, taking on a small percentage of criminal cases since it was founded a year ago.
The office is designed to take on a bigger caseload as it grows. However, even by the time its four-year grant runs out, Travis County's current system — which uses a rotating slate of private attorneys to argue for clients who can't afford representation — will still be in place for the majority of cases.
As of March 31, the new office was taking on about 5.5% of indigent defense cases. By 2024, officials expect it'll be handling about 30% of such cases, with the Capital Area Private Defender Service — Travis County's current system — handling the rest.