TSU criminal justice students to help tackle cold cases
GEORGETOWN — A concerted effort between cities, the county and local water authorities to develop a regional conservation initiative got a boost Tuesday from the Williamson County Commissioners Court.
Also during the Oct. 20 meeting, commissioners heard about a university partnership with deputies to help solve cold cases, and also augmented a program designed to keep juvenile offenders on the straight and narrow.
At the top of the list, commissioners awarded consulting firm Freese and Nichols a $498,700 contract to work with the county developing a regional water plan that will address the area’s growing infrastructure needs.
“This is one giant step today...to help secure the water of Williamson County for the people who are here today and identify new sources of water for our growth in the future,” said County Judge Steven Snell.
Commissioners said they had been having conversations with local municipal leaders and the Brazos River Authority, among others, regarding regional water options.
See WILCO COMMISSIONERS • page 2 While the contract with Freese and Nichols will provide a framework for solutions, the commissioners recognized the county will need to find grants and other funding sources to carry out any plan.
Snell referred to pending bills in the upcoming legislative sessions that will also address water woes. The strain on resources has increased the cost of securing, transporting and treating water, officials said.
“I think we’re seeing the price of water utility bills go up, and this is an effort to bring all of our partners together to save money on the cost, get some economies of scale and ultimately save the cities money and the taxpayers money,” Snell said.
Students dig into cold case crimes Texas State University criminal justice students will get first-hand experience working on the county’s cold cases under a new agreement with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.
Commissioners approved an academic- operational partnership that will create internships for students entering the criminology field.
John Foster, commander of the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division, said the partnership will bring a fresh perspective to cold cases, identify new leads and overlooked evidence, provide additional investigative resources and develop future criminal justice professionals.
“The biggest reason – and we’ve already contacted the families of all of our 15 cold cases, and they are in full agreement to this – is it also demonstrates our further commitment to the victims and the families of these cold cases,” Foster said.
Experienced cold case unit investigators or supervisors will provide training, direct oversight and ongoing instruction to the interns.
The unit continues to order DNA testing of crime evidence, continually looking for new matches, deputies said.
“It’s just a matter of time before we solve them,” Foster said.
Transformative Justice program receives funding County commissioners also voted to approve continuing funding of the Transformative Justice program at $200,000 for the year.
For nine years, a collaboration between the 277th state District Court, the District Attorney’s Office, county juvenile services and the commissioners has been helping 17- to 24-yearolds get back on track after encounters with the legal system.
The Transformative Justice program is open to first-time felony offenders with non-violent charges.
The program is funded through grant partners including the Capital Area Council of Governments.
“In Texas, 17-yearolds are treated as adults,” said Scott Matthew, executive director of Williamson County Juvenile Services. “They’re kind of in-between, they don’t have jobs, they haven’t finished school, they don’t have a lot going their way, and their families are frustrated.”
He added, “And this is a program where we come alongside these young people and try to change their lives so it doesn’t cost us for the rest of their lives to provide for them.”
The program offers the choice of undergoing intensive case management and support rather than going to prison.
Matthew said the program has seen success through a lower rate of clients returning into the legal system and saves the county money by avoiding jail days and court fees.
