The Kaufman County Public Defender’s Office has received a Best Practices Award for Achievement in the Public Safety and Corrections category from the Texas Association of Counties. This prestigious award, which was recognized this week at the association’s annual conference in Austin, promotes efficiency in local government by focusing attention on accomplishments and best practices in county government.

Since it’s creation in 2007, the Public Defender’s Office has cut the county indigent defense costs by nearly half, from $1.2 million to $600,000 per year. Inmate population has been reduced, and indigent defendants benefit from a speedier justice system.

Kaufman County Public Defender Andrew Jordan commends the teamwork of the entire county in achieving this award. Jordan stated in a Kaufman Herald article about the award, “I had a game plan from the beginning that would work if everyone would work at it. We’ve succeeded because we’ve gotten a tremendous amount of support from all the agencies including the judges, the sheriff’s department, the police departments and the district attorney’s office. This has taken a team effort and everyone who has helped should be equally commended for their efforts.”