Dockets for county, district court grow
"If we have those resources available we're more likely to be able to treat somebody and keep them out of jail." -- Larry Allison county/district attorney "
By DAVID LOWE Staff Writer

An increase in drug-related cases and felony grand jury indictments last year pushed the county and district attorney office's docket to its highest load since 2003.

In a report recently issued to the Lampasas County Commissioners Court and to county law enforcement, County Attorney Larry Allison said his office in 2007 filed about 390 more cases than in 2003.

Felony cases indicted by grand jury in 2007 increased by 18 compared to the previous year, reaching an all-time high of 192.

In addition, 74 felons received prison sentences, the same number as the previous year. Joe Carroll, 27th Judicial District judge, imposed 19 sentences involving initial confinement at a treatment facility or as a condition of probation.

Carroll assigned 75 probation sentences to felons, three more than in 2006.

In its last session, the Texas Legislature voted to fund certain rehabilitation and treatment alternatives to incarceration for those convicted of first-time drug and alcohol offenses, Allison said. As a result, more first-time offenders are receiving mandatory probation, he said.

"If we have those resources available, we're more likely to be able to treat somebody and keep them out of jail," the county attorney said.

Felony driving-whileintoxicated cases -- those for individuals with two or more prior convictions -- filed matched the 2006 total of 31, but Allison said he is prosecuting more methamphetamine and cocaine cases than ever before. Many users treat those controlled substances as "recreational drugs," he said, so law enforcement officials are finding more suspects, even during routine stops, with small quantities of the drugs.

"We find more and more people have it on them in small amounts when they are stopped for traffic violations or DWIs," Allison said.

Misdemeanor cases filed in county court during 2007 increased to 700 -- 21 more than in the previous year.

Misdemeanor driving-whileintoxicated cases totaled 123, an increase of 17 compared to 2006.

The number of children in Child Protective Services custody due to abuse or neglect dropped to 94, down from 110 in 2006. CPS cases filed in district court decreased to 15, down from 21 the previous year.With more total cases in 2007 than in previous years, however, revenue from court costs increased. Fines and costs paid through adult probation for misdemeanor and felony cases rose to $126,285 -- a 45 percent increase from the 2006 total of $87,048.

In addition, court fines and costs paid to the county clerk increased by nearly $35,000, rising to $170,452.

Restitution to crime victims as a condition of court-ordered probation totaled $81,559, up approximately $29,000 from 2006.

Allison's office generated about $490,165 for its prosecution efforts in 2007. Of that total, $343,458 contributed to the county's general fund.