One of the core responsibilities of local government is protecting residents and making sure everyone has access to justice. As a lawyer, mother, former judge, and a victim of crime, Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones believes that the criminal justice system must be approached holistically — from beginning to end.

Since 2023, Commissioner Briones has championed numerous programs and initiatives to improve safety across the County. As she and her colleagues on Commissioners Court work together to determine Harris County’s 2026 budget, Commissioner Briones is committed to funding initiatives that keep communities safe.

Holistic Assistance Response Team (HART)

Harris County’s HART program dispatches interdisciplinary, unarmed, first responder teams trained in behavioral health and on-scene medical assistance to non-violent 911 calls. This program aims to reduce unnecessary law enforcement or hospital-based interventions and free up officers to respond to violent crime.

Since launching in 2022, HART has responded to more than 20,000 calls and redirected hundreds from the jail system to mental health and welfare services.

Pay Parity

In May, the City of Houston announced it would be increasing the starting salaries of new Houston Police Department (HPD) officers. With these increases, Harris County deputies would have been earning 32% less than their HPD counterparts.

To ensure Harris County officers are paid fairly, Commissioner Briones has championed pay parity for all County law enforcement. This match will bring the County in line with major departments across the nation and keep experienced officers patrolling our streets and neighborhoods.

TeleDeputy

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Teledeputy program connects 911 callers who do not need on-scene assistance directly with officers who can help over the phone. This program aims to help boost response times for violent crimes, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and drive-by shootings.

District Attorney’s Office Supplemental Budget

The District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is on the front lines of ensuring residents throughout the County receive fast, fair justice. In April, Commissioners Court approved funding for the DAO to support jail population reduction, mental health and diversion, and improve case processing.

The funding included new positions to create the Domestic Violence Bureau, which is speeding up case resolution, enhancing victim support, reducing both backlog and jail stays, and increasing access to protective orders and services to prevent homicides and lower prosecution costs.

Public Defenders Office

In June, Commissioner Briones approved the first new Chief Public Defender in more than a decade, Genesis Draper, who was formerly a judge for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. Chief Draper’s goal as the new public defender is to ensure the office handles at least 50% of the cases where residents cannot afford an attorney. Currently, the office handles 15% of such cases.

Court Resources

In 2024, Precinct 4 spearheaded the "Advancing Justice” package, which focused on increasing efficiencies in the courts and reducing the court backlog. The package included:

• Investing in case management practices to reduce delays and improve efficiency, ensuring timely, quality justice for all parties;

• Significant upgrades to servers, data backup, and courtroom AV technology to improve reliability, security, and efficiency;

• Expanding text messages and other reminders to improve court appearance rates and ensure timely justice for all parties.

Domestic Violence Assistance Fund

During the last budget cycle, Commissioner Briones spearheaded funding for the award-winning Domestic Violence Assistance Fund. This fund provides survivors and families with funds to cover basic needs and has helped over 3,800 households and 6,650 individuals.

DVAF recipients have used the funds for hotel stays if shelters are full, car repairs to reach family, phone bills to reach out to support people and organizations, and essentials like clothes and diapers for their children.