Williamson County in Texas has been facing an increasing number of death inquests due to the growth in population. Justices of the peace, like Evelyn McLean, have been overwhelmed by the workload of determining the cause and manner of death without a medical examiner of their own. The county has seen a 122% increase in deaths over the past decade, with the population growing by almost 210,000 people in that time.
The debate over whether counties should establish a medical examiner’s office is ongoing, and Williamson County is at the center of it. While only four Texas counties have a population of two million or more and have established medical examiner’s offices, Williamson County is nearing 700,000 people. Senator Tan Parker emphasized the need for action when justices are overwhelmed, citing his experience in Denton County.
In response to the growing workload, Williamson County Commissioners approved the hiring of four death investigators to assist the justices of the peace. These investigators will begin their work in January and will help with death calls, scene visits, and report preparation. This move is seen as the first step towards creating a medical examiner’s office in the county.
The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows counties to employ death investigators with the necessary experience or training. The goal is to relieve the workload on justices of the peace and ensure a more efficient process for death investigations. The justices are looking forward to working with the commissioners on the county’s future steps.
The approval of hiring death investigators in Williamson County marks a historic day for the county, as it signifies progress towards establishing a medical examiner’s office. This decision is seen as a win for the public, as it will allow judges to focus on court cases and provide skilled investigators to respond to deaths across the county. The hope is that this move will pave the way for more counties to enter regional agreements and establish medical examiner’s offices across the state.
