This podcast is a visit with Brazos County district attorney Jarvis Parsons and WTAW's Bill Oliver.

Brazos County commissioners sign off on allowing three departments to receive a combined $1 million dollars in new grant money that was authorized by the legislature during the 2023 regular session.

Senate Bill 22, which passed the senate and house without opposition, gives the district attorney and county attorney's offices $275,000 dollars each towards paying assistant prosecutors, investigators, and victim assistance coordinators.

Click HERE to read and download Senate Bill 22.

District attorney Jarvis Parsons says the additional money will go to current employees.

County attorney Earl Gray says his preference is giving a one time bonus to current employees.

Senate Bill 22 gave the Brazos County sheriff's office $500,000 dollars and the authority to spend the money on more than just employee pay.

Sheriff Wayne Dicky says because county commissioners set sheriff's employee pay above the cap in SB 22, the grant money will go towards other things.

Dicky said equipment will be purchased for communications and surveillance, along with vehicles for the crime scene and the new human trafficking departments, and a safety project will be done at one of the jail dormitories.