HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Hays County announced Thursday that the number of defendants awaiting trial for more than 1,000 days has reduced significantly since 2023.  In March 2023, 25 defendants were awaiting trial in jail for longer than 1,000 days. As of mid-September, that number has come down to only one.  “When I took the bench in 2023, I  was shocked to see the data showing how long defendants were waiting for trial,” Hays County District Judge Tanner Neidhardt was quoted saying in a press release.  In July 2022, the average length of stay for pre-trial inmates was 104 days, and 4.3% were behind bars with no conviction for more than three years. As of Tuesday, the median length of stay for pretrial inmates has come down to 78 days, and only one person, or 0.3% of pre-trial inmates, is behind bars with no conviction for more than three years, according to the Hays County Jail Dashboard.  “The health of our legal system depends on the efforts of many — the courts are balancing and optimizing our dockets, the District Attorney’s Office is looking hard at these cases, the defense bar has been ready, and our clerks are keeping the system going, especially now,” he continued.  Neidhardt said court personnel efforts and Hays County Commissioners Court programs are behind the reduction in wait times.  “I think all these participants are committed to continuing these efforts to reduce wait times for trial,” Neidhardt said. “It’s the right thing to do for defendants, victims and the public. But there is more to do, and we will not let up.”