38 People With Murder Charges in Lubbock County Detention Center

Lubbock County Detention Center (LCDC) is full of all sorts of folk who have been charged with serious crimes- robbery, assault, domestic violence, and more.

However, there is no crime with more serious consequences than murder- a charge that currently has 38 people sitting behind bars as they wait for the criminal justice system to decide their fate.

Why Are People Charged With Murder Held At Lubbock County Detention Center For So Long?

While several people did drop off last quarter's list (as they were either found not guilty, had their murder charge dropped, or have moved on to prison), you'll see some folks who have been in LCDC for months or even years.

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You may have asked yourself, "What's the holdup?"  The answer is a combination of factors.

Because a murder charge is so severe, the corresponding litigation is complex. Due to the complexity of the work for prosecutors and defense lawyers, proceedings can be delayed for months or even years.

Think interviews, depositions, forensics, and vast piles of paperwork, and it all makes sense.

Additionally, many courts are backlogged, meaning even if both parties have all their ducks in a row, it may take additional time to end up on a docket.

Are Murder Cases Unusually High In Lubbock?

This is difficult to answer as the statistics tend to be a few years behind; however, it seems that Lubbock tends to fluctuate between high crime years and relatively peaceful ones.

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You may be reassured to know that last year, LPD saw a 100% clearance rate for murder. According to KCBD:

The number was 15 cases with 16 murder victims. While this doesn’t mean every offender has been brought to justice, it does mean the major crimes unit has identified and arrested a suspect in each of the homicide cases opened during last year.

That's a remarkable achievement, and hopefully means more would-be murderers think twice before committing this heinous act.