About
The "Find a Person in Travis County Jail" application is a public-facing tool serving over 2 million users annually. It provides up-to-date information about individuals currently incarcerated in Travis County jails.
Originally developed in 2007 by the Travis County Application Services team without UX involvement, the app was outdated and required a comprehensive redesign.
In September 2019, during a planned server replacement, I led a redesign to improve the app’s functionality and user experience, prioritizing accessibility, sensitivity, and a mobile-first approach.
Role
Lead User Experience Designer
Lead UX Researcher
Organization
Travis County, local government in Austin, Texas.
Categories
App Design
Research
Audience
Concerned citizens, family members, friends, and attorneys seeking information about incarcerated individuals.
What was wrong with the old app?
The original app presented multiple challenges:
Discovery
Conversations That Shaped the Design
To make sure the redesign addressed real user needs, I conducted interviews with diverse users, including Spanish speakers.
My goal was to gather firsthand insights and expectations. Conversations focused on the information people needed when looking for an incarcerated person in Travis County.
What I Learned
Data that Told the Story
Analyzing the app's analytics revealed key insights:
Goals That Guided the Design
Prototyping for Impact
Findings
Delivering a New App That Makes a Difference
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