Ticket Help Texas

Image by succo from Pixabay

Image by succo from Pixabay

Texas Appleseed, a nonprofit organization that seeks to change unjust laws and promote social and economic justice, has collaborated with Texas Fair Defense Project to create a toolkit, Ticket Help Texas, that is designed to assist people who owe fines and fees in criminal cases but who are unable to pay. The failure to pay these fines and costs can lead to some damaging results, such as an arrest warrant, time in jail, or the inability to renew a driver’s license. Ticket Help Texas provides resources and information for people who have a Class C misdemeanor or a fine-only misdemeanor. Some of the topics for which users will find information are plea options and their consequences, deferred adjudication eligibility, renewal of a vehicle registration, and resolution of OmniBase holds. The website also offers some practical information about what you can do if you received a ticket that you are unable to pay or ordered to pay an amount that you cannot afford, if you are unsure about your ability to complete community service, if you are receiving notices from a collection agency, if the court is requiring you to obtain car insurance, and if a warrant has been issued for your arrest. There is even a section addressing occupational driver’s licenses (ODLs). (Additional information about ODLs can be found on TexasLawHelp.org.) Users will also find sample documents and forms, general advice for appearing in court, a webinar about restoring a driver’s license and resolving tickets, a glossary, and a listing of Texas legal organizations that may be able to help.

Being thankful for access to legal information

Even though we can’t be together to celebrate this season of thanksgiving, we share a great appreciation for all that we have, especially our good health and each other. Not everyone has been so fortunate during this unprecedented time, when people across the globe are losing their jobs, their homes, and, in some cases, their loved ones. While we’re keeping all of those less fortunate in mind this holiday season, we are also wishing everyone — our colleagues, friends, library patrons and all their families — abundant happiness for a safe, healthy, socially-distanced holiday. From our family at the Harris County Law Library to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

As we reflect on the last year and all the unexpected change that 2020 has visited upon us, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the many things for which we are grateful. As law librarians, we see the positive impact access to legal information can have on individuals' lives each day, so we are always grateful for the partnerships that allow us to make information available to our patrons. We are thankful for the partnership between the Harris County Attorney's Office and the Houston Bar Association, whose ongoing support we value tremendously. We are grateful for the Houston Volunteer Lawyers and Lone Star Legal Aid to whom we refer many self-represented litigants seeking to connect with a licensed Texas attorney for free and accurate legal information and services. We are also grateful to work with TexasLawHelp.org to be a point of access for Houstonians who are in need of the legal information posted there. And we are thankful for the great many community resources, from Houston Lawyer Referral Service to TexasLegalAnswers.org to AVDA, who play such a vital role in the community. When the best information we can provide our patrons is a specialized service that connects them with a licensed attorney, these organizations are indispensable.

Finally, we are grateful for the publishers, including Westlaw, Lexis, O'Connor's, the State Bar of Texas, HeinOnline, and many more, who work with us to make their wealth of legal information open and available to all within steps of the courthouse and, this year, by remote access. We are thankful, as well, to the State Law Library of Texas, whose partnership in providing access to even more terrific databases is invaluable.

Overall, we are fortunate to work with so many dedicated, accommodating partners who share our mission of ensuring that open and equal access to legal information isn’t just a privilege but a right.

Acknowledging Native Land

Image Credit: Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

Image Credit: Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

As members of the local legal community, we are committed to recognizing and addressing the systemic injustices that exist for many of those we serve. We are dedicated, as always -- even during the pandemic -- to providing open and equal access to justice for all. Helping remove the structural barriers that prevent many individuals from receiving the services and information they need to pursue personal justice is part of that mission.

One of the most fundamental obstructions to justice and to a fuller appreciation of and respect for others – particularly Native people -- is a lack of recognition for the very land on which we walk. Native American Heritage Month, which comes to a close at the end November, is the perfect time to start a new journey of understanding, to embrace equity, grow in gratitude for the land we all occupy, and honor the Indigenous people who steward it.

Previously on this blog, we have applauded the efforts of organizations like the American Bar Association, whose Implicit Bias Initiative is designed, in part, to educate and inform the legal community about cultural and structural barriers that impact the delivery of legal services for many people, especially those at the margins.  Today, in a continuation of such a laudable effort, we offer the following additional resources. The organizations linked below explore how we can all work toward achieving an affirming, inclusive, and equitable social ecosystem for all people, and, in particular, those who are native to the North and South American continents.

We conclude the list with a link to a tool that will help you identify, learn about, and acknowledge the Native people whose land we occupy. For example, the land on which the Harris County Law Library sits is home to a number of Indigenous nations, including the Karankawa, Coahuiltecan, Atakapa-Ishak, and the Sana. Enter your address to find the names of the Indigenous people who once tended the land you now occupy. Learning about the culture, language, and heritage of these people is a recommended first step to dismantling systemic injustice against Indigenous communities. We hope the resources provided here help in that effort.

Prisoners' Rights Resources

Image by maz-Alph from Pixabay

Image by maz-Alph from Pixabay

The United States Supreme Court recently granted a writ of certiorari to a Texas inmate who had alleged that he had been confined in a pair of unsanitary cells for six full days. In Taylor v. Riojas, the Court found that although the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit correctly ruled that the condition violated Taylor’s Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment, it erred in its conclusion that the correctional officers had qualified immunity on the ground of lack of notice. On the qualified immunity issue, the Supreme Court held that “[n]o reasonable correctional could have concluded that, under the extreme circumstances of this case, it was constitutionally permissible to house Taylor in such deplorably unsanitary conditions for such an extended period of time.” The Court vacated the appellate court’s judgment and remanded the action for further proceedings.

Considering this recent decision involving the constitutional rights of prisoners, we have put together a list of resources that provides some insights into the rights afforded incarcerated individuals and some that might prove useful to prisoners still dealing with the court system and to the family members and friends who may be assisting them.

Prisoners’ Rights

Inmate Welfare - Texas Government Code chapter 501 – The Texas Government Code sets out the provisions that pertain to prisoner welfare.

(Pace Law School Library) (Pace Law School Library) – This excellent research guide from Pace Law School Library contains an abundance of useful information on the topic of prisoners’ rights. Users have access to relevant federal and state laws, prison statistics, international resources, and information about foreign prisons. The librarians have also identified several prison rights organizations and online resources to aid prisoners.

Prisoner Rights While Incarcerated (HG.org) – This article describes some of the rights to which prisoners are entitled while they are locked up, including the prohibition from cruel and unusual punishment, access to courts, and medical care. Links at the end of the article lead to relevant discussions on some other aspects of the rights of prisoners.

Rights of Prisoners (Legal Information Institute) – This article looks at the issue of prisoners’ rights through the lens of constitutional protections, specifically due process.

Prisoner Advocacy

Texas Inmate Families Association (TIFA) – TIFA is a non-profit organization that supports, educates, and advocates for the families of incarcerated individuals. Nonmembers have access to a limited number of public documents and newsletters. For its members, TIFA hosts webinars and workshops, represents members in discussions with TDCJ and legislative officials, and much more.

Texas: Prison Resources (Human Rights Watch) – This is a list of organizations that assist or advocate on behalf of prisoners. HRW also has lists of prison resources for other states.

Useful Websites (Texas Jail Project) – The people behind the Texas Jail Project have compiled a list of advocacy organizations for prisoners in state jails and prisons and have posted information about jails on its website. There is also a link to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Forms

In addition to the information found on the websites listed above, prisoners (and their families) have access to some forms that can be used on the state or federal level, including a complaint for the violation of a prisoner’s civil rights and the Texas Writ of Habeas Corpus Application Art. 11.07. On the website for the Texas courts, users will find standardized felony judgment forms, orders relating to community supervision, and a template for competency evaluations. The website for the United States District & Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas has a varied collection of forms for use in criminal cases, including indigency forms, subpoena forms, and habeas corpus petitions.

Texas Judicial Branch – Court of Criminal Appeals – Forms

Texas Judicial Branch -Rules & Forms

United States Court – Complaint for Violation of Civil Rights

United States District & Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas - District Forms and Filing Fees