Latest & Greatest – Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach

By Jeffrey W. Goltz, Roberto H. Potter, Joseph A. Cocchiarella, and Michael T. Gibson

Published by West Academic Publishing

KF HQ 281 .H828 2017

Photo credit: Jessica King

Continuing with the Law Library’s recognition of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month, we would like to focus on one of our most recent acquisitions. A Florida crime summit highlighting human trafficking provided the motivation for Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach, a book that strives to analyze all aspects of the response to the crime of human trafficking from the points of view of those in the public justice system and demonstrate a systematic approach to human trafficking. Authors include law enforcement officers, social service and medical professionals, prosecutors, judges, and educators. Designed as an educational tool, each chapter of this book begins with a discussion of a particular topic and ends with a list of references and chapter learning objectives. The conclusion of each chapter also leads the reader to the next chapter and provides a hint of what will be discussed in the following section. 

The book begins with an explanation of what human trafficking is and a description of who the traffickers, facilitators, and victims are. It stresses the need for awareness and education for law enforcement officers, especially training that identifies the common characteristics of the victims of human trafficking. The subsequent chapter addresses the investigation of human trafficking, including investigative methods and techniques and the task force approach. 

From a social services perspective, the book explains the role of social services in managing and fostering the victims of human trafficking, including rescue, recovery, and reintegration. Another important aspect in assisting victims is the professional’s need for understanding trauma and its effects on the victim. This trauma-informed approach is discussed at length in Chapter 3. From a medical standpoint, the book uses the “Sequential Intercept Model” as a guide to explaining the roles that health care professionals play in the criminal justice system in general. The authors then focus on the first intercept, “best clinical practices,” to explain the health care professional’s role in identifying victims of human trafficking. 

From a legal point of view, Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach provides an extensive discussion of the prosecution of human trafficking and some of the challenges faced by prosecutors in these cases. Also, the book talks about the role that the judiciary can play in the intervention for victims of human trafficking and offers some suggestions for establishing a human trafficking court project. 

Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach clearly demonstrates the need for local agencies from every sector to collaborate in their response to human trafficking, not only in terms of prevention but also in the care and treatment of its victims.

The Law of Impeachment, a discussion for all

On Monday, December 16, we welcomed attorney and author Barbara A. Radnofsky for The Law of Impeachment, a special continuing legal education event from Office of Vince Ryan, Harris County Attorney, and the Law Library. Radnofsky’s book, A Citizen’s Guide to Impeachment, is a well-researched, non-partisan guide to this timely topic and provided a touchstone for a lively discussion with lawyers and members of the public in attendance.

A Citizen’s Guide for the Citizens

Following the program, Radnofsky met with participants for a book signing in the lobby of the Harris County Attorney Conference Center. She presented a signed copy to Law Library Deputy Director Joe Lawson to be added to the collection and made available to everyone.

“We are honored to add this work to our collection and to make Barbara’s expertise and research available to everyone at the Law Library,” Lawson said.

The Law of Impeachment - the exhibit

To add to the learning opportunity, the Law Library assembled an exhibit of rare books, including original printings of the proceedings of impeachment for U.S. President Andrew Johnson and Texas Governor James “Pa” Ferguson. The exhibit remains on display at the Law Library and online as a digital exhibit.

The Law of Impeachment - the recording

Monday’s program was recorded and will be published as an on-demand video CLE in January, 2020. If you would like to receive an announcement about the recording, please sign up for the Law Library’s email newsletter below.

Latest & Greatest – The Military Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide to Representing Military Personnel and Their Families

By Mark E. Sullivan

Published by American Bar Association. Section of Family Law

KF 535 .S85 2019

The Texas Access to Justice Commission has designated the week of November 10-16 as Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week. Here at the Harris County Law Library, November is Veterans Law Resource Month, and we are featuring titles to help veterans. One such title is The Military Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide to Representing Military Personnel and Their Families. 

There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter divorce. Elements may be the same, but each case is unique and each is fraught with its own circumstances and situations. Divorce can be especially problematic and difficult when one or both spouses are active military personnel. Issues such as custody and visitation may not be as clear-cut and easily resolved as those involving civilians. To offer some guidance in this matter, attorney Mark E. Sullivan has written The Military Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide to Representing Military Personnel and Their Families.  This two-volume set begins with a discussion of service of process and its two main concerns: how can one locate someone serving in the military and how can one serve him? The author explains how the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects parties who are in the military and how it can affect the timing of lawsuits brought against military personnel. He addresses the unique issues surrounding custody and visitation, especially as it affects cases in which the military parent is mobilized or deployed. Family support and enforcement of that obligation may take on an added dimension in cases involving military families due to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and other military support rules. Sullivan also talks about divorce and what is considered domicile for purposes of filing for divorce. Another area that requires some discussion is the division of property, which includes military benefits and pensions. Sadly, the military does not afford protection from domestic abuse, so the author includes a chapter about this issue as well. 

If you are looking for a fairly comprehensive guide to representing military personnel in a divorce matter, have a look at The Military Divorce Handbook. The appendices after each chapter are especially helpful with extra resources. Moreover, there are practice tips peppered throughout the book.

Latest & Greatest – Elder Law in a Nutshell

By Lawrence A. Frolik and Richard L. Kaplan

Published by West Academic Publishing

KF 390 .A4 A423

If you are looking for a succinct guide to the issues that arise and the laws that affect older persons, then Elder Law in a Nutshell may be just the book for you. Part of West Academic Publishing’s popular Nutshell series, Elder Law in a Nutshell addresses the unique challenges faced by those who advise and represent the aging members of our community and guides the reader through the myriad issues that pop up in the elder law field. Pertinent topics include: health care decision making, Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid, long-term care insurance, housing and housing alternatives, guardianship and its alternatives, social security benefits, veterans’ benefits, pensions, age discrimination in employment, and elder abuse and neglect. 

Health care and the related costs involved with obtaining medical coverage could be the highest and most significant concern of the elder community. In a similar vein, the authors explain the doctrine of informed consent and the patient’s right to control medical treatment and terminate life-sustaining treatment. There is a discussion of living wills, the creation and execution requirements, and their validity. The authors guide the reader through the Medicare maze and explain the eligibility requirements, enrollment procedures, and coverage, including the dreaded “donut hole” for drug expenditures. Later chapters address the nature of long-term care insurance and housing options, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The authors look at the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA) and the protections it offers to nursing home residents, such as the freedom from abuse and restraints and the right of access to entities providing health, social, or legal services. The authors also examine the eligibility requirements and the tax issues involved with perhaps the single most provider of retirement income: social security benefits. For those seniors who seek employment to supplement their retirement income, there is a discussion of age discrimination and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Lastly, the authors address the sad reality of elder abuse and neglect and the legislative responses to this terrible form of domestic violence.

You can find this and other titles from the Nutshell series in our Self-Help Collection here at the Harris County Law Library.