Key Groups
The Fair Defense Project works with the following groups to fulfill its mission:
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Texas Fair Defense Project - The Texas Fair Defense Project (TFDP) works to improve the fairness and accuracy of the criminal justice system in Texas, with a primary focus on improving access to counsel and the quality of representation provided to poor people accused of crime. TFDP defends the rights of indigent criminal defendants through litigation, education, and advocacy.
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Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense - The mission of the Task Force on Indigent Defense is to improve the delivery of indigent defense services through fiscal assistance, accountability and professional support to State, local judicial, county, and municipal officials. The purpose of the Task Force is to promote justice and fairness to all indigent persons accused of criminal conduct, including juvenile respondents, as provided by the laws and constitutions of the United States and Texas.
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Equal Justice Center - The Equal Justice Center (EJC) works with low-income families, groups and communities to achieve fair and equal treatment under the law. The EJC’s legal advocacy promotes systemic reforms that empower low-income clients and community-based groups to use the legal system as a means for securing equality and fairness in both public policies and private practices. EJC places special emphasis on the rights of low-wage working families and immigrant workers to fair treatment in the workplace and on the rights of low-income people to fair treatment in the criminal justice system.
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Texas Defender Service - The Texas Defender Service's mission is to help improve the quality of representation afforded to indigent Texans charged with a capital crime or under sentence of death.
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Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association - The Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association is a thirty year-old, state-wide organization established to protect and ensure individual rights guaranteed by the Texas and Federal Constitutions. Each of the 2,500 plus attorneys who is a member of the Association is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and is actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases.
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American Bar Association – Indigent Defense webpage includes national developments in indigent defense and state comparison reports.
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National Juvenile Defender Center - Provides excellent coverage of juvenile indigent defense including comparative state data, state specific assessments, and sample legislation and testimony for advocacy in improving juvenile indigent defense systems.
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League of United Latin American Citizens of Texas - This organization aims to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States. The League of United Latin American Citizens, originally called the United Latin American Citizens, is the oldest and largest continually active Latino organization in the United States and was the first nationwide Mexican American civil rights organization.
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Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches - For 90 years, the NAACP – through political pressure, marches, demonstrations, and effective lobbying – has served as the voice of African Americans. It is the nation's largest advocacy organization and has been part of a prolonged agitation for peaceful change. Today, after years of unrelenting struggle, they affirm their commitment to the true American Dream – an integrated society rich in diversity and open equally to all. They invite all Americans to stand with them: Native American, black, white, and Hispanic, young and old, Jew and Gentile, male and female.