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Key Groups

The following are some groups throughout the state and nation that engage in efforts to address public safety issues and advocate for community members. 

If you know of a group that isn’t included here, email us at mtotman@criminaljusticecoalition.org to let us know!

 

Advocacy Groups

 

  • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas.  This organization is Texas’ guardian of liberty.  It works in legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.  ACLU’s job is to conserve America’s and Texas ’ original civic values – the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.   
  • 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.
  • League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Texas.  This organization aims to advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the .  LULAC, originally called the United Latin American Citizens, is the oldest and largest continually active Latino organization in the and was the first nationwide Mexican American civil rights organization.
  • Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF).  This national non-profit organization protects and promotes the civil rights of the more than 45 million Latinos living in the .  Making sure that there are no obstacles preventing this diverse community from realizing its dreams, MALDEF seeks to secure the rights of Latinos, primarily in the areas of employment, education, immigrants’ rights, political access and public resource equity.

 

Research and Policy Development Groups

  • Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.  The BJS collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to Federal, State, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded.
  • Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) of the Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice.  The BJA provides leadership and services in grant administration and criminal justice policy development to support local, state, and tribal justice strategies to achieve safer communities.
  • PolicyLink.  This national research and action institute advances economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works®.  With local and national partners, PolicyLink is spotlighting promising practices, supporting advocacy campaigns, and helping to bridge the traditional divide between local communities and policymaking at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
  • Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) at the Department of Justice.  The COPS Office was created through the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  As a component of the Justice Department, the COPS Office advances the practice of community policing as an effective strategy to improve public safety.
  • Texas Regional Center for Policing Innovation (TRCPI).  Funded by COPS (see above), the TRCPI at Sam Houston State University is committed to promoting policing innovation throughout the state and nation, specifically by addressing the integration of crime-specific strategies into policing innovation.  Through training opportunities and the dissemination of information, the TRCPI and its partners foster police-community partnerships leading to innovative methods of reducing crime and improving neighborhood safety. 
  • Applied Research Center.  This public policy institute seeks to advance racial justice through research, public policy, advocacy leadership, and journalism.
  • Urban Institute.  To promote sound social policy and public debate on national priorities, this organization gathers and analyzes data, conducts nonpartisan economic and social policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues and trends.
  • Public Safety Performance Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts.  Launched in 2006 as an operating project of the Pew Center on the States, the Public Safety Performance Project helps states advance fiscally sound, data-driven sentencing and corrections policies and practices that protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and control costs.  The Project currently collaborates with the Pew Center on the States and five external partners to provide expert, nonpartisan information and assistance to 13 states that want a better return on their public safety investments.
  • RAND Corporation.  The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis.  For 60 years, decision-makers in the public and private sectors have turned to the RAND Corporation for objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the nation and the world.  These challenges include such critical social and economic issues as education, poverty, crime, and the environment, as well as a range of national security issues.

 

Educational Institutions or Departments that Focus on Criminal Justice

 

  • Department of Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas.  The Department of Criminal Justice is housed within the College of Public Affairs and Community Service.  Its scholars focus on interdisciplinary solutions to the complex problems of crime and disorder.  The department has a strong focus on research and scholarship that strengthens the university’s mission to enhance such activities at the national and international level.  
  • College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University.  This college seeks to advance the theory, practice, and cause of criminal justice through scholarship, teaching, training, and technical assistance. 
  • Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University.  This interdisciplinary research institute brings together experts from Northeastern University ’s College of Criminal Justice , School of Law , Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Department of African American Studies, and School of Education to examine questions on race and justice facing urban communities.  It utilizes strategic social science research methodologies to assist government agencies, educational institutions, and members of the community in the development of policy changes to advance the cause of social justice.
  • Center for Criminal Justice Policy Research at Northeastern University’s College of Criminal Justice.  This Center utilizes strategic social science research methodologies in the endeavor to assist government agencies, educational institutions, and members of the private section with development, enhancement, and implementation of contemporary criminal justice policies and issues.
  • Racial Profiling Data Collection Resource Center at Northeastern University.  This web-based center is designed to be a central clearinghouse for police agencies, legislators, community leaders, social scientists, legal researchers, and journalists to access information about current data collection efforts, legislation and model policies, police-community initiatives, and methodological tools that can be used to collect and analyze data.  It seeks to facilitate an exchange of information and ideas between police departments, community groups, and academic partners and will assist in the implementation of data collection programs by simplifying users’ ability to gather information.
  • Center for Public Safety at Northwestern University.  This Center provides a comprehensive offering of accident investigation, police operations and management, and transportation engineering courses.  Law enforcement agencies have also come to depend on the Center for university-level research programs, technical assistance, and conferences on issues such as DUI.

 

Police Advocates

 

  • Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).  With more than 15,000 members across the state, CLEAT is the largest police officers’ union in Texas, the largest legal services provider in Texas specializing in representing law enforcement officers, and the largest confederation of local police officers’ associations in Texas .  This organization provides legal representation, political action, field service representation for bargaining and negotiating support and a range of related services to its members.
  • Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA).  This organization began as a lobbying group of municipal officers; in recent years, TMPA evolved into a full-service law enforcement organization open to all Texas peace officers, reserve officers and public safety employees.  TMPA seeks to promote professionalism in Texas law enforcement through education and representation.  In addition to its successful legislative program, TMPA has a political action committee, provides local representation, legal assistance, TCLEOSE-approved training, and a comprehensive package of membership services and benefits.
  • Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT).  This organization was created by the Texas Legislature in 1987 to develop the administrative, analytical, and executive skills of current and future law enforcement officials.  In September 1993, the Legislature placed LEMIT under the control of the President of Sam Houston State University.  Today, LEMIT is the largest statewide preparation program for police management in the .  LEMIT is committed to providing exceptional education, training, research, and service to its customers in the law enforcement community, in order to inspire excellence in leadership and enhance the effective delivery of law enforcement services. 
  • Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA).  This is the only official state law enforcement administrator’s organization in Texas and, as such, it is concerned on a statewide basis with all issues involving the criminal justice system.  TCPA actively seeks to promote the professional practice of law enforcement administration, to represent the membership and the profession on issues of concern, and to encourage high ethical standards of conduct among law enforcement administrators through its code of ethics.
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).  This is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with over 20,000 members in over 89 different countries.  The IACP works to advance the science and art of police services; develop and disseminate improved administrative, technical and operational practices and promote their use in police work; foster police cooperation and the exchange of information and experience among police administrators throughout the world; bring about recruitment and training in the police profession of qualified persons; and encourage adherence of all police officers to high professional standards of performance and conduct.
  • Sheriffs’ Association of Texas.  The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation.  The Association’s goal and mission remains the same as the preamble stated at the first meeting in 1874: “That we, as Sheriffs, have assembled in convention for no political purpose whatsoever, but for the purpose of more successfully aiding each other as officers, to execute the laws, in the discharge of our duties against criminals, and for the further and better protection of the citizens of our respective counties and the State at large.”

 

Groups that Assist Law Enforcement in Meeting Educational Requirements

  • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE).  This organization was established in 1965 by the Texas Legislature to ensure a Texas where people are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement and corrections personnel through screening, developing, and monitoring resources and setting standards.  Among other things, TCLEOSE is responsible for issuing licenses and maintaining proficiency certificates for all peace officers and county jailers; it monitors the statutory compliance of active and inactive licensees; it takes enforcement action against licensees convicted of criminal offenses, as well as those who fail to comply with training and licensing requirements; and it develops, implements, and maintains basic and advanced training program curricula for officers and county jailers.

  • Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG).  This regional planning commission serves the Capital Area (a ten-county region) as a regional advocate, planner, coordinator, and service provider.  CAPCOG’s primary areas of focus include emergency services, elderly assistance, law enforcement training, criminal justice planning, solid waste reduction, infrastructure development, and housing and economic development.

 

Groups in Other States Working on Anti-Racial Profiling Efforts  

  • Montana People’s Action (MPA).  This organization is a socially and racially diverse, statewide, community based organization of low-moderate income Montanans.  MPA empowers members to achieve lasting change for social, economic, and racial justice through direct action that will increase citizens’ ability to be self-determining.  

  • Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO).  This is a regional federation of four statewide, community-based organizations located in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Montana (including Montana People’s Action, see above).  Collectively, these organizations engage in community organizing and coalition building in rural and major metropolitan areas.  NWFCO exists to advance a progressive national agenda by executing regional and national campaigns for economic, racial and social equity and by building strong affiliates.

  • Northwest Constitutional Rights Center.  This organization, which is a project of the National Lawyers Guild, safeguards the rights of political activists, communities of color and immigrants through public interest litigation, advocacy and education. The Center holds the government accountable for its unconstitutional actions, and works to create a just and equitable society.