Students will assist incarcerated individuals with preparation of a parole packet that will be submitted to the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole. A typical parole packet includes a client narrative, photographs, letters of support, certificates, medical records, and other relevant documents. Students will interview the client by phone to learn about her offense history, background, and future plans. Parole packet preparation also may include additional interviews with family members, affidavit drafting, research, and writing. Some student volunteers may have an opportunity to represent the client in a parole hearing in front of the Board. Students will work in groups and must be able to commit to working on the packet throughout the year, depending on the client’s parole eligibility date. Training sessions will be held in September and periodically throughout the year to address specific tasks (e.g., requesting documents) and skills (e.g., creating a reentry plan or drafting letters of support).
Organization
Parole Project
The Parole Project is a student-led internal project of the Richard and Ginni Mithoff Pro Bono Program. Its mission is to prepare parole packets on behalf of incarcerated women in order to provide the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole with information that enables the Board to gain a more holistic, human picture of incarcerated individuals it reviews for parole.
Project Details
- Project Start Date
September 2020
- Approximate hours of work requested
- 30-40 hours over the course of the academic year, including training sessions
- Training
- TBD based on student volunteer availability
- Skills used
- Interviewing; document requests; document review; legal research and writing; potential oral advocacy.
- Project location
- Virtual
- Number of student volunteers requested
- 28
- Class year preference
- 1L, 2L, 3L
- To Apply
- Submit email stating interest, experience with criminal justice work, and writing skills to Sarah Sedgwick at ssedgwick@law.utexas.edu by noon on Monday, September 14