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 visit the client’s place of incarceration and interview the client in person to learn about their 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 teams and must be able to commit to working on the packet throughout the year. 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, Mithoff Pro Bono Program
The Parole Project is an 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 2022
- Approximate hours of work requested
- 20-35 hours over the course of the academic year, including training sessions
- Training
- Wednesday, September 14, 5pm-7pm (TNH 2.138); if you are unable to attend this training, please still feel free to apply to the project as a recording may be available
- Skills used
- Interviewing; document requests; document review; legal research and writing; potential oral advocacy
- Project location
- Preparation of the parole packet will likely include some limited travel (5-10 hours spread over the year) to meet with the client in person, depending on updated TDCJ visitation guidelines at the time of the visit (under current guidelines they would involve a covid test or proof of vaccination); drafting the packet can be done at the law school or another location at the student’s discretion; trainings will be held at the law school and will be recorded.
- Address
- 727 E. Dean Keeton Street, Austin, TX 78705
- Number of student volunteers requested
- 40
- Class year preference
- 1L, 2L, 3L
- Required skills
- Experience with providing direct client services and interviewing as well as working in the criminal legal system or in social work, will be considered when selecting volunteers; however, it is equally if not more important for volunteers to display a strong interest in this project and learning how to advocate for people who are incarcerated
- To Apply
- Complete an application ( https://utexas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8xqd2NItBRNp82O ) where you will state (1) your interest in the project; (2) experience with criminal justice work, social work, or social justice work (defined broadly to include any direct client services, public policy, or reentry work); (3) any writing or interview experience; please complete this application by Monday, September 5 at noon