VOCAL-TX joins Counsel at First Appearance suit

VOCAL-TX has joined a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Texas against Travis County for its failure to provide legal counsel during magistration. The group, which describes itself as “a grassroots organization dedicated to building power among low-income people impacted by homelessness, the drug war, mass incarceration, and HIV/AIDS,” notes that the process often results in judges requiring people before them to pay for release from jail, and those who cannot afford that are faced with loss of family, employment and housing while waiting for trial. “The lawsuit complements the advocacy of the coalition fighting for in-person Council At First Appearance (CAFA) in Travis County. Led by efforts at Grassroots Leadership, Austin Sanctuary Network and Austin Area Urban League, the coalition is advocating for in-person legal counsel during initial court appearances and fair bond practices to alleviate unjust incarceration pressures,” a press release from the group explains.