LEGAL AID – Earl Carl Institute

THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW INNOCENCE PROJECT
Helping the wrongfully convicted with exonerations by investigating and litigating actual innocence claims.  Actual innocence means that the crime never happened or that it happened but someone else committed it and there exist new evidence to prove innocence.  An applicant must have:

• Received a final conviction
• Exhausted all direct appeals
• Been convicted in Texas

Applicants must complete a Texas Prisoner Innocence Questionnaire (TPIQ).  The TPIQ link can be found on the ECI website and TPIQs are also generally available in each prison library.
Innocence Project inquiries, contact: 713-313- 1161.

ECI JUVENILE JUSTICE PROJECT (JJP)
The JJP has rapidly developed into one of Texas’ premier programs assisting youth in the juvenile justice system. The JJP seeks to empower at-risk youth, provide holistic, client-centered representation, and offer solutions to legal and social problems that impede access to future achievement and success.  ECI employs a holistic approach, by providing legal representation to children who are in multiple systems including the criminal justice system, disparate educational systems, the mental health system, and foster care system.  Most of our clients come into the juvenile court system for incidents occurring at school.

JJP services include:

• Direct Representation in juvenile, justice of the peace and municipal courts
• Sealing of Criminal Records
• Direct Legal Representation in School Disciplinary Actions & Special Education
• Advocacy in dealing with juvenile probation, foster care, and mental health care systems
• Assistance with seeking emancipation and other legal remedies related to independent living, including securing birth certificates, social security cards, and IDs
• Homelessness advocacy for LG BTQ and aged-out foster youth as well as other traditionally  disenfranchised  youth groups

Online Intake:  http://eci.pub/JuvenileandEducationLegalHelp

Telephone Intake: 713-313-1130

CLEAN SLATE COOPERATIVE (CSC)
The Clean Slate Cooperative is a collaboration with the NAACP Houston Branch.  The CSC attorney locates and evaluates all criminal histories of the applicant and determines the available relief.  CSC accepts all cases requiring juvenile record sealing, expunctions, and nondisclosures for individuals receiving such charges before their 25th birthday.  All cases not eligible for record clearing receive an explanation of when their records might be cleared if there is a waiting period or why it was otherwise denied along with information about other service providers who might help them with barriers they face because of having a criminal record.
Online Intake:  http://eci.pub/CleanSlateHelp
Telephone Intake: 713-313-1130