Tag: NCSC

Posted on

TJCTC Updates 2.9.2024

 

TJCTC Updates Header

 

 

Good Afternoon Judges, Constables, & Court Staff,

Can you believe we are already well into February? Time flies when you are having fun seeing your colleagues at training! Buckle up, because this is a long list of resources and updates, but all are very worth the read.

 

Accessibility & Access in the Courts

Recently a local attorney reached out to TJCTC to give praise to the Texas justice courts and offer his experiences to help courts ensure access to the courts for people with invisible disabilities and health conditions that might make it harder for them to appear in court.

Staff Attorney Amber Myers interviewed him for an episode of the National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE) Spotlight Podcast to share this great information not only with Texas courts but also those nationwide. You can watch the episode on the NASJE YouTube Page.

Also in January, the National Center for State Courts held a webinar about Inclusive Communications for People with Disabilities in Court. If you missed it, the shared resources are below.

Watch the recording of the webinar on the NCSC website: https://www.ncsc.org/consulting-and-research/webinars
Other Resources:

ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments

Access to Justice Knowledge Hub Modules

ABA Article on Supported Decision Making

 

Texas Law Help YouTube Channel

A great resource for self-represented litigants, especially if they speak a language other than English.

https://www.youtube.com/@TexasLawHelpwebsite/videos

 

Upcoming Webinars

TAA Lease Update for 2024, 1 civil hour

February 23rd from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Join TAA for a review of the latest version of its lease! This class will allow courts to fully understand the terms of the most commonly-used lease in eviction and other landlord-tenant disputes.

Registration link: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a5eSTV1pSg2vrIosPqOScA#/registration

Implementing SB4: Magistrate’s Order to Return

Feb 29th from 2 – 3:00 p.m.

Instructor: Bronson Tucker

This webinar will cover SB 4, taking effect on March 4th, which allows magistrates processing defendants charged with Illegal Entry into Texas to issue orders for the defendant to leave the United States. It is critical that magistrates follow the law precisely to avoid liability, and these issues will be covered in this critical course.

Registration: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3oUM3-19S4C40lTAYHqSRA

 

*New* Recordings for Credit

Texas State Law Library Online Resources, 1 Hour Civil

Do you know about the resources available on the Texas State Law Library (TSLL) Website? Any Texan can get a free library card and access to these legal resources, so not only can judges, constables, and court staff use these resources for legal research, but the public can as well. Watch this one-hour prerecorded webinar for an overview from TSLL staff.

State of the State: Texas Demographic Trends and Characteristics, hosted by TJCTC

Speaker: Lloyd B. Potter

Do you want to know who is in your county and state? This webinar will provide information on the Texas population, including rural vs urban trends, migration information, and birth rates. It will also cover how Texas compares to other states and projected changes for Texas’ future.

You can find the recording for credit on the TJCTC Recordings for Credit Page under Court and Office Management Webinars. The TSLL also has additional self-help videos on their YouTube Page.

 

National Center for State Courts Releases New Guide to Mental Health Diversion

This guide is intended to serve as a resource framework for courts and judges to use to promote and implement diversion strategies for individuals with behavioral health needs in their communities. Ideally, judges would collaborate with a range of system stakeholders to examine the entire diversion continuum but could also focus on one step of the process at a time. This guide focuses on jail diversion systems, post arrest, and pre plea.

Download from the NCSC website

 

New Attorney General Opinion Regarding School Marshals KP-0454

Summary: A school district board of trustees may designate an individual to carry a handgun for the protection of students and staff by implementing a guardian plan or utilizing a school security officer. Education Code section 37.0811 provides another option for accomplishing this purpose by generally allowing a school board to appoint one or more school marshals for each campus in the district. Subsection 37.0811(c) authorizes a school marshal to possess a handgun on the physical premises of a school, but only in the manner provided by written regulations adopted by the board of trustees. A school marshal possesses a handgun when it is openly carried on the marshal’s duty belt. Therefore, a court would likely conclude that Education Code subsection 37.0811(c) authorizes a board of trustees to adopt regulations that allow a school marshal to duty belt carry a handgun.

 

Update on Legal Calls

We have had a large number of calls finding their way into the wrong voicemail inboxes. Remember, please dial 512-347-9927 and press “1” for legal calls. If you don’t, the voicemails end up with our program staff who also have a high call volume. Often times your legal call messages end up lost in their inboxes and don’t get transferred to the legal team for several days.

 

As always, we are looking forward to seeing you at a program in the upcoming months. We have a very busy Spring full of education events for you lined up from TJCTC!

Thea & the TJCTC Team

TJCTC footer

Posted on

TJCTC Updates 12.13.2023

Good Afternoon Judges, Constables, & Court Staff,

It has been a minute since we last shared information with you, so make sure you read all the way to the bottom of this email (especially if you are confused or have questions about our new “database” or registration system and student profiles).

 

TJCTC Holiday Hours & Legal Calls

The TJCTC Office will have limited staff available or be closed for two weeks over the holiday break, from December 18-January 2.

We will not be taking legal calls during the period from December 18 – January 2. We apologize for any inconvenience! In order to continue providing assistance to our clientele during this period, we will still be answering board questions during this time frame. Please allow up to 5 days for answers to be posted.

​

OCA Court Security Incident Reporting

The Office of Court Administration is transitioning over to a new platform for reporting and recording Court Security Incidents. Beginning December 6th, OCA will be using a new form to record all security incidents related to the court, judges, judicial staff, and clerks.

Please use the following link to continue reporting Court Security Incidents:

Court Security Incident Report

As of 5:00 PM CST on 12/6/2023, the old reporting form will no longer be active.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Hector Gomez or Nicholas Barsetti at Courtsecurity@txcourts.gov. Or visit the Court Security Website.

​

Did you know that December is Learn a Foreign Language Month?

Take a look at the language access and foreign language resources that TJCTC has pulled together by clicking below!

Learn a Foreign Language Month

 

Updated Resources

You may have already noticed, but most of the updated Deskbooks are posted. Please be patient while we finish the last few updates and work diligently to update the forms, charts, checklists, and other resources.

*New* Juvenile Criminal Diversions Webinar/Recording for Credit

This webinar was posted as a recording for credit. You can also find the handouts and the questions asked and answered from the webinar to download on the TJCTC Recordings for Credit Page. Note, we will be releasing more juvenile criminal diversion resources including forms and a new deskbook chapter soon.

*Updated* Family Violence and Other Criminal History Reporting for Justice Courts

This module now includes legislative updates and updated procedures for CJIS reporting. Remember, even if you have previously taken this course in a prior academic year, you may receive credit again for the FY24 year.

*New* Interpreters & Spanish Terminology Self-Paced Module

This module covers legal issues related to interpreters, including help for appointing interpreters, a Spanish/English legal glossary, and more! Judges and court staff can get 3 hours of credit for completing the module. Constables and their staff may also find this module to be a good resource when dealing with persons with limited English proficiency or language skills.

Both modules can be found on the TJCTC Self-Paced Modules Page.

​

National Center for State Courts Webinar on Mental Health Diversion

This popular webinar was posted as a recording for credit. You can watch it at the NCSC website.

​

Database and Website Help

Are you confused? Don’t worry, some of us at TJCTC are too! Here are a few FAQs and a video to hopefully help you out.

FAQs:

  1. Did TJCTC get a new website? No. The website is still www.tjctc.org.
  2. Did the Deskbooks and forms move? No. You can still find them under the Legal Resources tab at www.tjctc.org.
  3. How do I get to the legal board? You can access the legal board by logging into your new database account (with your email address, just like when you registered for a seminar this year). You can also use the old links on the legal board page (under the Legal Resources tab) that have been redirected to the new location.

Click the links below to watch videos about our website resources and new database.

TJCTC Website Resources

Using the new TJCTC Database

​

Happy Holidays!

Thea & the TJCTC Team

TJCTC footer

Posted on

TJCTC Updates October 27, 2023

 

Good Afternoon Judges, Constables, & Court Staff,

Since our last update, there have been a few new attorney general opinions, webinar announcements, legal board update, and other updated resources. In addition, we have compiled some family violence resources in honor of October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please take a few minutes to review this email fully.

Attorney General Opinions

Click the opinion numbers below to read the full opinions on the Texas Attorney General’s website.

KP-0447

Question:

Whether an elected constable may serve as a student resource officer, employed as an independent contractor, with a school district located in the constable’s precinct.

Summary:

Education Code section 37.081 authorizes a school district to retain the services of a school resource officer.  A court would likely conclude that a school resource officer may not be retained as an independent  contractor. Neither Texas Constitution article XVI, subsection 40(a) nor the common-law doctrine of incompatibility prohibit a constable from acting as a school resource officer under a memorandum of understanding to retain the constable that complies with Education Code section 37.081.

KP-0448

Question:

Whether the District Attorney’s Office located in a stand-alone building with no other courts or court offices is a building that houses the operations of a district, county, or justice court for purposes of an expenditure from the courthouse security fund

Summary:

Under Code of Criminal Procedure article 102.017(b), a county commissioners court may use monies from the courthouse security fund to purchase or repair bullet-proof glass related to buildings that house the operations of district, county, or justice courts. A court would likely conclude that a building does not house the operations of a district, county, or justice court if it is devoid of adjudicators.

 

Updated Resources

You may have already noticed, but the updated Deskbooks are being posted. Please be patient while we finish the last few updates and work diligently to update the forms, charts, checklists, and other resources.

*Updated* Family Violence and Other Criminal History Reporting for Justice Courts

This module now includes legislative updates and updated procedures for CJIS reporting. Remember, even if you have previously taken this course in a prior academic year, you may receive credit again for the FY24 year.

*Updated* Drivers License Revocation Hearings

This module now includes legislative updates. Remember, even if you have previously taken this course in a prior academic year, you may receive credit again for the FY24 year.

*New* Interpreters & Spanish Terminology Self-Paced Module

Earlier this month we posted a brand-new module that covers legal issues related to interpreters, including help for appointing interpreters, a Spanish/English legal glossary, and more! Judges and court staff can get 3 hours of credit for completing the module. Constables and their staff may also find this module to be a good resource when dealing with persons with limited English proficiency or language skills.

Both modules can be found on the TJCTC Self-Paced Module Page.

 

Webinars

Juvenile Criminal Diversions Webinar

This webinar on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm is full, however it will be posted as a recording for credit a few weeks after the live webinar. Look for an email announcement when it is available. Also, note we will also be releasing more juvenile criminal diversion resources including forms and a new deskbook chapter this fall as well.

Emergency Detention Webinar

Join attorneys from the Judicial Commission on Mental Health to learn about emergency detention processes, legislative updates, and common issues at our next webinar on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 2:00 pm. Mark your calendars and look for a registration email coming soon!

National Center for State Courts Webinars

NCSC consistently provides excellent virtual education for judges and court staff around the country. They have an upcoming webinar about Self-Help Centers that may be interesting to JPs, Constables, their staff. You can find that webinar, upcoming webinars, and past recordings on their website.

 

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Did you know that October is Domestic Awareness Month? This month we have been collecting resources for you to use and share with your communities. Check out TJCTC’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month Newsletter.

 

Legal Question Board and Registration Update

We know it has been a challenging few months with all of the updates to TJCTC’s database impacting your logins, registration pages, and the legal board. We ask you to please be patient with our staff as we navigate these updates together. This is a busy time as our staff implements these changes and prepares for the next academic year of programs for all of you.

If you have questions regarding your login, registering, or accessing the legal board, please call our main line (513) 347-9927 for April to direct you to the appropriate person or email Jeff Grajek at jg60@txstate.edu. Please continue to direct legal questions to the legal board or attorney on call by dialing (512) 347-9927 and pressing 1.

 

Thank you so much for your time and attention!  The TJCTC team is looking forward to another great year with all of our court staff, constables, and justices of the peace. Note, these new update emails will be saved to the TJCTC Blog, The Docket, so you can access them anytime.

All the Best,

Thea & the TJCTC Team