Tag: TCOLE

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TJCTC Updates 8.13.2025

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Legislative Updates and Other Training

As we come to the end of summer, there are some interesting online learning opportunities and of course legislative updates coming up very soon before we get back into the next year of regularly-scheduled training.

We have received several calls about legislative changes. We are hard at work going through the changes to explain them to you and update materials!

Several of the Legislative Update programs still have seats left:

Beaumont (Judges, Court Personnel, & Civil Process) on August 28

Virtual Civil Process on September 10

Lubbock (Judges & Court Personnel) on September 15

Virtual Judges & Court Personnel on September 17

Some other programs have short wait lists, and you may still get a spot, but it is not guaranteed.

Sign up at www.tjctc.org/legislative. 

Last Civil Process Conference of 2025

Virtual Civil Process Conference
August 19th – 22nd , 2025.
TCOLE #1415 and TCOLE #3131

Note: This will be the final TJCTC course for TCOLE Civil Process (for elected officials) #1415 for this training cycle.

Register through August 15 by logging in to your TJCTC profile at: https://enroll.tjctc.org/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=2544790

After August 15, please email Jay Takach at jay.takach@txstate.edu if you are interested in joining.

For the next few months, we will be highlighting legislative changes each time we send out Updates. 

Our first highlight is SB 2371, related to credit card skimmers on electronic terminals.

This bill created a new class c offense among other statutes related to credit card skimmers. It went into effect on May 27, 2025.

Sec. 607A.102.CRIMINAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person refuses to allow an inspection of an electronic terminal at the merchant ’s place of business in violation of Section 607A.053. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person negligently or recklessly disposes of a skimmer that was installed on an electronic terminal by another person. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) A person commits an offense if, knowing that an investigation is ongoing or that a criminal proceeding has been commenced and is pending, the person disposes of a skimmer installed on an electronic terminal by another person. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree

Upcoming Training Opportunity

TAC RMP Regional Pool Workshops

Various Dates from September 23, 2025 – October 02, 2025 (multi-day)

TAC Risk Management Pool Regional Workshops are scheduled around the state and are designed to be small, intense and topic-specific. These one-day sessions will cover the latest in risk control, human resources and law enforcement.

Who Should Attend?

Elected and appointed officials, decision-makers for the Pool, human resource directors and managers, workers’ compensation managers, and department managers or supervisors.

Registration Fees

The workshops are provided at no cost to county officials and staff.

Learn More and Register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/tac-rmp-regional-pool-workshop/overview

Online Training

TJCTC Webinar

Lunch and Learn Webinar (court personnel only):
From Lockouts to Light Switches: Understanding Writs of Re-Entry and Restoration in Texas

Tired of evictions? Bring your lunch and join us for a Lunch and Learn covering other common landlord/tenant cases like Writs of Retrieval, Re-Entry, Restoration, and Repair and Remedy. We’ll break down how to process and adjudicate these cases with practical tips and real-world insight.

This webinar is TOMORROW, Thursday, August 14th, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.

Use this link to register now: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F4H4R5sQTgmA8C3VuQWB-w

NCSC Webinar

AI evidence in jury trials: Authenticity, admissibility, and roles of the court and juries

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become more prevalent, state courts are likely to encounter AI-generated evidence, such as deepfakes, reconstructed videos, and synthetic documents. 

Join the TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium to explore the evidentiary challenges posed by both acknowledged and unacknowledged AI-generated evidence in jury trials. Panelists will examine existing legal frameworks for authentication and admissibility and provide practical guidance for judges and attorneys. Special attention will be paid to the unique responsibilities of courts and juries in evaluating the authenticity and reliability of AI-generated evidence, as well as the potential need for updated jury instructions and judicial guidance.

Learn More and Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZUPPIm9pQLiEo5aV-UR30w?utm_campaign=774425_AI%20evidence%20in%20jury%20trials%3A%20Authenticity%2C%20admissibility%2C%20and%20roles%20of%20the%20court%20and%20juries&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=v-0&dm_i=7L57,GLJT,4VW08I,2OO0Y,1#/registration

National Wellness Month

Did you know that August is National Wellness Month?

Take some time this month to reflect on your wellbeing as well as what you can do at the office and at home to promote wellness for your employees/coworkers and family.

Here is an article from WebMD that discusses all kinds of wellness strategies: https://www.webmdhealthservices.com/blog/august-is-national-wellness-month-lets-make-well-being-a-priority-all-year-long/ 

This is also a great time to do the 5 Day Challenge to Improve Your Mental Health if you haven’t already (or again if you want a refresher)! 

You can find it on the TJCTC Self-Paced Modules Page – https://www.tjctc.org/onlinelearning/selfpacedmodules.html

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TJCTC Updates 7.8.2025

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Returning After the Holiday

As we head into this first week after the July 4th holiday, our thoughts are will those in the Hill Country and across Texas who were affected by the storms and flooding. At the bottom of this email, we have compiled a list of organizations working on the ground that you may be able to utilize or share with members of your community. 

Today’s updates include a few legal announcements, including an emergency order affecting the Hill Country in addition to information about upcoming trainings. Note, we have announced an additional virtual Civil Process Conference for those needing to get their TCOLE requirements this cycle.

We have received several calls about legislative changes. We are hard at work going through the changes to explain them to you and update materials! If you missed it, our legislative update programs are open for registration. Sign up at www.tjctc.org/legislative.

Emergency Order

Today the Texas Supreme Court issued a First Emergency Order on the Hill Country Flood State of Disaster.

Key provisions of the order include:

– Court proceedings throughout Texas should be delayed or modified where reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.

– Pursuant to section 22.0035(b) of the Texas Government Code,3 any statute of
limitations applicable to a civil claim is suspended if the claimant shows that
this disaster prevented the timely filing of the claim.

– Pursuant to section 22.0035(b) of the Texas Government Code, all courts in
Texas should consider disaster-caused delays as good cause for modifying or
suspending any deadline or procedure—whether prescribed by statute, rule, or
order—in any case, civil or criminal.

– All attorneys and litigants are strongly encouraged to cooperate with opposing
counsel, opposing parties, and court personnel to reach agreement on
reasonable extensions of time and any other accommodations made necessary
by this disaster.

The order expires on August 6, 2025, unless extended by the Court.

Access the order at this link: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1460882/259035.pdf

SB 4 Update

n a ruling last week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the injunction in place against the execution of Senate Bill 4 from the 2023 legislative session (an immigration law that would allow local police to arrest people they suspect crossed the Texas-Mexico border illegally).

What does this mean?

This means that the laws created by Senate Bill 4 are currently not in effect. If/when there is another update, we will update you. 

Read the full order here: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-50149-CV1.pdf

Last Civil Process Conference of 2025

Virtual Civil Process Conference
August 19th – 22nd , 2025.
TCOLE #1415 and TCOLE #3131

Note: This will be the final TJCTC course for TCOLE Civil Process (for elected officials) #1415 for this training cycle.

Register by logging in to your TJCTC profile here: https://enroll.tjctc.org/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=2544790

Impaired Driving Symposium (judges only)

This 8-Hour program will include a range of topics on impaired driving and will include JPs, District Judges, County Judges, and Municipal Judges. Join us from July 30-31 to work with all levels of the judiciary to make Texas roads safer!

This program is sponsored by a generous grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. That means, it is FREE! There is no registration fee and the program comes with 1 free night at the hotel.

Register here: https://enroll.tjctc.org/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=1898021

Upcoming Training Opportunity

This upcoming conference from Texas Health and Human Services and other partners is a great opportunity for justices of the peace, constables, and other county employees who work in the criminal justice system. 

https://txbhjustice.org/the-summit-2025

TAC RMP Regional Pool Workshops

Various Dates from September 23, 2025 – October 02, 2025 (multi-day)

TAC Risk Management Pool Regional Workshops are scheduled around the state and are designed to be small, intense and topic-specific. These one-day sessions will cover the latest in risk control, human resources and law enforcement.

Who Should Attend?

Elected and appointed officials, decision-makers for the Pool, human resource directors and managers, workers’ compensation managers, and department managers or supervisors.

Registration Fees

The workshops are provided at no cost to county officials and staff.

Learn more and register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/tac-rmp-regional-pool-workshop/overview

Upcoming TJCTC Webinars

Justice for All: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Animal Cases in the Courtroom

July 18th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm

This webinar will address the role of the justice of the peace in animal cruelty cases, as well as other animal-related laws appearing before the court.

In doing so, it will touch upon dangerous dog cases, serious bodily injury cases, civil seizures, appellate process, and thinking outside the box when working with the parties for the greater good of the community. 

Register here: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bo5YIvbJQxucJmrU07lp3Q#/registration

Resources for Flood Victims

Red Cross – Information about help and reunification be found on their website – https://www.redcross.org/

2-1-1 Texas – https://www.211texas.org/

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) – https://tdem.texas.gov/

Legal Aid – to find the appropriate legal aid provider visit – https://www.tjctc.org/srl/srl-attorney-search.html

SAMHSA – mental health support – Call SAMHSA at (800) 985-5990 or text 988 to connect with a trained mental health professional.

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Educational Opportunities October 2024

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Judges, Constables, and Court Personnel,

We have several exciting education opportunities to share with you.

State Bar of Texas Justice Court Section Webinar

Obscure Issues in Justice Court

Friday, October 25, 2024, Noon CDT

Presenters: Rebecca Glisan, TJCTC Director of Curriculum, and Judge Sylvia Holmes

This session will offer 1 hour MCLE credit. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar.

This course will cover various tricky issues that may arise in justice courts. Topics will include peace bonds, discovery, alternative service, and more.

Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUud-2orjwqGNz0DIi-jcIE18oy569CDdKe#/registration

TJCTC Webinars

Coming Soon Inquest Webinar Series November 12-15. Mark your calendars, the full schedule will be coming out next week. Topics will include missing migrants, unidentified bodies, suicide deaths, organ and tissue donation, and more!

National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Webinars and Resources

Cybersecurity

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a great time to take a look at the training and resources that NCSC has available on the topic.

Link: https://www.ncsc.org/consulting-and-research/areas-of-expertise/technology/cybersecurity?utm_campaign=582857_%40the%20Center%20October%202%2C%202024&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=v-0&dm_i=7L57,CHQH,4VW08I,1VTZN,1

Other Upcoming Webinars (including topics like Artificial Intelligence, Civil Diversion Programs, Behavioral Health, and Developing a Leadership Culture)

Link: https://www.ncsc.org/consulting-and-research/webinars

2024-2025 In-Person Education Event Schedules Released

Did you notice that our website has been updated with all of the 2024-2025 Upcoming Conferences and Workshops? Take a look at “Education Events” under your tab (Judges, Court Personnel, Constables) to see where our programs will be held this year. Look for a brochure online and in your mailboxes soon!

Registration Dates:

Justice of the Peace Registration – Open now!!!

Note, several of the in-person conferences have filled, but we still have more than 225 spaces available for judges to get at least 10 hours of their education in person. Log on ASAP to secure your spot or get on a waitlist for one of the full programs.

Court Personnel Early Registration (ONLY for clerks who were not able to attend a conference this year) – October 22

Eligible clerks will be emailed a special link for early registration. 

Regular Court Personnel Registration – October 28

Civil Process Registration – November 5

Judicial Education Requirements

Did you have to rush to complete last minute requirements this year? Check out this page on our website to make sure you know exactly what you need for this academic year that began on September 1, 2024: https://www.tjctc.org/justices-of-the-peace/education-requirements.html

Constable Education Requirements

This is the last year of the 4-Year TCOLE Training Cycle (9/1/21-8/31/25). Make sure if you are an Elected Constable, you are able to log on to register if you haven’t yet completed your 1415 Civil Process requirement. We are working hard to ensure that all elected constables are able to get into our programs, but space in your preferred program might fill early! This year we will have programs in Galveston, Austin, El Paso, and virtually. You can view the dates on our website: https://www.tjctc.org/civil-process/education-events.html

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions. Laura Villarreal at lv13@txstate.edu is your point of contact for registration. 

If you have questions about your other TCOLE Requirements, you can likely find the answer on the TCOLE Website: https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/training-requirements.

Constable Corner – Free Online Training

Constables and deputies, are you looking for some free, online training? Lexipol produces some interesting webinars on hot topics that they provide for free on their website. One of the recent issues discussed was use of force. Take a look for yourself – https://www.lexipol.com/resources/webinars/.

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TJCTC Updates 9.25.2024

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Hello Everyone!

September and the Back-to-School Season has flown by! At TJCTC we have been busy working with the JPCA Education Committees and Faculty on our next academic year of training. Spoiler alert – we think it is going to be great. Make sure you read all the way to the bottom for updates on training registration and more.

*Important* National Survey for Death Investigation Information

All Justices of the Peace in counties without a medical examiner’s office should have received an email earlier this month from RTI International on behalf of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), directing them to the Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC) website to confirm their office information and indicate if they perform death investigation functions. This information will be used in early October to send the survey to the appropriate person within each office.  

The Census of Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices (CMEC) was created by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in 2004 as the first nationwide data collection effort designed to capture crucial information regarding the patchwork of Medical Examiner and Coroner offices across the United States. RTI International (RTI) conducted the CMEC on behalf of BJS, and subsequently completed a second iteration of the census in 2018.  The report from the 2018 CMEC can be found at https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/meco18.pdf.  

We are excited to share that data collection for the 2023 CMEC will begin in early October of this year. Topics covered will include budget, staffing and salaries, caseload, and other relevant measures and practices (e.g. is there a computerized case management system, how many scene investigations are done).  Also new this year will be the inclusion of Justices of the Peace in Texas who performing death investigations. 

If there are questions or if you did not receive an email, please email cmec@rti.org to get your log in information so you can confirm your role.

Legal Question of the Month

Is a Driver’s License required in order for a person to be placed on Deferred?

No, that is not a requirement for deferred disposition under CCP Art. 45.051. However, there is a driver’s license requirement for DSC dismissal under CCP 45.0511. For more information (including an exception to this requirement), please see p. 54 of TJCTC’s Criminal Deskbook: https://www.tjctc.org/tjctc-resources/deskbooks.html.

We have had several questions lately about offenses being eligible for DSC or Deferred. Chapter 5 of the Criminal Deskbook (at the above link) is all about DSC, Deferred, and other Dismissals. You can likely find your answer there. In addition, don’t forget about the TJCTC Charts & Checklists Page: https://www.tjctc.org/tjctc-resources/charts-and-checklists.html where we have flowcharts for both DSC and Deferred.

Online Education Opportunities

NCSC Webinars

Transitioning To a New Leadership Role

October 9th, 2024

Court Systems rely on effective leadership to operate effectively and efficiently, and leadership requires more than just seniority or title.
Embracing a new leadership position can be a transformative experience that can lead to personal growth and professional development. It also sends a signal that the organization is committed to promoting growth within. Transitioning into a new leadership role allows individuals to showcase their skills and make a positive impact on their teams and organizations.
In this session, we will explore techniques for successfully positioning yourself for leadership opportunities. Panelists will share their personal insights on their own experiences with transitions into leadership roles while discussing the challenges they encountered, and lessons learned along the way.

Register Here: https://www.ncsc.org/conferences-and-events/events-calendar/2024/webinars/october/webinar-transitioning-to-a-new-leadership-role

Navigating AI in Court Systems – Ethics, Legal Frameworks, and Practical Tools

October 16th, 2024

The integration of AI in court systems promises enhanced efficiency and decision-making capabilities. However, it also raises significant ethical and legal challenges that courts must address to maintain public trust and uphold the principles of justice.
This session, an extension of the first ethics webinar, Ethics of Generative AI: A Guide for Judges and Legal Professionals, will assist participants in developing an AI ethics infrastructure to ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly and ethically. A proactive approach that includes guiding principles, standards, and protocols helps courts prevent misuse, bias, and potential harm, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the judicial process and preserving public trust and confidence in our legal system.

Register Here: https://www.ncsc.org/conferences-and-events/events-calendar/2024/webinars/october/webinar-navigating-ai-in-court-systems-ethics,-legal-frameworks,-and-practical-tools

2024-2025 Education Event Schedules Released

Did you notice that our website has been updated with all of the 2024-2025 Upcoming Conferences and Workshops? Take a look at “Education Events” under your tab (Judges, Court Personnel, Constables) to see where our programs will be held this year. Look for a brochure online and in your mailboxes soon!

Registration Dates:

Justice of the Peace Registration – October 8

Court Personnel Early Registration (ONLY for clerks who were not able to attend a conference this year) – October 22

Regular Court Personnel Registration – October 28

Civil Process Registration – November 5

Judicial Education Requirements

Did you have to rush to complete last minute requirements this year? Check out this page on our website to make sure you know exactly what you need for this academic year that began on September 1, 2024: https://www.tjctc.org/justices-of-the-peace/education-requirements.html

Constable’s Corner: Constable Education Requirements

This is the last year of the 4-Year TCOLE Training Cycle (9/1/21-8/31/25). Make sure if you are an Elected Constable, you are able to log on to register if you haven’t yet completed your 1415 Civil Process requirement. We are working hard to ensure that all elected constables are able to get into our programs, but space in your preferred program might fill early! This year we will have programs in Galveston, Austin, El Paso, and virtually. You can view the dates on our website: https://www.tjctc.org/civil-process/education-events.html

Please feel free to reach out to us if you have questions. Laura Villarreal at lv13@txstate.edu is your point of contact for registration. 

If you have questions about your other TCOLE Requirements, you can likely find the answer on the TCOLE Website: https://www.tcole.texas.gov/content/training-requirements.

Looking forward to seeing you at a conference or workshop soon!

– Thea & the TJCTC Team

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