Texas

AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. (AFH) is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1982 as Texas’ first organization dedicated to HIV prevention education and services. AFH offers HIV prevention, direct services, and volunteer programs that serve individuals infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Benefits and Resource Counselors (BARC) link people living with HIV/AIDS to AFH programs as well as provide referrals to other community services in the greater Houston area. The Prison Initiative provides support and referrals for prisoners and recently released individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Houston area.

The Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center (DARCC) provides a comprehensive and compassionate response to individuals impacted by sexual violence through advocacy, education, and prevention.

Service area: Dallas County
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, emotional support, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, by email, and by mail; and hospital accompaniment and support during medical forensic exams at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as short and long-term individual counseling and support groups; accompaniment to the police station and courthouse for sexual assault cases; and ongoing support and case management.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional information: DARCC is unable to provide ongoing services to sex offenders, but will provide appropriate referrals when available. DARCC provides services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

The East Texas Crisis Center is dedicated to providing safety, shelter, and education for survivors of family violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. The East Texas Crisis Center is committed to restoring dignity and purpose in the lives of survivors and promoting public compassion and awareness in order to reduce violence in the community.

Service area: Henderson, Rains, Smith, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and family violence and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, resources, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, by email, and by mail; and hospital accompaniment during forensic exams after sexual assault, if contacted by the hospital.
Services for survivors after release include: All of above, as well as individual and group counseling; legal advocacy; emergency shelter for women and children; and educational programs.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: The East Texas Crisis Center provides services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

Family Support Services is a private, nonprofit, multi-service agency that provides assistance to children and adults who have been victims of family violence or sexual assault in the Texas Panhandle. Family Support Services offers a free 24-hour crisis hotline, crisis intervention and advocacy services, and counseling for survivors of sexual assault. A sliding fee scale according to income is offered.

Service area: Texas
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and family violence and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information, crisis intervention, resources, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline and mail.
Services for survivors after release include: All of above, counseling, and hospital accompaniment during forensic exam after sexual assault.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Crisis intervention services are all free. Counseling service fees are based on a sliding scale ($25-$145), but fees will be assessed on a case by case basis and survivors who are unable to pay will be considered for grants.
Additional Information: Family Support Services also provides services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

First Step is the only organization in the 12 county North Texas area that provides free comprehensive services to survivors of family violence and sexual assault. The Sexual Assault Counseling Program serves individuals from young children to elderly adults and their family members or supportive friends. The goals of this program are to provide emergency crisis intervention, counseling, and advocacy through the medical and legal systems for survivors of sexual assault. First Step’s services include: a crisis hotline, confidential counseling (individual and group), accompaniment through the legal system or hospitals, information and referrals, and advocacy for survivors of sexual assault.

Service area: Archer, Baylor, Childress, Clay, Cottie, Foard, Hardeman, Jack, Montague, Wichita, Wilbarger, and Young counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information and crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline; and hospital accompaniment during forensic exams after a sexual assault. First Step has limited ability to correspond via mail, but will try to provide basic information and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as counseling, legal advocacy, food and clothing, information, referrals, and help with government rent and utility assistance applications.
Services for loved ones include: Information and crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline, counseling, and legal advocacy.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: First Step has access to a language line for non-English speakers. First Step cannot house people with sex crimes convictions in the shelter, but can provide all other services to survivors of sexual abuse with sex crimes convictions, including legal advocacy and counseling services.

The Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center provides direct services to adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crimes. A 24-hour crisis hotline is operated by staff and trained volunteers and offers information and crisis intervention to all survivors. Individual, family, and group  counseling is available for victims and their families. Support
groups are available as well. All services are free and confidential.

Service area: Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, and Llano Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and family violence and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, resources, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, by email, and by mail; and hospital accompaniment during forensic exams after a sexual assault.
Services for survivors after release include: All of above, as well as individual and group counseling for survivors and their families and support groups.
Services for loved ones include: All of above
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center is unable to provide ongoing services to people convicted of a sex crime, but will provide appropriate referrals if available. Counseling is available in Spanish. Consejería disponible en español.

Hope Alliance provides direct services to adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crime. A 24-hour crisis hotline is operated by staff and trained volunteers and offers information and crisis intervention. Individual, family, and group counseling is available to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence as well as their families. Support groups are also available. All services are free and confidential.

Service area: Williamson County
Work with: Survivors of family and sexual violence and their loved ones.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information and crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual, family and group counseling; support groups; and legal advocacy.
Services for loved ones: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Hope Alliance also provides services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

Hope of South Texas (HOST) is a nonprofit agency dedicated to eliminating sexual violence within the south Texas community through comprehensive services. HOST is staffed by caring professionals and trained advocates who help survivors cope with a wide range of issues stemming from sexual abuse and sexual assault. HOST seeks to ensure each survivor is treated with dignity, sensitivity, and understanding.

Service area: Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Lavaca, and Victoria Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, and referrals via the 24-hour hotlines and by mail; and hospital accompaniment and crisis intervention during forensic exams after a sexual assault.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual counseling.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Hope of South Texas is unable to provide ongoing services to sex offenders or people convicted of violent crimes who are currently on probation or parole. HOST will provide appropriate referrals when available and offers services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

The Houston Area Women’s Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as providing prevention education to the community.

Service area: Houston
Work with: All survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including children and youth
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual and group counseling and support services.
Services for loved ones include: 24-hour hotline and education/support groups for non-offending family and friends of survivors.
Fees: Free
Additional information: Immediate assistance is available in English and Spanish. The hotline accommodates all other languages and the hearing impaired through a language line. Asistencia inmediata está disponible en español y para las personas con discapacidades auditorias.

Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center (MRCCAC) is committed to helping break the silence, restore hope, and heal the pain of survivors of sexual abuse and their families.

Service area: Andrews and Midlands Counties and surrounding areas
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information, crisis intervention, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, by email, and by mail; and hospital accompaniment during forensic exams after a sexual assault.
Services for survivors after release include: All of above, as well as ongoing therapy and crisis counseling.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: MRCCAC is unable to provide ongoing services to sex offenders, but will provide appropriate referrals, if available. Services are available in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

The Montgomery County Women’s Center serves the needs of survivors of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, and stalking.

Service area: Montgomery County and surrounding counties
Work with: All survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault or abuse, and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, by email, and by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams after a sexual assault; and advocacy through the criminal justice system. The Center also offers group counseling for survivors at the Montgomery County Women’s Jail on Thursdays. Interested inmates should write to Sgt. Weinzettle requesting to join the group. Only a limited number of participants are able to join the group at one time, but those inmates who are interested in joining the counseling group will be placed on a waiting list for future groups.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual and group counseling; shelter and transitional housing services; legal services, such as court accompaniment, assistance with protective orders, etc.; and educational scholarships and programs.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional information: The Montgomery County Women’s Center is unable to provide ongoing services to people convicted of violent crimes, but will provide appropriate referrals, when available. Offices are located in Conroe and The Woodlands Counties.

SAFE Alliance offers both group and individual counseling for women, children, and men who have experienced rape, sexual abuse (either recently or as a child), and/or domestic violence. 24- hour phone support allows those who need assistance to contact a live person at all times for information on services, crisis counseling, and referrals. SAFE Alliance also offers counseling services for concerned family and friends.

The Center specializes in services to the LGBT community and provides counseling and accompaniment for survivors who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking and hate crimes

Service area: Harris
Work with: LGBT adult and youth and their families
Services for survivors during incarceration include: We can only do counseling and it can only be in a 20 mile radius of our office unless the facility is going to pay for mileage and travel time.
Services for survivors after release include: counseling, case management
Services for loved ones include: crisis intervention
Fees: We take insurance, Medicare and Medicaid, sliding scale and have grant funding for those who are income eligible.
Additional Information: We will not work with sex offenders, we have limited Spanish availability.

The Purple Door is a non-profit organization that supports and empowers individuals affected by family violence and sexual assault through safe shelter and outreach while providing advocacy, education, and resources to create a safe, supportive community. The Shelter provides services to men and women and offers a 24-hour hotline and rape crisis response team to provide support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault. The Shelter also offers individual and group counseling as well as outreach in rural areas. All services are free and confidential.

Service area: South Texas region including: Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24- hour hotline and by mail; education services and in-person counseling, if approved and requested by a detention facility. Inmates can also write to the Women’s Shelter of South Texas directly to ask for in-person counseling, and at the request of the survivor, it will be forwarded to the appropriate staff person at the facility.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as shelter, educational and supportive counseling for individuals and groups, case management, youth services, legal advocacy, and outreach to rural areas.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: The Purple Door offers services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) is a private, non-profit agency that provides comprehensive services to sexual assault survivors and their families.

Service area: San Antonio, Bexar County and surrounding areas
Work with: All survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline; and hospital accompaniment during forensic exam after sexual assault. RCC is able to provide limited information by mail, including resources and information.
Services for survivors after release include: All of above, as well as counseling and support groups.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Additional Information: RCC is unable to provide ongoing services to sex offenders, but will provide appropriate referrals when available. Services are available in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español. Hearing impaired interpreters also available.
Fees: Services are free.

The Resource Center of Dallas is a nonprofit corporation established in 1983 by members of the board of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance. The Center operates the John Thomas Gay & Lesbian Community Center, AIDS Resource Center, and Nelson-Tebedo Health Resource Center (Clinic). Services of the Resource Center of Dallas include outreach, referrals, and crisis-counseling to sexual assault survivors as well as referrals to other resources in Dallas and throughout North Texas.

Voice of Hope Texas offers a range of free and confidential services to men and women who have experienced sexual assault. These services include a 24-hour rape crisis hotline and
counseling service, medical accompaniment for survivors following an assault, case follow-up, and community education. Voice of Hope Texas offers individual counseling and support and therapeutic groups to primary and secondary victims of sexual assault. All counseling services are free of charge and provided by a licensed counselor. Voice of Hope Texas serves 11
surrounding counties and offers referrals to other rape crisis centers throughout Texas.

Service area: Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dawson, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hockley, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum Counties
Work with: All survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention, information, and referrals via the 24-hour hotline, email and mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic after a sexual assault; and law enforcement and judicial accompaniment.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above, as well as individual counseling and therapeutic groups.
Services for loved ones include: All of the above.
Fees: Free
Additional information: Voice of Hope Texas is unable to provide ongoing services to sex offenders but will provide appropriate referrals when available. Voice of Hope Texas also
provides services in Spanish. Se ofrece servicios en español.

The Women’s Counseling and Referral Center provides short-term individual and group counseling for women, ages 18 and over, who are survivors of sexual assault and violent crimes. The center offers a sliding-scale for fees for services.

The Office of Ombudsman is a central point of contact for the public and legislators to express concerns or to make inquiries regarding offenders or issues of concern. Assistance provided may be: answers to questions regarding specific offenders, responses to inquiries regarding policy and procedures, and referrals to the appropriate department within the Agency for assistance. Although telephone inquiries are accepted, it is best to submit concerns in writing.

For expediency, attempts should be made to resolve issues and obtain information at the Unit level and through the offender grievance process; however, if that is not possible, or the inquiry does not concern issues at that level, contact the Office of the Ombudsman at the address above.

The Office of the Inspector General investigates allegations of excessive/unnecessary use of force and harassment and retaliation of inmates for use of the legal system. The investigators focus their efforts on a variety of allegations of serious employee misconduct and criminal violations occurring on TDCJ property or authorized interests, including drug and contraband interdiction.

The Offender Grievance Program was developed to promote awareness and positive intervention between staff and offenders, to identify and resolve issues at the lowest possible level, and to facilitate the flow of information between the Units and Agency leaders. All TDCJ offenders have access to the Offender Grievance Program to present written complaints related to their classification, personal property, disciplinary status, or other confinement issues within the agency’s control. Request a form from TDCJ or follow the links above to access the forms online.

The PREA Ombudsman coordinates the TDCJ’s efforts to eliminate sexual assault in TDCJ facilities and provides an independent office to receive and respond to allegations of sexual assault. Family and friends of inmates, and the general public, are encouraged to report allegations of sexual assault in TDCJ facilities to the PREA Ombudsman Office. All allegations of sexual assault are referred to the Office of Inspector General for criminal investigation.

When reporting allegations of sexual assault, please provide the following information, if possible: name of unit where the victim is assigned, date and time of incident, name and TDCJ number of victim, name and TDCJ number of perpetrator and witnesses, brief summary of the allegation and copies of any correspondence that could assist in the investigation.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) receives complaints involving inmates in county jails or private correctional facilities that house county inmates and/or out-of-state inmates. Inmates who have been sexually assaulted in any of the above types of facilities can contact the TCJS by phone, in writing by submitting a letter addressed to the Executive Director to the address above, or by completing the online complaint form to report the abuse and any concerns regarding the handling of investigations into such abuse. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facilities, city jails, juvenile facilities, and other privately operated facilities do not fall under the TCJS’ purview.

Complaints are handled by the TCJS complaint inspector and will be entered into the TCJS agency database and appropriately designated. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the complaint inspector will contact the facility either by telephone, email, fax or in person. Upon conclusion of the investigation, a written reply will be submitted to the original complainant with the results of the investigation. If more than 10 business days have elapsed since making a complaint, you may contact TCJS by phone to check on the status of your complaint.

The Independent Ombudsman is a state agency established for the purpose of investigating, evaluating, and securing the rights of the children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).

Before contacting the Independent Ombudsman, you should try to resolve complaints through the TJJD grievance process. After going through the grievance process, if the problem remains unsolved, contact the Independent Ombudsman for assistance. When you believe the health, safety, welfare, or rights of a youth in TJJD have been negatively affected, it is important to contact the Independent Ombudsman.

To report non-emergency allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of TJJC youth, contact the Office of the Independent Ombudsperson by mail, via the 24-hour hotline, or by email.

The hotline is free for youth in TJJC facilities using the phones in their dorms.

The Prison Justice League (PJL) works to improve conditions in Texas prisons through litigation, advocacy, and by empowering our members. PJL addresses the needs of prisoners in Texas, challenges institutions of punishment and holds them accountable for their actions, and serves as a voice for prisoners and communities most affected by the criminal justice system. PJL engages in litigation on behalf of our members who have been assaulted while in a Texas prison.

The State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service (LRIS) helps find lawyers for people in counties where there is no local lawyer referral service. Participating lawyers have indicated in which area(s) of law they can help clients, and in which counties. The Lawyer Referral Service provides clients with the name and phone number of an attorney. When you call the attorney, make sure to specify that you were referred to him or her by the State Bar LRIS service. The attorney will charge you no more than $20 for your initial 30 minute consultation. You must negotiate fees with the attorney for any legal services beyond the initial consultation. Any information provided will be held in the strictest confidence.

Willing to represent/consider cases from: Texas LRIS does not provide legal representation or advice and can only provide referrals to lawyers.
Legal assistance offered includes: Referrals only.
Fees: Referrals are free; attorney fees are decided between the client and attorney.
Additional Information: Spanish assistance is available. Asistencia disponible en español.

For over 20 years, the Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP) has represented the interests of low-income Texans in court. Through education, advocacy, and litigation, TCRP works to protect low-income Texans’ civil rights. Since 2005, TCRP has been the only organization in Texas with full-time legal staff dedicated to representing prisoners in impact litigation.

Willing to represent/consider cases from: Survivors of sexual abuse in Texas detention facilities
Legal assistance offered includes: Self-help materials and resources and representation in impact litigation in select cases. TCRP is a small, nonprofit organization with limited funds to assist prisoners. TCRP can only represent less than 1% of prisoners who reach out for assistance, but sexual assault cases are prioritized. For accepted clients, TCRP also offers counseling via phone and mail by social work students under the supervision of a licensed MSW.
Fees: Free 
Additional Information: TCRP does not handle the following types of cases: criminal defense, parole, family law (including child support, child custody, and divorce), immigration (except for immigrant survivors of domestic abuse, or “VAWA” cases), insurance issues, IRS and tax issues, or employment discrimination cases. TCRP also provides services in Spanish and American Sign Language. Se ofrece servicios en español.

In most cases, before TCRP can provide a prisoner with legal assistance, the prisoner must use the grievance process for the facility they are incarcerated in to comply with the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). Before contacting TCRP, make sure to submit grievances that comply with the prison or jail’s policies, and file any required appeals.

For inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Complete a Step 1 and Step 2 grievance, being careful to follow TDCJ’s grievance rules. Only address the issue you want assistance with, as each grievance can only address one issue. Make sure to file your grievance within 15 days of the event you are complaining about, or as soon as possible. Consult the TDCJ Offender Handbook for more information about how to file a grievance.

Family of TDCJ inmates can also contact TDCJ’s Ombudsman. Speaking with the Ombudsman does not exhaust administrative remedies under the PLRA. If you wish to take legal action, you must also make sure Step 1 and Step 2 grievances have properly been filed in most cases.

For inmates in county jails: Policies vary by county. Please consult your inmate handbook for information about how to file a grievance. All county jails are inspected annually by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. To report a problem to the Commission, you can contact them directly (see their listing below in the “Government Resources” section). Contacting the Commission does not exhaust administrative remedies under the PLRA. If you wish to take legal action, you must also make sure to follow the applicable policies in jail in most cases.

For inmates in the Texas Youth Commission, parents, guardians, and youth advocates: There are several options to file a grievance. For children in TYC custody, grievance forms are available from the grievance clerk on each dorm. Request a form, complete it, and place it in the secure drop box on the dorm. TYC has 15 days to respond to the grievance
Grievances can be submitted to TYC’s Incident Reporting Center. If TYC does not satisfactorily respond to the grievance within 15 business days, the grievance must be appealed. Ask the facility who grievance appeals should be addressed to. If the appeal does not resolve the problem within 15 business days, another appeal must be filed

You can also contact the Office of the Independent Ombudsman, an independent watchdog agency that supervises TYC. Speaking with the Ombudsman does not exhaust administrative remedies under the PLRA. If you wish to take legal action, you must also make sure the above described grievance procedures have been completed in most cases.