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Civil Rights Corps

Sue Police for Violence, Abuse, and Illegal Action in Houston, TX

Empower police abuse survivors and join a nationwide movement to hold police accountable.

Posted January 9, 2021

Background & Context

Every day, Houston Police Department officers stop people for “Driving While Black,” assault civilians with brutal and unjustifiable force, fabricate police reports, and commit other unlawful abuses. Most of their lawless activity never makes its way into the headlines--much less a courtroom. Victims are often too poor--or too afraid--to hire an attorney to challenge it. Without consequences, police departments let abuse run rampant. This project tackles that lack of consequences and accountability head-on.

Work & Deliverables

This project seeks attorneys who can contribute any level of commitment--from helping a litigation team with a discrete element of a lawsuit to taking on full representation of a client. Contributions can include any of the following:



(1) Interviewing victims of police abuse;

(2) Representing victims of police abuse in court;

(3) Providing litigation support for attorneys representing victims of police abuse (e.g. researching legal memos, drafting briefs, assisting with discovery review and analysis, etc.);

(4) Developing and preparing training materials for attorneys representing victims of police abuse.

Project Plan

Preparation Phase

  • Intro call with attorney coordinator.
  • Complete Police Abuse Litigation Training Program

Collaboration Phase

  • Pair with a victim of police abuse--or a litigation team representing one--in need of an attorney.
  • Connect, collaborate, and build relationships with civil rights lawyers across the country.
  • Help litigate lawsuits to curb rampant police abuse in Houston.

Wrap Up

  • Obtain favorable outcome for the client.
  • Complete final check-in with volunteer coordinator.

This project is complete!

This project has been completed thanks to the efforts of our volunteers.

Visit the Project Directory to check out other projects that still need your help!

Additional Information

  • Time Commitment: 21+ hours
  • Training Provided: Yes
  • Additional Training Details: Complete training program crafted by national experts in civil rights litigation. Connect with a larger movement of lawyers fighting police abuse who will share resources, expertise, and camaraderie.
  • Site-Preference: Remote
  • Open to Law Students: No
  • Additional Location Details: Direct representation limited to Texas-barred attorneys able to practice in Harris County courts. However, there are critical ancillary tasks that attorneys can contribute from anywhere.
  • Bar License(s) required: Texas
  • Required Languages: None
  • Required Legal Expertise: Appellate Litigation, Civil Rights, Criminal Law, Litigation
  • Mentoring Provided: Yes
  • Supervision Provided: Yes
Civil Rights Corps

Civil Rights Corps is a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging systemic injustice in the American legal system. We work with individuals accused and convicted of crimes, their families and communities, people currently or formerly incarcerated, activists, organizers, judges, and government officials to challenge mass human caging and to create a legal system that promotes equality and human freedom. Civil Rights Corps engages in advocacy and public education and specializes in innovative, systemic civil rights litigation with the goal of resensitizing the legal system and our culture to the injustice and brutality that characterize the contemporary American criminal system.

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