CAFA Townhall

CAFA Townhall

Grassroots Leadership, the Foundation for the Austin Sanctuary Network, VOCAL Texas, the Austin Area Urban League, Advocates for Social Justice Reform and others, in collaboration with concerned Central Texas residents, are calling for immediate action from Travis County officials regarding the implementation of Counsel At First Appearance (CAFA) for all detainees in the Travis County J*il. The lack of legal representation at magistration, the first court appearance after arrest, is a critical issue affecting thousands of individuals in Travis County each year. ACLU Texas recently reported that most individuals magistrated in Travis County are not provided with legal counsel, and two-thirds are required to pay cash bail. Furthermore, significant communication and technical issues during magistration have been documented, alongside the absence of protections for detainees who may face intersecting barriers such as immigration or housing status.

Host or Publisher Austin Area Urban League