Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/texas/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 09:58:07+00:00

Document:
Texas provides counsel to indigent youth through a county-based system that includes contract attorneys, assigned panel attorneys, and public defender offices. The Texas Indigent Defense Commission was established by statute and provides funding to counties that meet the Commission’s standards for indigent defense, which are ratified by the Texas Judicial Counsel. In addition, the Commission monitors adherence to these standards and provides “financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain” their indigent defense systems.
Some counties, such as Travis County and Dallas County, have a separate juvenile unit at the trial level. However, each county has a juvenile board that develops a plan specifying the qualifications for juvenile defenders and establishes procedures for appointing counsel. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.102. Attorneys who meet the county plan requirements can only represent youth “accused of engaging in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision” if the attorney completes at least “six hours of continuing legal education pertaining to juvenile law during each 12-month reporting period…. or is currently certified in juvenile law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.” 1 Tex. Admin. Code Ann. Part 8, Chapter 174, Subchapter A, Rule § 174.2.
Texas youth have a right to a trial by jury, which he or she may waive. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 54.03(c).
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. Texas does not have specific juvenile court rules at the statewide level, but court rules for other proceedings (such as the Rules of Appellate Procedure) may apply in juvenile court proceedings. In addition, local court rules may apply depending on the district.
Beyond the right to counsel in juvenile court guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution and In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (1967), states often have state constitutional or statutory provisions further expanding upon or delineating that right.
Probation revocation hearings, pursuant to Franks v. State, 498 S.W.2d 516 (Ct. Civ. App. Tx. 1973).
If a child is not represented at a detention hearing and the child is detained following that hearing, “the child shall immediately be entitled to representation by an attorney” and the court shall either appoint counsel or order the child’s parent to hire an attorney. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(c). Counsel must be appointed at least ten days in advance of an adjudication or transfer hearing. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(h). Regardless of indigence, a court may appoint counsel “in any case in which it deems representation necessary to protect the interests of the child.” Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(g).
Texas has no presumption of indigence in juvenile court proceedings. If a child appears in court without counsel, the court will determine whether “the parent or other person responsible for support of the child is financially able to employ an attorney to represent the child,” and if the parent is not able to afford counsel, the court will appoint counsel unless that right has been appropriately waived. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(e), (f). If the parent or other responsible adult can afford an attorney for the child, the court will order that person to hire an attorney. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(d). If the parent does not hire a lawyer for the child, the court will appoint counsel for the child and order the parent to pay some or all of the costs of counsel and related legal fees. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10(e), (k), (l).
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.09.
(5) Hearings required by Chapter 55 (proceedings concerning children with mental illness).
Tex. Fam. Code Ann.§ 51.10(b).
When and how the court may decide to detain a child or otherwise place restrictions on the child’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules. In Texas, a detention hearing must occur no later than the second working day after the child is taken into custody. Tex. Fam. Code §54.01. However, when the juvenile is detained on a Friday or Saturday, the hearing must be held on the first working day following the child’s detention. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 54.01. Other provisions regarding the detention of juveniles can be found in Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 51.12, 52.01, 53.02, 54.011, and 54.012.
The legal needs of youth in the delinquency system rarely end at disposition, and states vary in the way they provide a right to representation on these post-disposition issues. Texas statutes list four post-disposition proceedings at which youth have a right to counsel.
Appellate proceedings. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.10.
Juvenile court can retain jurisdiction over a youth who committed a delinquent act prior to his or her 17th birthday, regardless of age, in order to decide any issue remanded to the court from an appellate court. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.041.
Discretionary waiver: for youth age 14 and older that meet the offense criteria. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 54.02.
Once an Adult, Always an Adult: when a child has previously been convicted in adult court they will be prosecuted in adult court for any future felony offenses, given that other criteria are also met. Tex Fam. Code Ann. § 54.02(m)(1)-(2).
The Texas Assessment was completed in 2000.

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