Question:    Whom do you represent?
Prosecutor:    The State of Texas.
Question:    Who is that?
Prosecutor:    Hmmm … Let me get back to you on that.

In the legal world, our brothers and sisters practicing in the civil arena can point to a warm body and say: “That’s my client. That is the person I have an obligation to represent. It’s my job to pursue his or her interest with zeal.” Once a civil practitioner identifies his client’s best interest, his duty is clear.

By now, you probably have heard the great news that Senate Bill 844 by Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and Rep. Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown) passed the Texas Legislature and was signed into law by the governor May 5. The funding is included in the state budget for the 2008-2009 biennium, so this supplement will be available to all assistant prosecutors, including assistant county attorneys, beginning September 1, 2007.

By now, you probably have heard the great news that Senate Bill 844 by Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) and Rep. Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown) passed the Texas Legislature and was signed into law by the governor May 5. The funding is included in the state budget for the 2008-2009 biennium, so this supplement will be available to all assistant prosecutors, including assistant county attorneys, beginning September 1, 2007.

It started in December 2006 with a Public Information Act request to the Texas Youth Commission seeking data about reports of abuse and neglect at TYC. TYC’s response: “Between 2000 and 2006, law enforcement was notified 6,652 times of reported abuse or neglect and 6,634 times chose not to participate.”