Serving Victims' Cases for the 198th, 216th, County Court at Law and Kerr County Juvenile Court. 

Our office strives to ensure that victims are informed of court proceedings, their statutory rights, and are connected with the appropriate resources to help them get through this difficult and stressful time. We have experienced staff who provide resources and assist victims in navigating the judicial process.

In Texas, crime victims also have services available to them through the state. Our office can assist with this, as well as help you prepare a Victim Impact Statement, which also a right afforded to all victims of violent crimes.

Please call to make an appointment, as we are frequently in court in multiple counties.

Forms

Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program Application (Eng)

Solicitud del Programa de Texas para Compensacion a las Victimas del Crimen (Esp)

Relocation Instructions - English (PDF)

Relocation Expense Worksheet - English (PDF)

Relocation Letter of Intent - English (PDF)

Victim Impact Statement (Eng)

Declaracion de Impacto de la Victima

Links
VINELINK 

Texas Attorney General Crime Vic­tims’ Com­pen­sa­tion Program

TDCJ Inmate Search

Kids’ Advocacy Place (KAP) uses a multi-agency approach to the investigation, intervention, and coordination of services for children and families affected by emotional, physical and sexual abuse or neglect. They provide a safe place for children of reported abuse by supporting them through the investigative process, partnering with local professional agencies and educating the community on child abuse issues.

Services are provided for children, teens, and their non-offending caregivers. Children are referred through the agencies that are mandated to receive reports of child abuse: Child Protective Services, local law enforcement, and prosecution (County/District Attorney). KAP primarily serves children under the age of 18 who live in Kerr, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, or Kimble counties.

All services are free and 100% confidential.

In rural centers across the state, TLSC hosts legal clinics once a month. Our attorneys can advise on civil legal issues including housing, divorce, child custody, and visitation rights.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must rent a house in Texas.
• Household income must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. (Click here to see if you qualify.)

The Bluebonnet Children’s Advocacy Center is multi-disciplinary approach to working sexual abuse and physical abuse cases.

The Center provides a child-friendly, safe, neutral environment for children alleged to have been abused. The Center works to lessen the emotional trauma to children who are going through the civil and criminal systems.

The Bluebonnet CAC, located in Hondo, Texas, provides much needed services to abuse victims and their non-offending family members in the Medina, Uvalde, and Real County area. The BCAC also provides courtesy services to other counties including Frio, LaSalle, Dimmit, Zavala, and Val Verde Counties.

Law enforcement agencies from the three primary counties as well as the Medina County Criminal District Attorneys office, the 38th Judicial District Attorney and Child Protective Services have agreed to support and utilize the Bluebonnet CAC for child abuse
investigations.

Click here for more information.

CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, recruits, screens,trains and supervises volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children involved in the court system to help secure a permanent, safe home.

Tri-County CASA, Inc. has been in operation since 2001 and serves children in foster care settings in Uvalde, Real and Medina Counties.

Tri-County CASA relies heavily on the support of its volunteer pool who are highly trained individuals giving their time to make a difference in the life of a child.  A CASA volunteer completes a 30 hour training program before being sworn in by a judge and assigned to a case.

Cases involving CASA volunteers are usually cases where children have been removed from their parents care, placed in a relative’s home or foster placement, and the judge presiding sees a special need for the case to have the additional support of a CASA. CASA’s visit children, attend court hearings and other meetings involving the welfare of the children in the case, and report to a CASA staff supervisor as well as to the judge hearing the case. The CASA plays an important role in determining the child’s wellbeing while in foster care as well as makes recommendations as to whether it is in the best interest of the child to return home.

Click here for more information.

In rural centers across the state, TLSC hosts legal clinics once a month. Our attorneys can advise on civil legal issues including housing, divorce, child custody, and visitation rights.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must rent a house in Texas.
• Household income must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. (Click here to see if you qualify.)

Shelter:

We provide a 24-hour emergency shelter for all victims of domestic violence. At the shelter, clients are provided with a bed with clean sheets, 3 meals per day, and direct access to all of our general services.

For adults, we are able to provide emergency shelter along with general services such as case management, counseling, support groups, an array of legal services and assistance with housing.

For children, we are able to provide emergency shelter for children and their parent along with services such as case management, assistance with school related arrangements or concerns, counseling, therapeutic and educational groups and enrichment activities for the parent and child while at the shelter to strengthen family relationships.

Legal Advocacy:

We provide free legal services for all victims of domestic violence. Our legal advocates are available to residential, non-residential, and rural clients who reside within the seven counties we serve.

Support Groups:

We provide support groups and life skills classes for all of our clients. Support groups are facilitated by staff and offer a place for clients to discuss different issues and topics such as domestic violence education, boundaries, self-esteem, financial planning, etc.

Victim(s) of Domestic Violence.

Click here to know if you are being abused!

FREE

In addition to McLennan County, the Family Abuse Center serves Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, Navarro, and Ellis Counties. To better serve these 7 counties, the Family Abuse Center intentionally engages these communities through outreach and educational efforts.

Our advocates are frequently in the seven counties building community relationships, advertising the services FAC provides free of charge to domestic violence survivors, and educating groups about domestic violence and its impact on our local communities.

McLennan County, Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, Navarro, and Ellis Counties.

Free

In partnership with the National Tourette Association, Tourette Texas helps sponsor and train children and teens to talk about TS. These young people (ages 13-18) speak about TS before their peers at school, sports leagues, scout troops, camps, and after-school programs, helping to demystify TS and spread awareness.

Unbound advocates for victims and survivors by meeting immediate needs, supporting survivors and their families and connecting each survivor with resources for his or her unique restoration journey.

Unbound Waco Survivor Advocacy Services:

• Emergency crisis response
• Long-term case management
• Medical accompaniment
• Housing assistance
• Safety planning
• Advocacy

Unbound Waco serves the Heart of Texas Region with crisis response and case management services for victims and survivors of human trafficking.

24/7 Unbound Waco Crisis Response & Referral Line: 254-414-0814

Unbound is here to help. Whether you suspect someone you know if being trafficked, or you think you may be a victim of human trafficking yourself, please reach out. We can connect you with appropriate resources to take the next steps. Please do not provide information that could put you or someone else in danger.

Referral Form

Free

Prevention & Awareness Programs

• School assemblies
• Prevention groups
• Not In My City Outreach
• Juvenile Detention Outreach
• Church or youth group presentation
• Parent/caregiver presentation
• Community awareness

See training options here!

We believe awareness saves lives. Knowing that traffickers target the vulnerable in our community, we want to get on the front of human trafficking, equipping our community to prevent it from happening.

To do so, Unbound educates and empowers youth, spreads awareness through citywide outreaches and provides human trafficking presentations to groups and organizations within our community.

Free

Unbound advocates for youth victims and survivors by meeting immediate needs, supporting survivors and their families and connecting each survivor with resources for his or her unique restoration journey.

Unbound Waco Survivor Advocacy Services:

• Emergency crisis response
• Long-term case management
• Medical accompaniment
• Housing assistance
• Safety planning
• Advocacy

Unbound Waco serves the Heart of Texas Region with crisis response and case management services for youth victims and survivors of human trafficking.

24/7 Unbound Waco Crisis Response & Referral Line: 254-414-0814

Unbound is here to help. Whether you suspect someone you know if being trafficked, or you think you may be a victim of human trafficking yourself, please reach out. We can connect you with appropriate resources to take the next steps. Please do not provide information that could put you or someone else in danger.

Referral Form

Free

The Gap Program provides services to grandparents and other relatives who care for children in the absence of parents. Outreach staff support families by providing in-home assessments, case management services and support groups for caregivers.

Ways we can help

The Gap program offers the following services to support your family through our MCH Family Outreach offices:

Case Management
We assess the strengths and needs of your situation and a case manager meets with your family regularly to provide you with services geared toward strengthening your family.

Information and Referral
We help you access community resources and programs to assist you with everything from counseling and parent training to food assistance and childcare services.

Support Groups
Caregiver Empowerment Groups offer emotional support and advice on ways to deal with common problems many grandparents and caregivers face when raising children.

Assistance with Legal Issues
We help you find community programs and government agencies that provide legal assistance.

Workshops
We partner with other like-minded community organizations that offer workshops on topics important to you as a generational caregiver.

For families with one or more children between the ages of 0 to 17

Free

In rural centers across the state, TLSC hosts legal clinics once a month. Our attorneys can advise on civil legal issues including housing, divorce, child custody, and visitation rights.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must rent a house in Texas.
• Household income must be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. (Click here to see if you qualify.)

CASA volunteers are everyday people – teachers, business people, retirees, stay-at-home moms, and grandparents – who are committed to making a difference for children who might otherwise slip through the cracks in an overburdened foster care system. They are appointed by judges to guide one child or one set of siblings through the system and help ensure they receive the services and resources needed to thrive while in care. CASA volunteers research case records and speak to each person involved in a child’s life, including family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and social workers. They monitor the progress of the child and family throughout the case and advocate for the child’s current and future needs in court in school, and in agency meetings. Their independent evaluations allow the court to make better informed decisions.

For information on qualifications and on applying, click here.

FCCBB offers assistance to individuals and their families affected by Domestic Violence, Teen Dating Violence, Violent Crime, Sexual Assault, and Stalking.

Services include

• Emergency Shelter: FCCBB has confidential locations in Alpine and Presidio where survivors and their children may seek safety. 
• Sexual Violence: FCCBB provides services to victims of sexual violence both in person and by telephone. Advocates are also available to respond 24/7 in case of sexual assaults and can be reached at any time through the confidential and anonymous hotline.
• Client Advocacy: Advocates help clients by assessing needs, setting goals, and connecting clients to resources.
• Legal Advocacy: Legal Advocates are available to assist clients with navigating the legal system.
• Individual Counseling: Licensed professional counseling is available at no cost to clients.
• Outreach Services: FCCBB provides outreach services to surrounding communities including, Balmorhea, Marathon, Fort Davis, Marfa, Sanderson, Valentine, Candelaria, and Fort Stockton.
• Community Education: Presenters and group facilitators are available upon request to any organization, business, agency, or group who would like to learn more about the effects of domestic violence and sexual assault on our community. Presentation content and activities are all culturally and age appropriate. 

Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) provides free legal services to low-income people facing most forms of civil legal problems, including bankruptcies and foreclosures, divorces and custody arrangements, consumer fraud, wills and estates, accessing public benefits, and litigating for civil and environmental rights. 

Specializing in more than 45 civil legal practice areas, TRLA represents clients in cases ranging from landlord-tenant disputes handled through Justice of the Peace courts to complex litigation heard in state and federal courts. Click here for a list of these practices areas. 

Virtual court kiosks are computer stations that help community members connect with courts and find legal help. All kiosks are accessible in English and Spanish.

At a virtual court kiosk, you can

• Attend a virtual court hearing or meeting
• Learn about legal issues
• Learn about virtual court and file forms on line
• Get legal help

Free

FCCBB offers assistance to individuals and their families affected by Domestic Violence, Teen Dating Violence, Violent Crime, Sexual Assault, and Stalking.

Services include

• Emergency Shelter: FCCBB has confidential locations in Alpine and Presidio where survivors and their children may seek safety. 
• Sexual Violence: FCCBB provides services to victims of sexual violence both in person and by telephone. Advocates are also available to respond 24/7 in case of sexual assaults and can be reached at any time through the confidential and anonymous hotline.
• Client Advocacy: Advocates help clients by assessing needs, setting goals, and connecting clients to resources.
• Legal Advocacy: Legal Advocates are available to assist clients with navigating the legal system.
• Individual Counseling: Licensed professional counseling is available at no cost to clients.
• Outreach Services: FCCBB provides outreach services to surrounding communities including, Balmorhea, Marathon, Fort Davis, Marfa, Sanderson, Valentine, Candelaria, and Fort Stockton.
• Community Education: Presenters and group facilitators are available upon request to any organization, business, agency, or group who would like to learn more about the effects of domestic violence and sexual assault on our community. Presentation content and activities are all culturally and age appropriate.