The Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) has received a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF) to support its new initiative titled Protect Texas Report: Promoting Best Practices for Victim Safety. The project will strengthen the administration of justice in Texas by analyzing protective order practices across the state, offering research-based recommendations, and providing guidance and resources to improve access for victims of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and human trafficking, according to a press release.
“Protective orders are one of the most effective tools to prevent further harm to survivors, yet many Texans face barriers in obtaining them,” TAP Chief Legal Officer Bronwyn Blake said in a press release. “By identifying those gaps and highlighting successful practices, we can help ensure equal access to justice and safety across the state.”
With this funding, TAP plans to publish a statewide report that will detail how each of Texas’ 254 counties implements protective orders and will offer recommendations to strengthen practices and improve access. The project will also include a series of trainings and public town halls designed to educate prosecutors, victim advocates, legal professionals, and community members on how to improve safety outcomes for survivors.
For more information about the TAP, go to texasadvocacyproject.org. For more information about the TBF, go to txbf.org.