ACLU of Texas releases updated civil rights guide for convicts

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Civil rights nonprofit ACLU of Texas released an updated version of its "Civil Rights Resource Guide for Incarcerated Texans" on Tuesday, which one of its creators said was "a long overdue update."

Sarah Kersting-Mumm, an ACLU Texas legal investigator, was part of the group that put the guide together. The guide was built from another guide, which she said was more than 10 years old.

"It's a long overdue update and a complete reworking of the guide, so something new, but also something old," she said. "Even while incarcerated, we are all protected by the US Constitution and federal laws.

Kersting-Mumm noted the new guide includes major changes in layout and content.

"The guide provides information on how to take an action if your rights have been violated while incarcerated in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility. It explains how to file a lawsuit with common legal claims, and includes a list of organizations and officials you can reach out to if you need legal help or support," she said.

It's a lengthy resource at about 70 pages, including appendices containing blank grievance forms and sample letters for accommodations. Those blank documents can help a convict request support and advocate for their rights while incarcerated.

"Incarcerated individuals have the right to request medical, dental or mental health care. They also have the right to practice their religion be reasonably safe from abuse or unsafe conditions, ask for disability accommodations and file grievances or lawsuits if their rights have been violated," Kersting-Mumm said. "And the new civil rights resource guide for incarcerated Texans walks them through each step of this process to protect these rights."

The guide can be read and downloaded here. The ACLU also plans to make it available at TDCJ facilities' law libraries, Kersting-Mumm explained.

"Incarceration can happen to any of us, and protecting rights for incarcerated individuals is important," she said. "Even if you're not currently incarcerated, or even if you don't know anyone who is, it's good to know that this guide is out there in case anything ever happens to you or someone you love."

According to a Tuesday press release, Legal Defense Fund Marshall-Motley Scholar Naraya Price and The University of Texas at Austin’s Civil Rights Clinic contributed to the guide. It has received endorsements from civil rights groups, including Grassroots Leadership, Pure Justice, Texas Center for Equality & Justice, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Defenders Service and Texas Incarcerated Families Association.