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CRIMINAL JUSTICE
- Appointment of Counsel: The Defender Services Program
n 1964, the CJA (Criminal Justice Act) was enacted to establish a comprehensive system for appointing and compensating lawyers to represent defendants financially unable to retain counsel in federal criminal proceedings. The CJA authorized reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and payment of expert and investigative services necessary for an adequate defense. Today, almost fifty years since the CJA was enacted, there are 81 authorized federal defender organizations. They employ more than 3,100 lawyers, investigators, paralegals, and support personnel and serve 91 of the 94 federal judicial districts. There are two types of federal defender organizations: federal public defender organizations and community defender organizations.
- Biographies of Current Justices of the Supreme Court
From the Supreme Court of the United States web site.
- Criminal Justice System as a Counterterrorism Tool
From the U.S. Department of Justice, this site includes Fact Sheets, Justice News, and Statements & Announcements
- List of Courts of the United States
Lists by Geographic Based Jurisdiction; Specific Subject-Matter Subdivision; Former United States Courts; Courts by States. The last include State Courts and Federal Courts Located in that state.
- NCJRS: National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Established in 1972, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) is a federally funded resource offering justice and drug-related information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide. Topics in this site include Corrections, Courts, Crime, Crime Prevention, Drugs, Justice System, Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement, and Victims.
- Supreme Court of Texas
The official web site. These Justices are elected for a six-year term, not appointed for life.
- Supreme Court of the United States
The official web site, which states, "For all of the changes in its history, the Supreme Court has retained so many traditions that it is in many respects the same institution that first met in 1790, prompting one legal historian to call it, "the first Court still sitting.""
- United States Courts
From the site: "How were the federal courts established? What kind of cases do they hear? What is the difference between state and federal courts? These might be some of the questions you're asking when you visit uscourts.gov, and the answers are a click away. Our Founding Fathers understood the need for an independent Judiciary, which was created under Article III of the United States Constitution. The Judicial Branch is one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government. The other two are the legislative and executive branches."
- USPC: U.S. Parole Commission
Includes FAQs, Victim Witness Program, News, and Resources. The mission of the U.S. Parole Commission is to promote Public Safety and strive for justice and fairness in the exercise of its authority to release, revoke and supervise offenders under its jurisdiction. Established in 1976.
- USSC: United States Sentencing Commission
News, Training, Research & Publications, with Interactive Sourcebook. This Commission was created by the Sentencing Reform Act provisions of the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984.
- Welcome to the Texas Judicial Branch
Links to Courts, Rules & Forms; Organizations; Publications & Training; Programs & Services; and Judicial Data.
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