2015-08-11T06:02:10-07:00 2014-12-31 Blazek & Vetterling 2900 Weslayan Suite 200 Houston TX 770275132 990 2014-01-01 760481649 Texas Defender Service TEXA 5123208300 510 S Congress Austin TX 78704 Kathryn M Kase Executive Director 2015-08-11 true Jody Blazek P00072674 7134395739 X 2014 2016-02-25 16:41:14Z Kathryn M Kase 510 South Congress Ste 304 Austin TX 78704 1683840 false false X www.texasdefender.org X 1995 TX TDS' mission is to promote a fair and just criminal justice system in Texas. TDS' goals are to reduce unfair use of the death penalty in Texas and to establish an indigent defense system that works. 10 10 26 25 0 3435346 945769 728406 725990 142 155 -755 -32710 4163139 1639204 0 0 1596979 1738345 0 119060 680869 946486 2277848 2684831 1885291 -1045627 3537872 2494438 56556 58749 3481316 2435689 X Texas Defender Services mission is to promote a fair and just criminal justice system in Texas. true true 815132 475842 The Trial Project provides pro bono legal services to indigent defendants during their initial case in which they have been charged with a capital crime through: (1) targeted case consulting with court appointed lawyers at the trial level designed to ensure the presentation and preservation of potentially meritorious defenses and claims in state court; and, (2) systematic data collection, which will provide TDS with even more detailed information about cases and clients from the inception of trial proceedings. TDS also provides trial level attorney trainings which identify developing issues in cases, and educate and equip lawyers to better handle these challenges. These defense team trainings and case consultation are services critical to improving the quality of representation in criminal cases in Texas. Essential tasks include maintaining and increasing TDS' database of forensic experts, serving as a liaison between trial level defense teams and experts, and providing targeted support to defense teams through case consultation and identification of recurring systemic issues in capital trials. 494695 197822 The Post-Conviction Project provides pro bono legal services to indigent defendants who have already been convicted of a capital crime through: (1) targeted case consulting with court appointed lawyers designed to ensure the preservation of potentially meritorious claims in state and federal court; and, (2) systematic data collection, which will provide TDS with even more detailed information about cases and clients from the inception of appellate proceedings. TDS also provides post-conviction attorney trainings which identify developing issues in cases, and educate and equip lawyers to better handle these challenges. These defense team trainings and case consultation are services critical to improving the quality of representation in criminal cases in Texas. Essential tasks include maintaining and increasing TDS database of forensic experts, serving as a liaison between appellate defense teams and experts, and providing targeted support to defense teams through case consultation and identification of recurring systemic issues in capital trials. 405005 The Capital Communications Project implements public education strategies to help increase success in capital litigation. The project develops and provides information to the public and interested stakeholders about the facts of these cases. 631701 52326 2346533 true true false true false false false false false false true false false false false false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 15 0 true 26 true false false false false false false true true false 0 false false false false false false false false false false X 10 10 false false true false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false X Kelly Josh 5123208300 510 S Congress Suite 304 Austin TX 78704 Jordan Steiker Chair 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Murray Fogler Treasurer 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Noah C Graubart Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Charles Kelley Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Allison Leland Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Neal Manne Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Raoul Schonemann Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Elizabeth Semel Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Gretchen S Sween Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Andrew Tauber Board Member 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Kathryn M Kase Executive Dir. 40.00 0.00 X 102457 0 7504 Kelly Josh Dir of Finance 40.00 0.00 X 73707 0 8555 176164 16059 1 false false false 0 157952 787817 945769 Legal service fees 541100 723790 723790 StandDown project fees 900099 2200 2200 725990 155 155 0 0 0 0 11926 157952 44636 -32710 -32710 0 0 0 1639204 725990 -32555 X 0 0 0 0 192223 54981 109752 27490 0 1300449 1201808 34423 64218 0 144879 132275 5184 7420 100794 84549 9385 6860 0 2381 2381 9850 9850 0 0 0 551118 550558 560 0 67390 55907 7715 3768 28942 22683 4588 1671 0 79126 63960 9614 5552 150872 146118 3482 1272 0 9986 9737 249 0 0 16202 16202 10053 6455 3598 Legal research 15444 15444 Other expenses 5122 2058 3064 0 2684831 2346533 219238 119060 1062838 1179128 208321 166099 1695000 550000 5512 1304 0 0 0 0 12714 718750 134282 565027 584468 0 0 0 0 1174 725 3537872 2494438 56556 58749 56556 58749 X 1839091 1437120 1642225 998569 3481316 2435689 3537872 2494438 -1045627 X false true X true false X 2457864 2575053 1771861 3434591 945769 11185138 0 0 2457864 2575053 1771861 3434591 945769 11185138 6579311 4605827 353 19 576 142 155 1245 0 0 11186383 2969811 0.41170 0.38210 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false 18689 18689 2666142 2684831 284242 71061 false 306113 264507 263444 284242 1118306 1677459 44058 13914 43970 18689 120631 76528 66127 65861 71061 279577 419366 176399 176399 389855 49980 339875 152496 84302 68194 584468 1683840 1683840 -44636 -44636 1639204 2729467 44636 44636 2684831 2684831 Part XII, Line 2d: Other expenses and losses per audited F/S Direct Donor benefits $44636 false LOJ Luncheon 169878 157952 11926 11926 32710 169878 157952 11926 11926 32710 44636 -32710 Form 990, Part III, Line 2: New Services The Lethal Injection Project was created in 2014 to research, monitor, and litigate issues concerning the use of lethal injection in Texas. Form 990, Part III, Line 3: Ceased Conducting or Significant Changes To Services The Prosecutorial Accountability Project became an independent entity in 2014 and therefore is no longer conducted by TDS. Additionally, the StandDown Texas Project ended during 2014. Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: The Prosecutorial Accountability Project (PAP) supports a climate of accountability for prosecutors. Through education and advocacy, PAP promotes better understanding and utilization of the appropriate regulatory authorities in cases where misconduct occurs. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: The StandDown Texas Project maintains a website that is constantly updated to allow interested parties to be aware of the most current issues in indigent defense and capital punishment issues and maintains several different listserves to communicate with general audiences and highly issue-specific groups, including mental health criminal justice groups. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: The Atlantic Center for Capital Representation (ACCR) is a regional death penalty representation project based in Philadelphia. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: The Capital Communications Project implements public education strategies to help increase success in capital litigation. The project develops and provides information to the public and interested stakeholders about the facts of these cases. Form 990, Part VI, Line 4: Description of Significant Changes to Organizational Documents The bylaws were amended to provide for terms for board members. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process The Director of Finance and Administration reviews the 990 after it has been prepared by outside accountants; the Executive Director then sends it to the board of directors for comment prior to filing with the IRS. The board of directors has no less than 30 days to review the 990 prior to filing and during that period is invited to submit questions and comments regarding the 990 to the Chairperson of the board. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts The officers and directors of TDS are required to report any conflicts of interest throughout the year. Any conflicts reported are discussed by the governing body which decides how to handle the conflict of interest. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management The salary of the Executive Director is determined by the board of directors. Data regarding the salaries of other similarly sized non-profits is used to compare compensation. Comparison data was last used in 2012, but the Executive Director's salary has not changed other than by cost of living adjustments, since 2011. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15b: Compensation Review and Approval Process for Officers and Key Employees The Executive Director sets the salaries of other employees in consultation with the board of directors. Salaries are set based on an existing internal salary scale which is compared to the salary scale of Federal Public Defenders in a similar position of responsibility and in the case of non-legal positions, to other similarly sized non-profits. Comparison data with other non-profits was last consulted in 2012. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available All governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements are available upon request.