Karly Jo Dixon

The Project

It is illegal under the United States and Texas Constitutions to incarcerate indigent individuals for unpaid criminal justice debt. Individuals in Texas charged with Class C misdemeanors are not currently being appointed an attorney, and over half a million Texans self-report that they have spent time in jail to pay off criminal justice debt. Almost 3 million Texans cannot drive legally due to criminal justice debt.

Those who plead guilty or default on Class C tickets that they cannot afford and face jail, warrants, and suspended driver licenses include many of the most marginalized members of our society: teenagers, single parents, the homeless, and those with disabilities.

Fellowship Highlights

In the past two years, Karly Jo has:

• Provided advice to and represented hundreds of individuals facing incarceration, warrants, and suspended driver licenses for Class C criminal justice debt
• Trained pro bono attorneys in best practices for Class C cases and referred individuals to these attorneys for representation
• Held community education and assisted pro se clinics
• Distributed know your rights and self-advocacy educational materials to community groups and individuals
• Developed and distributed a pro bono manual and tool-kit
• Deployed teams of court observers to determine how courts are applying recent legislation changes

What’s Next

Now that the Fellowship is complete, Karly Jo plans to:

• Continue her work at the Texas Fair Defense Project
• Expand community-based Class C clinics
• Represent individuals facing warrants and jail for criminal justice debt
• Continue to train pro bono attorneys
• Hold Judges accountable for unlawful practices related to fines and fees