Effective justice
doesn't end
with judgement

There's More to It

You might think that when a gavel falls on a court case, that's all there is to it. But true justice requires more—more to ensure whatever brought someone to court doesn't happen again. We cannot just hand down dispositions—fines, community service, court costs—without connecting people to the resources that could help them avoid returning. This approach fails everyone: it doesn't serve justice, it doesn't help people get back on their feet, and it wastes the court's time with repeat appearances.

JP1's Unique Position

JP Precinct 1 has consistently maintained one of the lowest caseloads among El Paso County's Justice of the Peace courts—a pattern documented in more than a decade of Texas Office of Court Administration data (Texas OCA Justice Courts Activity Detail). Despite all JP precincts serving roughly equal populations—approximately 107,000-111,000 residents after the 2021 redistricting based on Census data (Redistricting Commission Report, 10/18/2021)—JP1's caseload remains substantially smaller than other precincts.

This pattern raises two important ideas:

First, the opportunity: JP1's manageable workload means we actually have time to implement innovative approaches.

Second, the concern: A low caseload doesn't mean disputes don't exist in our community—it may mean residents aren't accessing the court, aren't aware of their rights, or aren't being properly referred by institutions like school districts.

Connect People to Solutions

When someone comes before JP1 with a debt issue, rental dispute, or other problem, their case often signals an underlying challenge: unemployment or underemployment; mental health or social-emotional needs; lack of knowledge about landlord, tenant or consumer rights; or financial instability. JP cases can be seen as the canary in the social coal mine—what appears here is likely a sign what might follow without intervention.

I will explore partnerships with alternative dispute resolution options, employment services, mental health providers, and legal aid to connect people with support they need. This approach is inspired by programs like the El Paso County Promise (epcounty.com/promise), which demonstrates how connecting people to resources creates better outcomes for everyone.

This could mean:

• Offering mediation for disputes to avoid additional court costs

• Connecting people facing fines with workforce programs and offering meaningful community service options

• Recommending those who need mental health and substance abuse treatment the services El Paso can provide

• Ensuring people know about legal aid resources for civil matters

Address the Root Cause

It's just practical, and research confirms this. The U.S. National Institute of Justice reports that 'increasing the severity of punishment does little to deter crime' and that 'prisons may exacerbate recidivism.' A Texas study found drug courts reduced re-arrest rates by 34% compared to traditional prosecution. Programs addressing underlying problems consistently outperform punishment-only approaches (NIJ, 2016; Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council, 2003).

I will also prioritize community outreach to ensure JP1 residents know what the court does and how to access it. If our caseload is low because people don't know they have legal recourse, that's a failure we can fix. My goal is to use JP1's capacity wisely—to promote commonsense approaches to the disputes that come before the court, while also ensuring our own community is truly being served.

SEE HOW JP1 CAN ENSURE TRUST IN THE COURT →