As Seen On TV?
We’re all familiar with the “dun dun” sound that signals the start of an episode of Law & Order. In a matter of fact tone, the narrator tells us that "In the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime; and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders." For many Americans who have never had a firsthand encounter with our criminal justice system, this hour-long fictional series has warped their understanding of the oppressive system that has been allowed to take root in our country.
If Law & Order: Harris County were to start production, trimming a case into an hour-long network time slot would be a tall order. As of this writing, there are 8,425 inmates in the Harris County Jail, and the average length of stay is 162 days. For reference, an individual who was booked in at the start of the NFL regular season on September 4th, 2025, would still be locked up during the Super Bowl on February 8th, 2026. An important distinction to note is that jail is where people wait, and prison is where convicted people serve time.
Since Restoring Justice was founded, we have heard countless stories of overworked court-appointed attorneys who miss court dates, don’t contact their clients, or give out questionable legal advice because they are so beaten down by the system that they’re just phoning it in. The result is human beings sitting in jail, waiting. Just waiting. Family, spouses, children, employers, friends… all waiting for a sliver of news about the accused’s trial.
“I am seeking this assistance because my brother has been sitting in custody for months while we have proof that he did not commit theft. His lawyer never speaks to him, and constantly resets his case.” is what one family member wrote to us seeking guidance. This begs the question, is the two minute commercial break in a Law & Order episode equivalent to two months in the Harris County jail system?
Those with privilege who watch these police procedural tv shows are given the illusion that advocates for the accused are always at the ready, that bond is relatively easy to obtain, or the audacious notion that everyone will have pretrial legal representation present when they appear before a judge for an initial bond hearing. “Why should I have to do anything if there’s already a system in place?” they might ask. Or, “If the police had enough evidence to arrest them, they must be guilty!” Those without privilege already know the realities of the process all too well.
As RJ prepares to ramp legal representation services back up in 2026 we encourage you to take some time and reflect on your own view of the justice system in America. Are all cases wrapped up within a reasonable amount of time as seen on TV? Should someone’s freedom be tied to the quality of lawyer they can afford? Do I have $5k for bond and another $20k+ laying around for an attorney’s fee if I were to be accused of a crime?
Restoring Justice envisions a criminal justice system that respects and upholds everyone’s constitutional rights. If you are interested in learning more about how we engage with individuals and families that are navigating this lengthy and arduous process, we invite you to continue exploring our website, sign up for our email list, or follow us on social media. You can also make a direct impact to the community by donating to our work that will help us provide these critical services for those who are stuck waiting.