Our Work
What We Do
Jane’s Due Process is taking time to evaluate our operations in light of the recent decision in Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Dobbs, which has changed almost 50 years of settled law related to reproductive and constitutional rights. While continuing to be focused on reproductive health access to important care for Texans, we are also undertaking substantial consideration and effort to ensure the organization is in compliance with the law in a new landscape for abortion rights. We are committed to our mission and to accomplishing it through legal ends.
Jane’s Due Process helps young people in Texas navigate parental consent laws and confidentially access abortion and birth control. We provide free legal support, 1-on-1 case management, and stigma-free information on sexual and reproductive health.
Our work includes:
- Legal support and 1-on-1 case management for Texas teens obtaining judicial bypass.
- Text line for young people needing information on birth control and family planning services without parental involvement.
- Advocating for and centering the voices of young people in the fight for reproductive rights.
We are working towards a future where young people in Texas have full reproductive freedom and autonomy over their healthcare decisions.
Judicial Bypass
A judicial bypass is permission from a judge that allows a person under the age of 18 to consent to abortion care without parental involvement. Texas law recognizes that parental involvement may not be in the best interest of every pregnant minor, and provides a judicial bypass exception in certain cases including abuse, neglect, sexual assault, and other special circumstances. The entire process is confidential. Jane’s Due Process provides 1-on-1 case management for teens going through the judicial bypass process in Texas and connects them to a network of attorneys who provide free legal representation.
If you are in need of a judicial bypass, please call our 24/7 hotline at 1-866-999-5263. If you are an attorney interested in representing judicial bypass clients in court, please visit our attorney referral network page for more information. If you need help getting birth control without parental consent, please call or text our hotline at 1-866-999-5263.
Who Is “Jane”?
Minors who apply for a judicial bypass are referred to as “Jane Doe” by the court to protect confidentiality. “Our organization’s name is taken from this commitment to confidentiality. Here are some of the reasons a young person seeks a judicial bypass:
- fearing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse,
- parent or guardian would force them to continue the pregnancy,
- fears being kicked out of their home,
- they cannot locate a parent or guardian to provide consent – i.e. is an ‘orphan de facto,’
- parent or guardian is suffering from mental illness or addiction, is incarcerated, or is in crisis,
- parent or guardian lives outside of the state or country.
- minor is in custody of the state or federal government, including youth in foster care or immigration detention.
This non-exhaustive list of why teens seek a judicial bypass demonstrates that parental involvement laws harm the most vulnerable youth.
Our Impact
To get a better sense of our work, read our annual impact reports.
