Every year the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review between 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases they receive. Last October, Crossroads client and former Albuquerque resident Roxanne Torres traveled to Washington D.C. for the rare opportunity to have her case heard by our nation’s highest court.
Roxanne’s journey to the U.S. Supreme Court started over seven years ago. Homeless and living in her vehicle, Roxanne was sleeping in an Albuquerque apartment complex parking lot when she felt her car door handle being pulled. She turned to see a person in street clothes at her car window trying to get in. Thinking she was getting car jacked or mugged, she put her vehicle in drive and turned around to see two more people with guns on her.
“I didn’t know they were cops. They were in blue jeans, polo shirts, and sneakers—street clothing,” says Roxanne. “I put my hands up because I saw the bullet pop and as I turned to my side the guy by the door shot through the car door and that’s when it struck me. I didn’t even leave my parking space. I probably moved a foot and three of them were already shooting at me. I don’t know how I only got hit twice.”
Filled with fear and adrenaline, Roxanne took off after being shot in her arm and back. She wrecked her vehicle and found another one to drive to Grants, NM where she received medical attention. Roxanne was sent to county jail and a month later sentenced to three years in prison.
“It just takes one person to have faith in you, to believe in you and cheer you on. Crossroads gave me the support and family I never had growing up. Our journey in life is hard but don’t ever give up on yourself.”
Roxanne Torres
While preparing to be released from prison, Roxanne learned about Crossroads for Women’s therapeutic community in Los Lunas called The Pavilions. “I had no family out here. No one was going to take me in when I got out,” says Roxanne. She applied to The Pavilions and had an interview with Executive Director Cory Lee, who was the Program Coordinator at the time. “I remember meeting Cory and she was just the nicest person. I had a bad stutter still and she was real calm and cool. She really made me feel comfortable,” says Roxanne.
During her time at The Pavilions, Roxanne found the support system and resources she needed to treat her intense PTSD from being shot, work on her recovery, and begin healing from the many traumas in her life.
“As soon as I got there it was like coming home,” says Roxanne. “I had mentors. I had people who believed in me and wanted me to do something with my life. I had people who wanted to love me and help me grow.”
Roxanne also discovered the courage to file a lawsuit against the New Mexico State Police officers who had shot her. Three judges denied her case before a pro bono lawyer picked it up and pushed it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Roxanne’s case claims “that the officers applied excessive force, making the shooting an un-reasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment.” Last October the conservative U.S. Supreme Court agreed and ruled in favor to restrict police power.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the opinion that “The question in this case is whether a seizure occurs when an officer shoots someone who temporarily eludes capture after the shooting. The answer is yes: The application of physical force to the body of a person with intent to restrain is a seizure, even if the force does not succeed in subduing the person.”
“Now I’m a part of history. I changed a law. It’s not just for me it’s for everyone. We all get a win with this.”
Roxanne Torres
Because Roxanne had the courage and support to advocate for her rights, her case has redefined what constitutes a seizure under the fourth amendment. “Now I’m a part of history. I changed a law,” says Roxanne. “It’s not just for me it’s for everyone. We all get a win with this.”
Roxanne says the events of July 2014 have impacted her life for both good and bad. “I lost half the movement in my face and I can’t close my eye half the time,” says Roxanne. “I can’t drink out of a cup normally. I still have bad nightmares that I get every so often.” Managing her PTSD has improved over the years, but it is still something she faces every day. However, Roxanne also says the experience has opened her heart and given her a new sense of purpose.
“I was given a second chance at life, and it made me be really grateful for a lot of things. I want to help out people because life is so short and we don’t do that enough,” says Roxanne.
“It just takes one person to have faith in you, to believe in you and cheer you on. Crossroads gave me the support and family I never had growing up. Our journey in life is hard but don’t ever give up on yourself.”