TCJE in the News


Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at mkaigh@TexasCJE.orgor (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.


 

Harm-reduction not stricter border security will help with Texas drug issue, advocates say

Drug use and addiction is growing in Texas and getting younger, but current pushes by state leaders to attack the issue by reducing supply will have little effect on the problem, advocates say. Currently, methamphetamine use continues to be the biggest drug threat in Texas, but the prevalence of fentanyl is quickly growing, said Eduardo Chávez, who leads the Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas Field Division.

Read the rest of this article from CNHI News.

Drug Policy Report Highlights Failure of War on Drugs in Texas, Promise of Harm Reduction and Public Health-Based Strategies

Today, the Texas Center for Justice and Equity (TCJE) released a new report, “Reversing the War on Drugs in Texas: Prioritizing REAL Public Health and Safety for Texans.” The report, released during National Public Health Week, details the failures of the state’s existing drug policy and outlines solutions that decriminalize drug use and prioritize health and dignity for drug users. 

Read the rest of this press release here.

The Cruel Practice of Banning Books Behind Bars

In Florida, the list of 20,000-plus banned books includes Nutrition For Dummies and PCs For Dummies. In New Hampshire, the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy makes the list. Texas, which bans nearly 9,000 books, once counted a collection of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets among them. In New York, one prison attempted to ban a book of maps of the moon because it could “present risks of escape.”

Read the rest of this article from Vera Institute of Justice.

How Philanthropy Can Support the Leadership of Black & Other Women of Color

As we end Women’s History Month, its important to remember that we have an opportunity on a daily basis to honor the many generations of trailblazing women who have helped shape our lives today. For philanthropy, every day is a good day to examine its own support of these leaders and institutions, especially women-led organizations on the frontlines of change.

Read the rest of this article from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Books, E-Readers, and the Cost of Reading in Prison

During the Cost of Reading in Prisons: Book Censorship and E-Reader Tablets In Carceral Institutions, a panel of advocates for prison inmates outlined the struggle to provide incarcerated people with access to reading materials—as well as the benefits and mounting challenges facing the introduction of digital reading devices into prisons.

Read the rest of this article from Publishers Weekly.

TribCast: Two death penalty cases draw attention in Texas

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Andrew and Jolie about Texans’ role in the confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson and two important death penalty cases.

Listen to the full TribCast episode here.

Formerly Incarcerated Leaders to Gather for Community-Building Event in Dallas

On April 2, a group of formerly incarcerated and justice system-impacted Texans will convene in Dallas. The event, “From Prison to Power: Finding Your Voice After Incarceration,” is organized by the Texas Center for Justice and Equity’s Statewide Leadership Council (SLC) and partners

Read the rest of this press release here.

Misdemeanor Cases Steadily Declining Following Bail Reform in Harris County

In the two years since Harris County reached a landmark settlement on misdemeanor bail reform, a picture of the impacts of those reforms is becoming abundantly clear. Recidivism rates have been flat. Racial disparities have narrowed. And, as two years’ worth of data show, numbers of misdemeanor cases in Harris County are steadily declining.

Read the rest of this article from Arnold Ventures.

Pilot team for mental health 911 calls to deploy next month

The City of San Antonio will soon launch a pilot program that will send specially-trained police officers, paramedics and licensed clinicians to certain 911 calls that involve mental health. The multidisciplinary team, now called SA Core, for Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort, is aimed at reducing arrests by instead connecting people to the mental health services they need during a crisis. 

Read the rest of this article from San Antonio Report.

Access & Opportunity Podcast: Reducing Recidivism

On this episode, we’re talking about America’s high rate of recidivism – with nearly 80% of those incarcerated returning to prison after five years – and what can be done to reduce this figure.

Read the rest of this transcript or listen to the episode from the Access & Opportunity podcast.