Since 2000, TCJE has advocated to end mass incarceration, shift funding toward community supports, and reduce deep racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Our work is guided by the needs of those most impacted by the system: people of color, people in poverty, and people with substance use disorder, mental health issues, and trauma.
The Texas Center for Justice and Equity (TCJE) advances solutions and builds coalitions to end mass incarceration and foster safer Texas communities. As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee in 2025, we're focusing on practical, results-driven strategies that address the root causes of inequity in our justice system while empowering communities most impacted by mass incarceration.
We implement innovative programming that equips young scholars, particularly Black and Brown students, to excel academically and become civic leaders. Our Change Your Perception (CYP) Initiative provided transformative experiences that build cultural competence and leadership skills while advocating for restorative discipline policies that keep youth in school and out of the criminal justice system.
We're working to reduce racial inequities in policing, prosecution, and incarceration by advocating for the decriminalization of recreational marijuana in Texas. This bold initiative aims to curb over-policing in communities of color, redirect law enforcement resources toward violent crime, and generate revenue for career-connected learning opportunities for all Texans, including those exiting the justice system.
We're building robust networks of youth advocates, families of incarcerated people, and formerly incarcerated individuals to amplify the voices of those most impacted by the criminal justice system. By expanding these networks and enhancing our digital outreach, we're creating powerful grassroots movements capable of influencing local and state policy decisions.
Our approach is guided by the needs of those most impacted by the system: people of color, people in poverty, and people with substance use disorder, mental health issues, and trauma. We don't simply identify problems—we co-create solutions with the communities we serve.
Learn more about our strategic priorities and how you can get involved.
Since our founding in 2000, the Texas Center for Justice and Equity has been steadfast in our mission to end mass incarceration, shift funding toward community supports, and reduce deep racial inequities in the criminal justice system. As we celebrate our Silver Jubilee in 2025, we honor our journey while charting an ambitious path forward.
Our Silver Jubilee marks not just a celebration of past achievements, but a strategic pivot toward greater impact. In recent months, we've critically examined our approach, recommitting to practical action and measurable outcomes that truly serve all people impacted by incarceration across Texas, especially Black and Brown people,
The next 25 years of TCJE will be defined by our unwavering focus on efficacy, accountability, and community-driven change. We will honor our legacy by learning from the past while boldly reimagining a justice system that truly sees and serves all Texans.
Learn about our next chapter and how we are transforming Texas for all.
At TCJE, we recognize that meaningful justice reform requires more than identifying problems—it demands co-creating practical solutions with the communities most impacted by mass incarceration. Our approach is guided by a deep commitment to racial equity, community empowerment, and measurable outcomes.
Nothing about us without us. We intentionally center the experiences, expertise, and leadership of Black and Brown people experiencing poverty, substance use disorders and mental health challenges. These communities aren't just beneficiaries of our work—they're essential architects of the solutions we advance.
We're committed to taking practical, strategic action that generates meaningful results. By setting SMART goals—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound—we ensure our work creates tangible improvements in people's lives and Texas communities.
We understand that sustainable change comes through collective action. That's why we strategically build and nurture advocacy networks that amplify community voices, influence policymakers, and drive systemic reform at local and state levels.
Our approach integrates policy advocacy with direct programming. From our youth-centered CEP Initiative to our statewide policy efforts, we create pathways that connect grassroots experiences to systems-level change.
The Change Your Perception (CYP) Initiative, delivered in partnership with the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy (BOMLA), a public charter school in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, provides transformative international experiences for students often left out or left behind- Black, Indigenous, and other scholars of color, - while building their capacity for civic engagement and advocacy. This program demonstrates our commitment to nurturing local talent and creating platforms for emerging community leaders to drive transformative change.
We measure our success not just by policies changed or programs implemented, but by how effectively we shift power to the communities we serve and create pathways to career-connected opportunities that disrupt the cycle of mass incarceration.
