TCJE Press Releases

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

 

Justice Advocacy Group Releases Open Letter: “Texas Cannot Afford to Wait for Justice”

Justice Advocacy Group Releases Open Letter: “Texas Cannot Afford to Wait for Justice”

This week, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) released an open letter urging Texas leaders, legislators, and staff to prioritize justice reform during the state’s 2021 legislative session. With Texas facing an anticipated budget shortfall of $4.6 billion by the end of fiscal year 2021, TCJC emphasized the urgency of this moment as an opportunity for a top-down realignment in how our state’s money is spent, and the need for real public health and safety infrastructures. 

Read the rest of this press release here.

Two New Data Dashboards Increase Justice System Transparency, Accountability

Two New Data Dashboards Increase Justice System Transparency, Accountability

As the national movement around justice system transformation continues to swell, this month the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) released two new data dashboards that make justice system information accessible to the public. 

Read the rest of this press release here.

New Report Shows Why People Given Extreme Prison Sentences as Children Deserve a “Second Look”

New Report Shows Why People Given Extreme Prison Sentences as Children Deserve a “Second Look”

Today, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) released a new report focused on addressing rehabilitated youth who are serving extreme sentences in adult prisons with little hope of ever being released. “Second Look: For Justice, Safety & Savings” provides a comprehensive background on the history of extreme juvenile sentencing and the extent to which Texas is a harsh outlier.

Read the rest of this press release here.

New Report Provides Snapshot of COVID-19’s Impact on Harris County Justice System

New Report Provides Snapshot of COVID-19’s Impact on Harris County Justice System

 A new report from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) provides a snapshot of COVID-19’s impact on the Harris County justice system. The report analyzes population data beginning on March 19, 2020, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a statewide health emergency.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Statement Regarding Governor Abbott Suspending Jail Release for Texans

Statement Regarding Governor Abbott Suspending Jail Release for Texans

In response to an executive order issued by Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition released the following statement: “Contrary to the advice of public health experts, legal experts, and sheriffs across the country, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Sunday that suspends basic constitutional protections for people detained in county jail and puts thousands of people – many of whom have chronic illness – at grave risk of contracting COVID-19."

Read the rest of this article from Dallas Weekly.

TCJC Releases Urgent Statement Regarding Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order 
Suspending Jail Release for Thousands of Texans

TCJC Releases Urgent Statement Regarding Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order 
Suspending Jail Release for Thousands of Texans

Contrary to the advice of public health experts, legal experts, and sheriffs across the country, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Sunday that suspends basic constitutional protections for people detained in county jail and puts thousands of people – many of whom have chronic illness – at grave risk of contracting COVID-19.

Read the rest of this press release here.

COVID-19: Texas Advocates, Community Leaders, and Justice System Experts Send List of Urgent Mitigation Directives to Governor’s Office

COVID-19: Texas Advocates, Community Leaders, and Justice System Experts Send List of Urgent Mitigation Directives to Governor’s Office

Today, a group of advocates, community leaders, and justice system experts sent a list of urgent recommendations regarding COVID-19 and incarcerated populations to Governor Abbott. Urging state leadership to recognize the particularly dire threat that the global pandemic poses to people incarcerated in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities, the letter lays out recommendations for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, county jails (including sheriffs, courts, and district attorneys), law enforcement, and the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Read the rest of this press release here.

New Report Shares Lessons Learned and Policy Priorities for the Future of Women’s Justice in Texas

New Report Shares Lessons Learned and Policy Priorities for the Future of Women’s Justice in Texas

Yesterday, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) released a new report sharing the future policy priorities of the Texas Women’s Justice Coalition. The report, called “The Future of Dignity: Insights from the Texas Women’s Dignity Retreat,” is the result of a wide-ranging policy discussion led by many of the women who pushed for eight new women’s justice bills to become law during the 2019 Texas legislative session.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Report: Travis County drug possession arrests disproportionately harm Black residents

Report: Travis County drug possession arrests disproportionately harm Black residents

Today, researchers from four Texas-based organizations released their full review of 2,900 drug possession arrests in Travis County from June 2017 to May 2018. The data used to create their final report reveals troubling police practices that harm communities, exacerbate racial disparities in arrests and jail detention, and fail to address the underlying needs of people who use drugs.

Read the rest of this press release here.

ICYMI: Texas Criminal Justice Coalition Releases Comprehensive Report on Restorative Justice, School Discipline in Texas

ICYMI: Texas Criminal Justice Coalition Releases Comprehensive Report on Restorative Justice, School Discipline in Texas

Yesterday, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) released a landmark report on restorative justice and school discipline in Texas. “Reversing the Pipeline to Prison in Texas: How to Ensure Safe Schools AND Safe Students” was released in conjunction with a student-led conversation on school discipline in San Antonio.

Read the rest of this press release here.