Take Action for Justice in Texas
Your Voice. Your Community. Your Texas.
The fight for justice doesn't happen in boardrooms or behind closed doors—it happens when everyday Texans like you decide that our communities deserve better. At the Texas Center for Justice & Equity (TCJE), we believe that transformative change comes from the collective power of individuals who refuse to accept an unjust status quo.
Whether you have five minutes or five hours, whether you can donate five dollars or volunteer for our campaigns, your action matters. Together, we're building a Texas where every person has the opportunity to thrive, where communities are truly safe, and where justice means justice for everyone.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
Texas locks up people at a rate that exceeds every democratic country on earth. With an incarceration rate of 751 per 100,000 residents, Texas locks up a higher percentage of its people than any independent democratic country on earth. This isn't just a statistic—it represents hundreds of thousands of Texans, predominantly Black and Brown people, whose lives and communities are devastated by mass incarceration.
The human cost is staggering, but so is the financial burden on taxpayers. Texas' spending on prisons and jails is the highest in the nation, and has grown about five times faster than the state's rate of spending growth on elementary and secondary education over the past three decades. Texas today spends nearly $2.5 billion dollars each year to operate the state's correctional system.
While Texas incarcerates women at a rate of 178 per 100,000 residents — higher than any democratic country on earth, the crisis particularly devastates communities of color. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) currently houses 1.4% of all male Texans including 0.7% of all white males and 1.2% and 4.6% of Latino and Black male Texans, respectively.
Meanwhile, people in Texas prisons are not paid for their work, perpetuating cycles of poverty and making successful reentry nearly impossible. At least 505,000 different people are booked into local jails in Texas each year, disrupting families and communities across our state.
The time for action is now. Every day we wait, more families are torn apart, more communities are destabilized, and more taxpayer dollars are diverted from education, healthcare, and infrastructure to fund a system that fails to make us safer.
Donate: Invest in Community-Driven Solutions
Transform Lives, Transform Texas
When you donate to TCJE, you're not just supporting an organization—you're investing in a movement that centers the voices and experiences of those most impacted by mass incarceration. Your contribution directly funds initiatives that disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, build powerful advocacy networks, and advance policies that create pathways to opportunity rather than incarceration.
Your donation creates tangible impact:
- $25 helps a youth advocate travel to Austin to lobby legislators
- $100 supports a young scholar's participation in our transformative CEP Initiative
- $250 funds community organizing that amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals
- $500 supports policy research that advances marijuana decriminalization efforts
Benefits for your family and community:
- Safer neighborhoods: Our community-centered approach addresses root causes of crime rather than simply warehousing people
- Better schools: By disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, we help ensure more young people graduate and contribute to their communities
- Economic justice: Our advocacy for policy reform redirects public spending toward education, job training, and community investment
- Stronger families: Every person we help avoid incarceration is a family kept together and a community made stronger
Your investment helps create the Texas we all deserve—one where safety comes through opportunity, not incarceration.
Donate Now →
Why civic engagement matters:
Democracy works best when the people most impacted by policies have a voice in creating them. When formerly incarcerated individuals, their families, and allied community members speak truth to power in Austin, lawmakers hear perspectives that are often missing from policy debates.
Your advocacy amplifies community power:
- Join lobby days in Austin to meet directly with your representatives
- Participate in town halls and public hearings to share your story
- Contact legislators about key votes on criminal justice reform
- Help organize community forums that educate neighbors about policy issues
Our "Finish the Five" campaign demonstrated that youth voices can reshape legislative debate, even when facing tough political opposition. While we didn't achieve every goal, we fundamentally changed how lawmakers think about youth incarceration—and that foundation makes future victories possible.
Every email sent, every call made, every story shared moves us closer to the policy changes our communities need. Your participation in the democratic process doesn't just influence individual legislators—it builds the collective power necessary for transformative change.
Join Our Advocacy Networks →
Volunteer: Power the Movement for Justice
Your Skills, Our Mission
TCJE's strength comes from volunteers who bring diverse skills, experiences, and passions to our shared work. Whether you're a student, a professional, a retiree, or someone directly impacted by the justice system, your unique contributions help build a movement powerful enough to transform systems.
How volunteering supports our mission:
- Community organizing: Help expand our advocacy networks by connecting with community members, maintaining databases, and supporting grassroots outreach
- Youth mentorship: Support our CEP Initiative by sharing your skills with young scholars or helping with program logistics
- Digital advocacy: Amplify our message through social media, help with website content, or assist with online organizing campaigns
- Event support: Help with community forums, fundraising events, or legislative advocacy days
- Translation and interpretation: Help ensure our work is accessible to Texas' diverse communities
Benefits of volunteering:
- Build meaningful connections with like-minded advocates and community members
- Develop new skills in organizing, advocacy, and community engagement
- Make a tangible difference in policies and programs that affect real people's lives
- Be part of a legacy of justice work that spans 25 years and counting
Every volunteer brings something unique to our collective work. Whether you have specialized professional skills or simply a commitment to justice, we can find ways for you to contribute meaningfully to creating change.
Get Started Volunteering →
Share Your Story: Center Lived Experience
Your Truth Has Power
At TCJE, we understand that those most impacted by the criminal justice system are the leading experts on what needs to change. If you are formerly incarcerated, currently justice-involved, or a family member of someone who has been impacted by the system, your story has the power to humanize policy debates, educate community members, and inspire lawmakers to act.
Why stories matter: Behind every statistic is a human being with a family, dreams, and contributions to make to their community. When you share your experience—whether about the challenges of reentry, the impact of incarceration on families, or the transformative power of second chances—you help people understand why criminal justice reform isn't just policy theory, but urgent human necessity.
Your story can:
- Educate policymakers who need to understand the real-world impact of their decisions
- Inspire community members to join the movement for justice
- Challenge stereotypes and change hearts and minds
- Provide hope to others facing similar challenges
- Inform TCJE's advocacy by ensuring our work reflects community needs and priorities
We prioritize storyteller safety and agency: You control how, when, and where you share your story. We provide media training, emotional support, and clear boundaries around what you're comfortable discussing. Your participation is voluntary, and you can change your mind about involvement at any time.
Your lived experience is valuable knowledge that can transform how Texas approaches justice. Whether you speak at legislative hearings, participate in community forums, or simply share your perspective with TCJE staff, your voice helps ensure our advocacy stays grounded in community wisdom.
Share Your Story →
Stay Connected: Join Our Newsletter
Get the Latest on Justice Reform in Texas
Stay informed about TCJE's work, upcoming advocacy opportunities, policy developments, and community victories. Our newsletter provides insider perspectives on Texas criminal justice issues, action alerts for urgent advocacy needs, and inspiring stories from the communities we serve.
What you'll receive:
- Updates on our program impact and policy wins during legislative session
- Action alerts for key legislative votes and advocacy opportunities
- Invitations to community events, forums, and educational workshops
- Stories of transformation from our programs and advocacy efforts
- Analysis of criminal justice trends and policy developments in Texas
