Protex A Network For Progressive Texas

THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION ADVANCES SOLUTIONS AND BUILDS COALITIONS TO END MASS INCARCERATION AND FOSTER SAFER TEXAS COMMUNITIES.

ADULT JUSTICE: WHILE TEXAS PRISON AND JAIL POPULATION NUMBERS HAVE COME DOWN FROM THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS IN THE MID TO LATE 1990S IN 2020 NEARLY 510000 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED 86000 FOR DRUG VIOLATIONS ALONE. TEXAS HIGH ARREST NUMBERS STEM FROM THE STATES RELIANCE ON A CRIMINAL JUSTICE (VS. PUBLIC HEALTH) RESPONSE TO SOLVE A VAST ARRAY OF SOCIETAL PROBLEMS. TEXAS HAS MORE THAN 2800 FELONIES ON THE BOOKS COMPARED TO 600 FELONIES IN LOUISIANA AND ARIZONA OTHER HIGH INCARCERATION SOUTHERN RED STATES; FOR EXAMPLE POSSESSION OF DRUGS IN QUANTITIES LESS THAN A GRAM IS A STATE JAIL FELONY, AS ARE MANY PROPERTY CRIMES. TODAY NEARLY 40% OF PEOPLE SERVING TIME IN TEXAS PRISON SYSTEM (AND 75% OF PEOPLE ENTERING) ARE THERE FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENSES COSTING TAXPAYERS MORE THAN $2.4 MILLION PER DAY. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO REVERSE THE PIPELINE THAT IS PUSHING PEOPLE INTO THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM WHICH MEANS FEWER PEOPLE ENTERING PRISONS AND JAILS, AS WELL AS FEWER PEOPLE ENTERING THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OVERALL. 2. TO SHRINK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CORRECTIONAL CONTROL (IN PRISON OR JAIL ON PROBATION OR PAROLE) OR WHO ARE IMPACTED BY PRIOR SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT INCLUDING BY GIVING PEOPLE THE TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERCOME THE HARSH LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES OF A CONVICTION. 3. TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND WELLBEING OF PEOPLE BEHIND BARS SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THEIR HUMANE TREATMENT (ESPECIALLY DURING WEATHER OR HEALTH RELATED CRISES). 4. TO INVEST IN APPROACHES OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM THAT SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY WELLNESS INCLUDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT CAN HELP PEOPLE ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS LIKE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS OR PAST TRAUMA.

COUNTY LEVEL ADVOCACY: TCJE ADVOCATES FOR CHANGE IN HOUSTON DALLAS AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO TEXAS LARGEST LOCAL DRIVERS OF PEOPLE INTO STATE INCARCERATION. THIS WORK BRIDGES ORGANIZING AND STATEWIDE POLICY CHANGE: EFFECTING NEEDED CHANGE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AND CREATING A LOCAL GROUNDSWELL OF SUPPORT FOR STATE LEVEL CHANGE. WE KNOW THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE AND KEY PLAYERS; WE LEAD AND SUPPORT COALITIONS; AND WE EDUCATE LEADERSHIP AND LOCAL PRACTITIONERS. THIS WORK TOOK FORMAL SHAPE IN 2011 WHEN TCJE EXPANDED OUR STAFF TO HARRIS COUNTY (HOUSTON). IN 2016 WE BEGAN ENGAGING IN WORK ON THE GROUND IN TRAVIS COUNTY (AUSTIN) WHERE OUR STATE LEVEL WORK TAKES US TO THE CAPITOL. IN 2018 WE EXPANDED TO DALLAS COUNTY AND BEXAR (SAN ANTONIO) COUNTY. COLLECTIVELY THIS WORK SERVES AS A LOCAL MICROCOSM OF TCJES STATEWIDE REFORM EFFORTS. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO REDUCE THE FLOW OF PEOPLE INTO LOCAL JAILS AND INTO THE STATE PRISON SYSTEM INCLUDING BY IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING POLICING PROSECUTORIAL AND JUDICIAL PRACTICES THAT SEND PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM. 2. TO HELP KIDS FEEL SAFE AND HEARD IN SCHOOLS INCLUDING BY ADVOCATING FOR AND BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS THAT IMPROVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IN SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY BASED RESOURCES FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES. 3. TO PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN LOCAL RESOURCES THAT PREVENT KIDS AND ADULTS FROM ENTERING THE SYSTEM AND TO SUPPORT THEM AFTER LEAVING CONFINEMENT. 4. TO ENSURE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS INCLUDING BY PROVIDING CRITICAL DATA INFORMATION SHARING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SUPPORT OF EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY AND INFORMED DECISION MAKING.