OUR MISSION
The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) is committed to identifying and advancing real solutions to the problems facing Texas ’ juvenile and criminal justice systems. We provide policy research and analysis, form effective partnerships, and educate key stakeholders to promote effective management, accountability, and best practices that increase public safety and preserve human and civil rights.
ABOUT US
Click here to download our up-to-date organizational brochure!
Since the founding of TCJC, we have worked diligently to form effective partnerships, achieve varied and numerous policy goals, and further our mission. We credit the success of our organization to the purposeful integration of our shared values into all aspects of our work. We value equality, collaboration, perseverance, integrity, and respect. These values contribute to the formation of our overarching policy goals and shape our daily interactions with community members, advocates, practitioners, agency leaders, and policy-makers.
Currently, TCJC has the following projects:
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Juvenile Justice Initiative
Creating Avenues to Success for Troubled Youth and Their Families
This project advocates for juvenile justice policy solutions that maximize opportunities for troubled youth to become productive, law-abiding adults. We promote increased resources for community-based alternatives to incarceration, treatment for substance abuse and mental health problems, juvenile drug courts, restorative justice practices, and pathways for successful re-entry.
TCJC sponsors the Texas Families of Incarcerated Youth (TFIY), a network comprised of family members of youth who are or were incarcerated in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC). TFIY provides support and information to other families of system-involved youth, and it advocates as a unified voice for systemic change to improve Texas’ juvenile justice practices.
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Public Safety Project
Advocating for Fair, Effective Police Practices that Improve the Safety of Our Communities
TCJC promotes the adoption of model programs that use risk-reduction strategies to identify and address individuals’ criminal behavior. In order to effectively meet Texas’ long-term public safety needs, it is crucial to provide individuals with the opportunity to access federal and community-based social services and support systems so they can break the cycle and remain on the right path.
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Fair Defense Project
Ensuring a Just and Accountable Judicial System by Protecting the Right to Counsel
This project supports the efforts of the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense in upholding the constitutional requirements for indigent defense, and it works to promote systemic change to ensure that indigent defendants are informed of their right to request counsel and are granted timely appointment of counsel that serves their best interests.
A quality defense creates a balanced judicial system, increases fairness and integrity in sentencing, and is the last opportunity to prevent wrongful convictions. Through community advocacy and key partnerships, TCJC encourages counties to implement independent indigent defense systems that ensure voracity of the appointment process and provide defendants access to quality representation. We support county efforts that facilitate opportunities for the release of low-risk defendants in an effort to reduce costly jail overcrowding and collateral hardships to defendants and their families awaiting trial. Furthermore, we advocate for increased state resources, in parity with prosecutorial resources, so that defendants may have access to a fair trial.
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Solutions for Sentencing & Incarceration
Providing Proven and Cost-Effective Answers that Address Texas' Over-Reliance on Incarceration
This project advocates for criminal justice policy solutions that decrease costly jail and prison overcrowding, strengthen communities, increase public safety, and save taxpayers money. We promote alternatives to incarceration and other practices that strengthen accountability and efficiency within the criminal justice system.
Through educational outreach at the county and state levels, TCJC promotes efficient probation and parole strategies, increased resources for community-based diversion programs, treatment options for substance abuse and mental health problems, and policies that address poor conditions of confinement, as well as other strategies that reduce the number of individuals in confinement.
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Tools for Re-Entry
Advocating for Policies that Enable the Formerly Incarcerated to Live Responsibly
This project identifies and works to reduce barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals. Our goal is to connect people who have been incarcerated with available educational training opportunities, housing, job opportunities, voting information, and other information necessary to successfully re-enter Texas communities. TCJC also seeks to increase support and resources for employers, landlords, and service providers taking part in localized re-entry initiatives throughout Texas, and we monitor the implementation of policies that address these important community issues.
RESEARCH & RESOURCES
TCJC is committed to providing resources and conducting research on vital criminal justice issues that go beyond our project areas in order to continually refresh the knowledge base of practitioners and the public and fuel our educational efforts. Towards that end, we have established the following resources:
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Tools for
Texas Inmates and Their Families
Providing Resources and Information Relevant to the Needs of Texas’ Incarcerated Population and Their Families
TCJC provides fact sheets and other educational materials on policy changes in corrections and criminal procedure, as well as guidance on issues relating to criminal defense, claims of innocence, conditions of confinement, and various other topics.
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Tools for Practitioners
Featuring Effective Juvenile and Criminal Justice Programs and Practices
TCJC highlights evidence-based best practices that could be duplicated throughout the state, while also providing other resource materials for individuals working in our juvenile and adult criminal justice systems, such as substance abuse and mental health treatment providers, members of law enforcement, attorneys and judges, probation and parole practitioners, and others.
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Public Policy Center
Providing Nonpartisan Juvenile and Criminal Justice Policy Recommendations
TCJC provides specific suggestions for reform throughout each of our major project areas, as well as legislative actions and links to relevant bills, and our own comprehensive public education materials spanning all projects.
JOIN US
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
TCJC offers a dynamic and engaging internship program where students gain hands-on experience in areas related to criminal and juvenile justice policy in
ADVOCACY TRAINING
TCJC offers comprehensive workshops and on-site training to advocacy groups throughout