Letter from the Executive Director
Dear TCJC Supporter,
I couldn’t be more excited to tell you about everything TCJC has been involved with this year to improve Texas’ criminal justice system. It’s not an exaggeration to say we are witnessing history here in Texas, and we’ve been privileged to be a part of it.
Whether you’re a probation or parole officer or director, the family member of a person in prison, an attorney, a state or local judge, a member of law enforcement, an alcohol or drug treatment provider, a formerly incarcerated person, a researcher or policy analyst, an advocate for victims or those incarcerated, a faith-based advocate, or a Republican or Democratic policy-maker and staff, you gave us your trust, your expertise, your knowledge gained from years of personal experience, and your valuable time – all for the purpose of creating strategies that will make our criminal justice system more responsible, just, safe, and cost-effective.
The 80th Texas Legislature has just ended, and because of you, lawmakers and the Governor approved major changes in the prison and community supervision systems that start to reverse decades of costly, irresponsible policies and spiraling prison growth.
Front-end policy reforms include a more accountable justice system for troubled youth, a more just defense system, and additional tools for those in the field to accomplish their arduous tasks, such as funding for drug and alcohol treatment programs and systems to return people to their communities in a responsible way (including increased funding for halfway houses, additional outpatient drug treatment programs, and flexibility for judges and supervision staff). Also, lawmakers recognized that, in order for the parole board to follow its own guidelines, it required the necessary tools to do so, such as transitional housing.
Perhaps the proudest moment for me this spring came when the Legislature formally honored TCJC for “working toward real solutions to the problems facing the Texas criminal justice system [by] ... partner[ing] with organizations and associations who share their core beliefs, and promot[ing] evidence-based criminal justice solutions that embody the principles of effective management, accountability, public safety, and human and civil rights.”
It made me so happy to see TCJC honored for its work, and I am forever grateful for the extraordinary work ethic and commitment of our TCJC team: Molly Totman, Dominic Gonzales, Rebecca Acuña, Ken Tran, Erick Fajardo, and Vanessa Torres! The Legislature also bestowed its thanks in the form of an official resolution honoring TCJC’s newest team member, Isela Gutiérrez, a juvenile justice expert now directing our Juvenile Justice Initiative. Congratulations, Isela!
The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition has finally come into its own, accepted by leaders and opinion makers in both political parties as a reliable and valued source of information and guidance on criminal justice topics. With your help, I believe we’re ready to take our work to new levels, ones that were unimaginable even a few years ago.
It is irrefutable that we’ve already made a difference together by focusing on a common mission, despite the different roles we play. But the work has just begun. We’re going to need your help to build on these successes and create even bigger changes in Texas in the next few years. Perhaps most importantly, we must continue to find solutions that will not just look good on paper but that will actually be implemented to improve people’s lives. This can only be accomplished by our continued collaboration with experts and advocates from a wide range of fields – from the first entry point into the criminal justice system (juvenile or adult) through re-entry back into the community.
We will be calling on you in the next few months to explore the impact of enacted laws that will be undergoing implementation, and to get your feedback as we identify further policies and strategies that must be studied during this interim period and that will be developed into future laws. I know that, with your help, this organization can make a big contribution toward making Texas a better place and perhaps a national model for collaborative and responsible policy making that benefits all people.