Make the criminal justice system just for all Texans
The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world and is the only industrialized western country (besides Japan) that still imposes the death penalty. Mass incarceration is often fueled by a for-profit prison industry that lobbies for more crimes and longer sentences, even if the result makes our state less safe. Texas puts to death more Americans than any other state. If Texas were a country, we would tie (with Syria) for 8th in the world in number of executions.
Texas has the 4th highest incarceration rate in the country, and many prisoners are locked up for non-violent offenses like drug possession. Over-incarceration hurts all Texans, damaging children, families, and communities of those incarcerated for low-level, non-violent offenses. The lack of effective rehabilitation services makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the formerly incarcerated to start new, productive lives. Nothing about this system improves public safety.
The problems with Texas’ criminal justice system are numerous: over-incarceration; lack of medical parole for aging non-violent offenders; overly harsh drug penalties; ever harsher sentencing called “criminal enhancements”; private prisons profiteering off criminal convictions; the death penalty. Want to help put an end to these counterproductive, expensive, and inhumane practices? Keep reading to learn more about ending over-incarceration and the death penalty. The time is now for criminal law reform in Texas. See how you can get involved to ensure justice for all in Texas!
