HOUSTON — The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas published today a new comprehensive “Civil Rights Resource Guide For Incarcerated Texans (2025)” to empower people who are incarcerated in Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) prisons and their loved ones to advocate for themselves from inside if their rights have been violated.
Texas incarcerates more people than any other state, and its prison system is notorious for overcrowding, deadly heat, lack of oversight, and barriers to obtaining outside legal help. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, most incarcerated Texans are Black, Latino, disabled, and/or poor — groups historically denied equal access to legal protection.
“People who are incarcerated have rights and deserve to be heard,” said Sarah Kersting-Mumm (she/her), legal investigator and legal assistant at the ACLU of Texas. “In a system designed to isolate people and keep them silent, this guide serves as a blueprint for how people in TDCJ facilities and their loved ones can advocate for themselves. It’s also a reminder that they’re not alone. No one should lose their dignity or rights when they are locked up. The ACLU of Texas remains committed to promoting a system of justice that treats all people with respect.”
The U.S. Constitution ensures that people who are incarcerated have the right to request medical, dental and mental health care, the right to be reasonably safe from abuse and unsafe conditions, the right to ask for disability accommodations, and the right to file grievances and lawsuits. Yet, “obtaining legal help is nearly impossible from the inside.”
The guide, while not legal advice, provides information on how to take action if their rights have been violated while incarcerated, including an explainer of the Prision Litigation Reform Act, how to file a lawsuit with common legal claims, and a list of organizations and officials to reach out to if they need legal help and support.
The resource guide was authored by the ACLU of Texas, with support from Legal Defense Fund Marshall-Motley Scholar Naraya Price and University of Texas at Austin’s Civil Rights Clinic. The guide has been endorsed by Grassroots Leadership, Pure Justice, Texas Center for Equality & Justice, Texas Civil Rights Project, Texas Defenders Service, and Texas Incarcerated Families Association.
The printable guide can be found on the ACLU of Texas website. The organizations are actively working on getting it added to the law libraries at all Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities.
Access the resource guide here: https://www.aclutx.org/publications/civil-rights-resource-guide-incarcerated-texans-2025