Justice System and Carceral Reform

The ACLU of Texas works in partnership with communities to fight racism in the criminal legal system and to reduce the number of people in prisons and jails. We work in state and federal courts and advocate for change in local and state government.

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What you need to know

180,529

At the beginning of 2022, this many Texans were incarcerated in state prisons and local jails.

2.6

Black people are 2.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in Texas, despite roughly equal rates of usage.

2 in 3

More than two in three people in Texas jails have not been convicted of the charges against them. Most are locked up because they are unable to afford money bail.

Texas is the epicenter of the United States’ mass incarceration crisis. The U.S. imprisons more people than any nation on earth, and Texas locks up the most people of any state. On any given day, more than 180,000 people are incarcerated in state prison or jail.

More than two in three people in Texas jails have not been convicted of the charges against them. Most are locked up because they are unable to afford bail.

Systemic racism is evident at every stage of the system, from police surveillance and bail decisions to sentencing and reentry. This system harms children, families, and communities. It is especially harmful to Texans with disabilities and those without access to money or power.

We are committed to ending mass incarceration, stopping wealth-based detention, and promoting a system of justice that is fair and that treats all people with dignity and respect.

The Latest

News & Commentary
Close-up photo of the red and blue lights on top of a police car

Why Police Traffic Stops Are Dangerous and Ineffective

Millions of drivers are pulled over every year for minor violations like broken taillights or tinted windows. Data shows these stops rarely make roads safer, and instead lead to racial disparities, violence, and loss of trust in police.
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News & Commentary
civil right resource guide 2025

Advocating for Your Rights Behind Bars: How to Use Our Civil Rights Guide in Texas Prisons

Texas prisons are hard places to survive, and even harder to endure when your rights are being violated. Our "Civil Rights Resource Guide" helps ensure people aren’t left powerless — even behind bars.
News & Commentary
cash bail blog banner

Texas’ Money Bail System Is Unfair and Ineffective

Jailing Texans because they cannot afford bail violates norms of fairness and our constitutional right to due process.
Court Case
Apr 10, 2024

Johnson v. Travis County, Texas

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, the ACLU Criminal Law Reform Project, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP have filed a lawsuit, on behalf of people jailed without lawyers in Travis County, to affirm the constitutional right to counsel at first appearance.
Court Case
Jun 16, 2020

Manzo-Hernandez et al v. Juarez

A class-action challenge against the federal government over the illegal detention of material witnesses at the La Salle County Regional Detention Center in Encinal, Texas near Laredo.
Court Case
May 21, 2020

Daniels et al v. Brown

A class action lawsuit against Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown asking that the Dallas County Jail follow the social distancing guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court Case
Apr 08, 2020

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association et al v. Abbott

A lawsuit challenging Governor Abbott’s passage of an executive order, GA-13, which unlawfully attempts to remove discretion from judges about who can receive personal bonds.