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.
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.
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