HOW THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION BECAME THE TEXAS CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY
In 2021, we shared our new name, which we believe better exemplifies our mission and values. Here’s why we made the change, where we’re going from here, and how you can help!
20 years of transforming justice. In 2000, our organization was established as ProTex: Network for a Progressive Texas. Since then, we’ve worn different hats, first as the Texas Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, then later with the name you know: the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. (You can learn about this history and more in our 20th anniversary timeline.)
Read moreHOW THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE COALITION BECAME THE TEXAS CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY
In 2021, we shared our new name, which we believe better exemplifies our mission and values. Here’s why we made the change, where we’re going from here, and how you can help!
20 years of transforming justice. In 2000, our organization was established as ProTex: Network for a Progressive Texas. Since then, we’ve worn different hats, first as the Texas Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, then later with the name you know: the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. (You can learn about this history and more in our 20th anniversary timeline.)
Our organization has always worked to challenge mass incarceration and support system-impacted people through state policy reform. Over the last decade, we’ve expanded our focus to include county-based outreach, and we are strongly committed to centering the voices of system-impacted people. We know the solutions that create real public safety lie outside the criminal punishment system—and that the people closest to the problem know more about those solutions than anyone else.
The next 20 years. In 2021, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition became the Texas Center for Justice and Equity! Our name is a reflection of our priorities: justice that focuses on transformation, community wellbeing, and equity.
Moving forward, we are focusing more on people than on specific policies. We are committed to building up the community-based power of our system-impacted coalitions, collecting data on the scope and harms of the system, and connecting with people across the state to learn about their experiences. Ultimately, our name change is about you: your input, your stories, and our shared vision for a safe, healthy, just Texas.
20 seconds to get involved. Want to make change together? You can start NOW! Sign up for our e-alerts or invest in TCJE to make an immediate impact!
Want to learn more? Read our press release on the name change, check out an archive of our past policy work, or learn about the results of our most recent legislative session.
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