Parole & Reentry

Texas teens embark on an idealistic quest to shut down the state’s last five youth prisons

Members of the Finish the 5 Coalition march to the Texas Capitol. Photo by Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune

Brimming with adrenaline, determination and wide-eyed optimism, a group of teenagers gathered outside the state Capitol last week, ready to take their first steps into the underbelly of Texas politics. Most had been under the iconic Pink Dome only for school field trips.

Texas’ First Family Reunification Cases Move Forward

Screengrab of press release PDF

Soon, two Texas families will be reunited with their children after regaining custody this fall. The reunification is possible thanks to HB 2926, a bipartisan bill signed into law following the 87th(R) Texas Legislative Session, which created a pathway for parents who have lost their parental rights to petition the court to reinstate them.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Youth-Led Coalition to Close Texas’ Youth Prisons Will Gather at State Capitol

Screengrab of first page of test release

On the opening day of the Texas Legislature’s 2023 session, a group of young people, formerly incarcerated organizers, advocates, and organizations will gather for a rally and advocacy day. The event is hosted by the Finish the 5 Coalition, which is advocating to close Texas’ inhumane youth prisons and instead invest in kids and communities. More information is available on the event registration page.

Give People Earlier Access to Rehabilitative Programming Behind Bars, and Focus Parole Reviews on Rehabilitative Progress

Policy Background

Approximately 124,000 people are in Texas prisons. As of late 2022, nearly 23,000 were listed as “in [the] parole review process.”1 Under Texas’ current parole guidelines, the Board of Pardons and Paroles is directed during the parole review process to contact the prosecuting attorney, review the person’s criminal record, and evaluate prison disciplinary records.

Formerly Incarcerated Leaders to Gather for Community-Building Event in Austin

Screengrab of press release PDF

On December 3, a group of formerly incarcerated and justice system-impacted Texans will convene in Austin. The event, “From Prison to Power: Finding Your Voice After Incarceration,” is organized by the Texas Center for Justice and Equity’s Statewide Leadership Council (SLC) and partners.

Second annual “Power to the People” discusses the intersection of race, incarceration

A group of people sit behind a table on a panel in front of a classroom of students

St. Edward’s University’s Black Student Alliance held its second annual “Power to the People” event, with this year’s focus on the intersection of race and incarceration. The main topic was “Justice for Us” and revolved around a panel of experts on the incarceration system.

Read the rest of this article from Hilltop Views.

East Texas nonprofit hopes small loans and job training will ease the hardships of leaving prison

Maurice Watts in San Augustine

Maurice Watts pulled up to a compact, red-brick building on a recent Thursday morning, dressed in black athletic clothes and a Houston Astros baseball cap. He had spent the previous 12 hours driving an 18-wheeler truck for Common Disposal, a saltwater transport company based in San Augustine, Watts’ hometown in rural East Texas.

Read the rest of this article from the Texas Tribune.

1A Remaking America: What's Being Done About The Rise In Jail Deaths?

Protesters hold signs including one reading "Rikers = death"

Millions of people enter jail in the U.S. every year. They've become a revolving door for those with mental health issues or substance-abuse disorders. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that inmates are entitled to life-saving medical care, but that isn't quite guaranteed.

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