We advocate for a justice system that treats kids as kids.

We advocate for a justice system that treats kids as kids.

Mission

Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system.

 

Vision

We envision a justice system that uses developmentally-appropriate responses to behavior and treats youth and emerging adults with equity and dignity to promote resilience, conserve costs, and increase public safety.

Strategy

Recent research in adolescent development, brain science, and social science has provided evidence for treating youth and emerging adults uniquely within the criminal and juvenile legal system. By using evidence-based responses to behavior, we will better serve youth and emerging adults than the failing, punitive criminal and juvenile legal systems, especially when coupled with due process, fairness, and equity.

Transforming Lives | Transforming Justice 

The Problem

In Texas and across the United States, youth and emerging adults ages 17 to 24, especially those of color, are at a disproportionately high risk of becoming involved in the criminal legal system. The system routinely fails these young people by sentencing them to years – or even life – in prison for behavioral infractions they commit.

They often end up in places meant for adults – places that retraumatize them, fail to address their underlying needs, and contribute to recidivism. This deprives them of access to habilitation, to live full lives, and to be productive members of society. Without these opportunities, the likelihood that they will re-offend is high. This is not justice, in the true sense of the word. The human, social, and financial costs of this failed system are devastating.

To deliver real justice, promote recovery rather than recidivism, and end intergenerational imprisonment, we must change the system so that it is responsive to the unique needs of youth and emerging adults. Lone Star Justice Alliance exists to facilitate this change.

 Facts:

Texas spends $5 billion each year on a system that fails 75% of the time

%

of young adults in Texas who enter the prison system reoffend within 3 years

young adults (17 to 24) are arrested in Texas each year

%

Black and Latino residents represent 30% of the U.S. population but 56% of those incarcerated

ReImagine Justice

Through our ReImagine Justice Program, we cultivate connections with and equip community-based organizations, defense counsel, directly-impacted individuals, and stakeholders, to shift narratives and drive change at the local level.

JustSentencing

Through our Youth Sentencing and Survivors’ Projects, we lead and support strategic litigation to challenge specific system failures. Then, we use the lessons learned from our research, innovations, and legal strategies to amend Texas’ penal and family codes – policies and practices that drive true criminal legal system changes with outcomes that transform lives.

Transformative Justice

Through our Transformative Justice work, we facilitate change by developing innovative programs that focus on creating community-based alternatives to the failing criminal legal system. These innovative programs are designed to address unmet needs, increase social determinants of health, and improve public safety.

GET SOCIAL

WITH LSJA

Connect with us on our social media. For the latest updates, be sure to follow and like us on all of our platforms. You’ll see postings about our latest events, and news.

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance is in Texas.3 months ago
Dallas, Texas

http://ow.ly/Bw7I50NlxzQ
Join LSJA as we launch a bi-monthly zoom meeting to update community members on the Second Look Bill and our Lifers. Friday , March 17, 2023 12pm CST.

#LSJA #ReimagineJustice...

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance3 months ago

http://ow.ly/EAWx50NlsIo LSJA is proud to be the host site for South Central The Gault Center! Join us April 12, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM CT for a Meet and Greet with the Regional Advisory Board. Zoom link will be provided...

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance3 months ago

Please use the link below to join us for an update about Second Look.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82751357444?pwd=ZW5DSmxqSEEwY3V3aU94bFp4NWZLUT09

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance is in Texas.3 months ago
Dallas, Texas

http://ow.ly/Bw7I50NlxzQ
Join LSJA as we launch a bi-monthly zoom meeting to update community members on the Second Look Bill and our Lifers. Friday , March 17, 2023 12pm CST.

#LSJA #ReimagineJustice...

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance is in Texas.3 months ago
Austin, Texas

On February 27th, LSJA was awarded an American Bar Endowment grant in the amount of $25,000. This will aid in projects to provide accessible online resources that focus on proper, bias-free, individualized representation.

#LSJA #ReimagineJustice...

Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance is in Texas.3 months ago
Austin, Texas

“Faith in the endgame helps you live through the months or years of buildup.” ― Jim Collins, Good to Great

#LSJA #ReimagineJustice #LoneStarJusticeAlliance #LSJusticeLeague #SurvivorsProject

Proud to announce we were selected for the 2022 Catalyst Grant Program from @UrbanInstitute & @Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative. Learn more about this effort to leverage data & technology to advance racial equity https://t.co/kwzWHCe2Gq Official_LSJA photo

Awards & Honors

Recent Awards & Honors Received by LSJA & Our Talented Staff

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Project Partners

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