Lone Star Justice Alliance
Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system. LSJA envisions a justice system that deploys developmentally appropriate responses to youth behavior and treats youth and emerging adults with equity and dignity to promote resilience, conserve costs, and increase public safety. By using evidence-based responses to behavior, especially when coupled with due process, fairness, and equity. it better serves youth and emerging adults than failing, punitive criminal and juvenile legal systems.
THE CASE
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The Texas Juvenile Justice Department for the nearly 600 youth currently detained in TJJD is employing widespread lockdowns with youth experiencing up to 23 hours a day in isolation. LSJA’s investigation has documented that youth are subject to excessive use of force and lack of access to education and have minimal access to mental health care leading to frequent instances of self-harm. LSJA has initiated a class action challenge against the Texas Juvenile Justice Department to their unconstitutional conditions of confinement. LSJA is pursuing legal remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 8th Amendment and Prison Rape Elimination Act.
