Texas Prison Reform Llc
Help Us Advocate to end indefinite Solitary Confinement / Restrictive Housing in Texas
About
About Texas Prison Reform
Texas Prison Reform is a grassroots coalition made up of currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, along with independent advocates, focused on promoting changes to the use of Restrictive Housing (commonly referred to as solitary confinement) within the Texas prison system.
The coalition is active across 15 correctional units throughout the state, working to engage with and address concerns related to conditions within restrictive housing. A central objective is to encourage the implementation of a behavior-based step-down program that evaluates individuals based on personal conduct rather than group affiliation. The proposed approach aims to support more individualized pathways toward reintegration and rehabilitation.
Texas Prison Reform also seeks to bring attention to the broader impacts of restrictive housing practices, which have been associated with mental health challenges, limited access to services, and other concerns related to well-being and safety. The coalition views these as areas requiring review and policy consideration.
What distinguishes this effort is the emphasis on solutions developed in collaboration with individuals who have firsthand experience with the system. The group is actively participating in policy advocacy and legislative engagement to promote changes they believe will improve outcomes for all involved.
Texas Prison Reform invites community members, stakeholders, and policymakers to support efforts aimed at creating a more accountable and responsive correctional environment in Texas.
Previously Incarcerated
Team Member Services
Speaking Engagements (Targeted & Topical)
Media & Interview Opportunities
Rehabilitation Consulting
-
Criminal justice reform keynote presentations
-
Reentry success stories & lived-experience insights
-
Youth prevention and mentorship speaking
-
Impact of incarceration on families and communities
-
Workforce development & second-chance employment talks
-
Policy-focused panels and roundtable discussions
-
Expert interviews for television, radio, podcasts, and documentaries
-
Commentary on current events involving criminal justice
-
Personal narrative segments for journalism, research, or advocacy campaigns
-
Program design consulting for nonprofits, correctional facilities, and government agencies
-
Insight-based evaluation of rehabilitation and reentry programs
-
Lived-experience advisory for legislators and reform task forces
Educational Services
Community Outreach
Advocacy & Policy Support
-
Guest lectures for universities, law schools, and criminal justice programs
-
Curriculum development assistance for courses on criminology, sociology, and reform
-
Classroom Q&A sessions focused on real-world impacts of incarceration
-
Community engagement events in partnership with churches, nonprofits, and civic groups
-
Participation in public awareness campaigns (drug prevention, anti-violence, etc.)
-
Participation in reform coalitions and advisory boards
-
Campaign support for policy change and public awareness initiatives
Research & Story Development Support
-
Personal narrative contributions for books, films, and academic research
-
Firsthand insight for journalists, authors, and documentary filmmakers
-
Collaboration on storytelling projects to humanize justice-involved populations
Currently Incarcerated Volunteer Team Members
Texas prison reform initiatives increasingly recognize the value of incarcerated volunteers who contribute their lived expertise, analytical skills, and on-the-ground knowledge to improve policy, living conditions, and system accountability. Their participation strengthens reform efforts in ways outside advocates alone cannot achieve.
Policy Review & Recommendation Work
Analyzing Policy & Creating Knowledge-Based Suggestions
Written Advocacy & Communications
Op-Ed Writers
Published Authors,
and Writ Writers
Incarcerated volunteers interpret policy manuals, monitor compliance, and provide practical recommendations rooted in lived experience. Many learn how to craft proposals to unit administration and the Board of Criminal Justice .
Why this matters:
Provides interested parties with high-quality, experience-based solutions
Turns incarcerated individuals into stakeholders, not just subjects of policy
Improves feasibility and effectiveness of proposed reforms
Individuals with strong writing skills contribute op-eds, legal writs, and published books or articles. These writings bring transparency to the system, educate the public, and sometimes lead to direct policy change.
Why this matters:
-
Public shifts in awareness and pressure often originate from incarcerated voices
-
Legal writings (writs) challenge unlawful or harmful practices in court
-
Creates a documented record of conditions and experiences within facilities
Policy & Condition Analysis
Effects of Food Served on Health
Incarcerated volunteers collect observations and evidence on how poor nutrition affects chronic illness, behavior, medical costs, and overall well-being.
Why this matters:
-
Connects daily lived experience to measurable health outcomes
-
Helps advocates propose evidence-based nutritional reforms
-
Supports arguments for budget reallocations toward healthier food
Referrals & Bridges to Outside Advocacy
Many volunteers serve as connectors between incarcerated people and outside advocacy organizations, aid groups, journalists, and families.
Why this matters:
Allows systemic issues to reach people who can act on them
Ensures vulnerable or less literate individuals are not left unheard
Expands the reach and accuracy of reform efforts
Internal Team Members & Peer Support Roles
Grievance Filers and Advisors
Incarcerated individuals who understand the grievance process help others submit effective, well-documented grievances. They improve institutional accountability by ensuring issues—such as unsafe conditions and staff misconduct—enter the official record.
Why this matters:
Encourages a culture of self-advocacy
Increases the accuracy and volume of reported issues
Provides Interested parties with better data about systemic problems
Overall Importance
Using incarcerated volunteers is critical because it:
-
Centers lived experience—the most accurate source of knowledge about actual conditions
-
Builds internal leadership and improves morale
-
Strengthens accountability structures from the inside
-
Generates low-cost, high-impact solutions for administrators
-
Bridges the gap between policy and practice, ensuring reforms match real-world needs
-
Empowers incarcerated people, helping rehabilitative goals and reducing conflict
*Important note
Incarcerated team members are not paid for their time or efforts
Event Details
Upcoming events- Change Musik Aug 10th
Join us August 10th in Houston Texas for our Prisoners Justice Day Event
with a free concert by CHANGE MUSIK.
We will also host other advocacy organizations & panel speakers.
