Criminal Justice Reform | Community Exchange

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Criminal Justice Reform

Bail reform, sentencing, incarceration, and the organizations working to make the justice system more just.

Organizations

2,186

Learn

Stories, guides, and what you should know about your city.

Engage

Events, gatherings, and ways to show up near you.

Connect

Organizations, services, and neighbors doing the work.

Act

Call your rep, volunteer, weigh in on what matters.

Choose a starting point

Start with the story

See what's happening, who's working on it, and why neighbors are paying attention.

Find one way in

Pick something real: show up, join in, call your rep, or connect with a group already moving.

Look around your neighborhood

Across Houston — from your block to the whole city. Find nearby places, resources, events, and neighbors building community close to home.

What's happening.

Texas Legal Battle Over District Attorney Reporting Requirements

Harris County joined other large counties in successfully challenging state reporting rules that would divert prosecutor time from criminal cases to paperwork.

Houston Public Media

Read the story →

Request for approval to accept overtime pay reimbursement from the Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Program for the HCSO Human Trafficking unit (four detectives and one sergeant).

Harris County Commissioners Court

Request by the Office of the Purchasing Agent for approval of a renewal option with Avertest LLC dba Averhealth for drug testing kits, specimen collection, transport supplies and laboratory testing of urine specimens for Pretrial Services for the period of July 18, 2026 - July 17, 2027, at a cost of $256,750 (220246), Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature.

Harris County Commissioners Court

Request for approval to trade-in non-inventoried county property to Life Technologies Corporation in the amount of $6,000 for thermal cyclers for the Institute of Forensic Sciences with the trade-in amount received to be used towards new forensic equipment.

Harris County Commissioners Court

Who’s doing the work

Clinics, agencies, nonprofits, funders, and community groups

Health is delivered by many kinds of people and institutions. Start here to see who is providing care, organizing support, funding work, and shaping the system.

Harris County Commissioners Court

20 connections in this ecosystem

Also connects to

How Criminal Justice Reform connects

Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to accept from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department appropriated funds in the amount of $33,063,987.89, with a total discretionary match of $7,574,717, for the state fiscal year 2026-2027, and extend associated positions from August 22, 2026 to October 2, 2026 for the current state fiscal year, then roll these associated positions to August 31, 2027 for the grant fiscal year 2026-2027 State Aid-Grant A; Special Needs Diversionary-Grant M; Vocational Pilot Program; Front End Multi-Systemic Therapy; Leadership Academy-Grant D; Discretionary State Aid Programs; Salary Adjustment Grant; Detention Reimbursement; Title IV-E Federal Reimbursement-Grant E; and Equipment Fund Juvenile Probation Programs.

Request for approval of a sole source exemption from the competitive bid requirements and a renewal option with Global Tel*Link dba ViaPath Technologies in the amount of $822,715 for offender management software for the Sheriff’s Office for the period of November 1, 2026 - October 31, 2027, Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: Exempt - Sole Source.

Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to accept from the Texas Education Agency additional appropriations in the amount of $11,900, with no required match, for the FY 26-27 Biennium Instructional Materials Allotment for the Excel Academy Charter School.

Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to accept from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department/Texas Education Agency combined grant funds in the amount of $7,770,712, with no required match, and extend 2025-2026 associated positions from August 22, 2026 to October 2, 2026, then roll these associated positions to August 31, 2027 for the 2026-2027 year JJAEP and Charter School Programs.

81%

Residents who say government should act to reduce economic inequality

Source: Understanding Houston (UH) + Kinder Institute (Rice University)

2,664,202 registered voters

Registered voters

Source: Harris County Office of County Administration

1,567,610 ballots cast

Ballots cast, 2024 general election

Source: Harris County Office of County Administration

59%

Voter turnout, 2024 general election

Source: Harris County Office of County Administration (official canvass: 1,567,610 of 2,664,202 registered)

17%

Voter turnout, November 2023 local election

Source: Harris County Clerk, as reported by ABC13 Houston

43%

Voter turnout, 2022 general election

Source: Texas Secretary of State, Harris County voter registration figures (1,102,418 of 2,568,463)

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Organizations working here

Who works in Criminal Justice Reform in Houston

Harris County Commissioners Court

The governing body of Harris County, Texas

Texas House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the Texas Legislature

Eldridge / West Oaks

Houston Public Media

Houston Public Media is a nonprofit public broadcaster serving Southeast Texas with free local news, educational content, and NPR/PBS programming through TV 8,

Houston Peace & Justice Center

HPJC is a Houston nonprofit that connects people and groups working for peace, human rights, and social and environmental justice across the Greater Houston are

United States Senate

The upper chamber of the United States Congress

United States House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the United States Congress