Strategic Litigation
The Lone Star Justice Alliance stands with young people to advocate for systems that treat them as children and allow them to thrive. We push for change through strategic litigation, appellate advocacy, amicus (friend of the court) briefs, policy reform, professional training and education, and strategic communications.
We challenge the laws and policies that send children to adult courts and fight for systemic changes that enforce constitutional rights to due process and access to counsel.
Our JustSentencing work also ensures that laws, policies, and practices are informed by research, consistent with children’s developmental needs, and reflect best practices for thriving youth.
Keep Vulnerable Youth Out Of The Justice System
Our legal efforts focus on challenging unjust laws and practices, particularly those that criminalize and excessively punish young people. We work tirelessly to end the prosecution of youth in adult courts, ensuring they are treated as children with the capacity for growth and change. Our team files impactful lawsuits, appellate briefs, and amicus briefs to protect the constitutional rights of youth, including access to counsel, due process, and age-appropriate rehabilitative opportunities.
By leveraging cutting-edge research on adolescent development and best practices in youth justice, our litigation strategy addresses individual cases and drives systemic change. We seek to dismantle policies that perpetuate racial and socioeconomic inequities, building a justice system that reflects fairness, accountability, and the promise of a second chance for every child.
Through bold and innovative legal advocacy, Lone Star Justice Alliance is leading the way in ensuring that our justice system serves as a platform for growth, not a cycle of punishment.
Prevent the Criminalization of Survivors
The Lone Star Justice Alliance offers pro-bono legal representation and mitigation services to individuals who have faced profound trauma, including survivors of human trafficking who have been unjustly criminalized for actions tied to their exploitation. Tragically, survivors are often sentenced without the support of skilled legal counsel, leading to excessively harsh punishments that fail to consider the coercion and abuse they endured. LSJA works to secure justice for these individuals by assembling dedicated teams of attorneys and mitigation specialists who thoroughly investigate each case. These teams, often including trained social workers, are adept at building trust with survivors and stakeholders, uncovering critical details that reveal the true context of the crimes. In addition, LSJA develops comprehensive re-entry plans to ensure survivors receive the necessary support services, empowering them to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.
Reduce Harm Caused By Incarceration
At Lone Star Justice Alliance, we are dedicated to reducing the harm caused by youth incarceration by championing smarter, community-based alternatives to confinement. Research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights that incarcerating young people not only fails to rehabilitate but also increases the likelihood of reoffending, disrupting families and communities in the process. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice has documented alarming conditions in Texas juvenile justice facilities, where systemic failures put youth at risk of abuse, neglect, and recidivism. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, heal, and succeed. By prioritizing evidence-based solutions that hold youth accountable while addressing root causes like trauma and unmet needs, we can help them thrive and build safer communities for all Texans.