Youth Sentencing Project
Direct Representation
Client/Family Support
Request For Assistance
At Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA), our litigation efforts focus on achieving four critical goals to create a more just and equitable system for youth:
- Prevent Youth from Entering the Justice System: We work to keep vulnerable children and young adults out of the system by addressing root causes and advocating for alternatives to court involvement.
- Ensure Procedural Protections for Youth: We fight to guarantee fair treatment during the legal process, ensuring that young people are held accountable in developmentally appropriate ways.
- Stop Youth from Being Tried as Adults: We strive to prevent the transfer of young people to the adult criminal justice system, where they are exposed to harsher sentences and environments ill-suited for their growth and rehabilitation.
- Reduce the Harm of Incarceration: For those already entangled in the system, we aim to secure commuted sentences, improved conditions, and record clearing to provide a second chance and a path to success.
These goals reflect our commitment to addressing systemic failures while empowering young people to reclaim their futures.
Direct Representation
We represent youth and emerging adults in critical cases, not just to secure justice for our clients, but to create legal precedents that have the power to impact countless others. By addressing systemic failures, our work paves the way for a more equitable and developmentally appropriate justice system.
Through direct representation, we work closely with individual clients to ensure their rights are upheld and their potential is nurtured. Each case is an opportunity to challenge the injustices faced by vulnerable youth, helping them rebuild their lives while setting standards for future legal and systemic reform.
Holistic Support for Better Outcomes and Systemic Change
At LSJA, we go beyond traditional legal advocacy by providing comprehensive client support services. This compassionate, individualized approach not only transforms the lives of the youth we represent but also strengthens our direct and strategic litigation efforts, ensuring lasting systemic impact.
Our Client Support Services include:
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support: We prioritize the mental and physical health of our clients through regular communication and visitation, ensuring they have the stability needed to fully engage in their legal journey.
- Advocacy Before Incarcerating Agencies: We directly engage with state and county systems—including the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Texas Juvenile Justice Department—to ensure incarcerated youth receive the minimum standards of care and services they deserve.
- Book Drives: By providing free books to inmates across the state and delivering personalized book packages to our individual clients, we foster hope, connection, and personal growth.
This holistic support enables LSJA to build trust and foster resilience in the youth we represent. By addressing their immediate needs and advocating for their rights, we achieve better legal outcomes for individuals while highlighting systemic failures that inform our broader litigation efforts. Together, we are creating a justice system that is not only fair but also compassionate and transformative.
Request Pro Bono Assistance
LSJA is currently accepting applications for pro bono legal services for any youth who are detained in or awaiting transfer to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
Volunteer to Represent Youth
Looking to give some pro bono hours for a good cause? If you agree to take a pro bono case, you will be trained and receive free continuing legal education credit.
Receive Client and Family Support
LSJA provides support to families and formerly incarcerated youth. Reach out here to provide books, connect with others, and join our peer support groups.
Featured YSP Work
In The News
Learn more about our efforts to support children and emerging adults in Texas.
Project Partners
