Texas advocates for criminal justice and prison reform must work together as a team to get leaders for our state who will listen to our concerns and help us make needed changes. Elections are like the draft season of a sports team. If we don't get good players, we can't win games. And our issues are not a game...they are matters of life and death for many Texans.
Criminal justice and prison reform advocates must vote together if we have any hope of real change. You may consider yourself a member of some particular party, but if you have a loved one in Texas prisons, or if you want reforms of the Texas criminal justice system, don't go to the polls planning to vote a straight ticket. You must analyze what candidates are saying about justice issues. You may decide to vote for candidates from several different parties for various offices on the ballot. In Texas, your primary election vote does not obligate you to vote for candidates of that party in the general election. For the November election, we must leave behind our old "teams" if necessary and become the "justice team," or "reform team," and vote to draft the important players we need for a winning season of criminal justice and prison reform!
If you want to help draft a good "quarterback" and strong "linemen," here are some steps to take.