Who We Are
The Texas Jail Project is dedicated to improving the conditions for approximately 70,000 people—mothers, fathers, brothers, sons, sisters and daughters—incarcerated in Texas jails on any given day.

Volunteers

• Diana Claitor - Director
• Diane Wilson - Co-Founder

Volunteer Advocates:
Kinnu Gundu, Gail Hanson, Rachel Garringer, Gail Cummings, Lis Holland, Marta Tingdale, David Elliott, Fran Hanlon, Matt Gossage, Heidi Turpin, Mel White, Anna Hanson...and special thanks to Scott Gress, originator of the website and new website commander: David Hanson.

What We Do
TJP formed in 2006 to improve conditions for incarcerated women and men by publicizing the widespread abuse and neglect in approximatley 250 county facilities in Texas. (Texas contains 254 counties, but not every county contains a jail and periodically, some are deemed unfit and are closed.)

Inspired by the first hand account of Diane Wilson, an activist incarcerated in the Harris and Victoria County Jails, TJP began to look into what was going on inside local jails that are under the control and authority of local goverments and sheriffs. We saw few advocating for or defending the inmates there, and we also became aware that many county officials were failing in their duty to protect all citizens—especially those who are incarcerated and lack money or connections.

The members of TJP work on improving conditions by speaking out, writing articles and helping people make complaints to the right authorities. Much of the public has no idea how the inhumane conditions, lack of medical treatment and overly long pretrial detention are devastating the lives and mental health of inmates, many of whom are inside for low-level, non-violent offenses. Our volunteers have gotten stories and letters into Texas newspapers and onto TV. Moreover, TJP has formed coalitions with various churches, the Texas ACLU, the Catholic Conference of Texas, the Texas Civil Rights Project and national groups, to promote legislation and higher standards.

Last legislative session, in 2009, Texas Jail Project was a key player in getting two bills passed and signed by the governor: HB 3653 and HB 3654, which ban shackling of female inmates during labor and delivery and ensures medical treatment and proper died for those who are incarcerated while pregnant.

Other work: TJP volunteers attend the quarterly meetings of the Texas Commission for Jail Standards in Austin; our director speaks out about various issues that need attention and communicates regularly with the Director of the Jail Commission. Ms. Claitor also gave testimony at the Sunset Commission hearings on the need for a stronger commission in 2008 and 2009.

Our group has journeyed across the state to hold press conferences and protests in counties where the jail was

• out of compliance with state standards or city government codes
• in violation of the Texas Fair Defense Act
• treating inmates unfairly and inhumanely.
• failing to provide pregnant inmates with health care and protection

When appropriate, TJP members will present the Texas Hellhole Award, given to the “the worst jail in the great state of Texas,” at which time members will detail the reasons why this particular facility merits that distinction. The Hellhole Award Winner was presented to Taylor County, Abilene Texas, in 2008.

We also

• run a listening project (see Inmate Stories section on this website) that allows ex-offenders, their families and friends to relay stories and information about experiences in county jails
• monitor issues affecting correctional officers and regularly speak with guards at county lockups, since many problems in jails stem from too few officers and not enough funding
• provide information and advice to families who email and call, seeking medical care and help for their inmates
• facilitate communication between various non-profits and church groups who are working on similar issues to reform
  the way jails and prisons operate.

History

Diane Wilson proposed that something should be done to help women in jail while she was still in the Victoria County Jail herself, in 2006. After she served her sentence, Wilson and two supporters, Houston activist Krishnaveni (Kinnu) Gundu and Austin writer/historian Diana Claitor decided to start an organization to call attention to how the conditions in the often over-crowded local lockups can permanently damage inmates and their families and eventually, the entire community.