Reimagining Justice
The Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA) is transforming the way Texas responds to youth and young adults impacted by the criminal legal system.
Founded in 2017, LSJA was built on a simple but urgent truth: young people are different. Their brains are still developing. Their identities are still forming. And when the system treats them like adults, the consequences can last a lifetime.
Instead of punishment-first responses that increase trauma and repeat incarceration, LSJA combines strategic litigation, advocacy, and community-based programs to provide real solutions that keep young people in school, employed, and connected to opportunity.
LSJA isn’t just responding to a broken system. It’s building a better one.
With offices in Austin and Dallas, LSJA works across Texas to:
- Challenge unconstitutional and harmful practices in court
- Advance policy reforms that protect youth and emerging adults
- Deliver innovative, evidence-based programs that reduce recidivism and strengthen communities
Mission Statement
Our Mission
To boldly address systemic failures in the criminal legal system through advocacy and innovative, evidence-based programs that improve life outcomes for youth and young adults.
Our Vision
We seek a justice system that’s fair, humane, and tailored to young people—one that supports their growth, respects their dignity, and keeps communities safe, all while using resources wisely.
Impact Summary
Transforming Justice. Transforming Lives.
The current justice system often deepens harm instead of healing it. In Texas, youth as young as 10 can be prosecuted in juvenile court, and 14-year-olds can be tried as adults. Detention increases the likelihood of reoffending. Incarceration shortens life expectancy. And the financial cost to taxpayers is staggering.
LSJA is proving there is a better way.
Community-Based Programs That Work
Through its Transformative Justice model, LSJA provides youth with:
- Stabilization support (housing, food, transportation)
- Education and GED completion
- Workforce training in high-demand industries
- Paid internships and job placement
- Ongoing coaching and peer mentorship
The results speak clearly:
- 100% of workforce participants earned an industry-recognized credential
- Graduates secured employment averaging $19/hour with benefits
- Program participants maintain a recidivism rate under 10%
These outcomes don’t just transform individual lives. They strengthen public safety and reduce long-term taxpayer costs.
Strategic Litigation That Protects Rights
LSJA upholds constitutional protections for young people through high-impact legal advocacy.
In 2024 alone, LSJA:
- Donated more than 6,000 pro bono hours
- Represented survivors of human trafficking
- Trained over 1,100 attorneys and practitioners statewide
- Provided free legal resources to improve youth defense across Texas
Each case isn’t just about one individual, it’s about setting precedent, correcting injustice, and preventing harm for thousands more.