The Texas Center for Justice and Equity

The Texas Center for Justice and Equity (TCJE) advocates at the state Capitol and in counties throughout Texas to end mass incarceration, shift funding towards community supports, and reduce racial inequities in the criminal legal system. Their efforts re-envision how our society can heal, instead of harm, the communities it has perpetually targeted.

TCJE commissioned me to develop and produce the project Let Me Explain: Stories from a Broken Justice System. I photographed and interviewed nine people adversely affected by mass incarceration. Their stories touch on housing, employment, substance use, mental health, women’s rights, and youth justice.

"All the silence and secrecy and shame that stemmed from my childhood abuse is exactly what my trafficker used to manipulate and control me. Not only was I groomed to be my trafficker's prostitute and property, I was also groomed to purchase all his

"All the silence and secrecy and shame that stemmed from my childhood abuse is exactly what my trafficker used to manipulate and control me. Not only was I groomed to be my trafficker's prostitute and property, I was also groomed to purchase all his drugs, sell all his drugs, take the penitentiary risk for his drugs, and go to prison for his drugs...I spent over ten years collectively behind bars." - ALLISON

“My biggest concern is how am I going to get an apartment with a felony. When you have a felony conviction, it’s already a mark against you. They see you as the drudge of society. They just see you as a nobody.” - CRISELDA

“My biggest concern is how am I going to get an apartment with a felony. When you have a felony conviction, it’s already a mark against you. They see you as the drudge of society. They just see you as a nobody.” - CRISELDA

Kids in Texas can make a mistake and be sentenced to decades in prison, even if they were not the one who committed the actual crime. Larry's son has been incarcerated for 26 years, since he was sixteen-years-old and was involved in a pawn shop burgl

Kids in Texas can make a mistake and be sentenced to decades in prison, even if they were not the one who committed the actual crime. Larry's son has been incarcerated for 26 years, since he was sixteen-years-old and was involved in a pawn shop burglary where another teen shot and killed the owner of the store.

"America is a country where we give second chances to athletes, we give second chances to actors. So why would we not give second chances to our children?" - LARRY

"America is a country where we give second chances to athletes, we give second chances to actors. So why would we not give second chances to our children?" - LARRY

Eighty one percent of women in Texas prisons are mothers. "My water broke, it was like one in the morning. It was five a.m. before they ever called the ambulance to take me to the hospital. And then when I got there, there was a male guard in my ro

Eighty one percent of women in Texas prisons are mothers. "My water broke, it was like one in the morning. It was five a.m. before they ever called the ambulance to take me to the hospital. And then when I got there, there was a male guard in my room. You’re handcuffed and shackled. I finally had David and they wouldn't let me hold him... He was five months old the first time I got to see him." - MELISSA

“I entered the justice system for the first time when I was thirteen-years-old...When I was a kid, it felt like I was speaking to more cops than I was counselors. There were very few teachers that understood a kid like me that was on juvenile probati

“I entered the justice system for the first time when I was thirteen-years-old...When I was a kid, it felt like I was speaking to more cops than I was counselors. There were very few teachers that understood a kid like me that was on juvenile probation, involved in a street gang, and using drugs to cope with his mental health issues. There really weren’t people trained enough to help a kid like me at that time.” - JOSE

In Texas, 17-year-olds who are arrested are automatically sent to the adult justice system. Besides Texas, only two other states treat 17-year-olds like adults. “When I was arrested at seventeen, I was a senior in high school and the offense was a mi

In Texas, 17-year-olds who are arrested are automatically sent to the adult justice system. Besides Texas, only two other states treat 17-year-olds like adults. “When I was arrested at seventeen, I was a senior in high school and the offense was a misdemeanor for shoplifting. Spending the night in jail in an adult facility was definitely one of the worst experiences of my life.” - NICKY

"When I was twelve-years-old I was in a gang. I was charged with aggravated sexual assault. I didn’t understand anything that was happening… Even when they gave me 15 years, I still didn’t understand." - PRISCILLA

"When I was twelve-years-old I was in a gang. I was charged with aggravated sexual assault. I didn’t understand anything that was happening… Even when they gave me 15 years, I still didn’t understand." - PRISCILLA

“I was incarcerated for almost a decade and my criminal history made it almost impossible for me to find employment… To feel like your community, and the nonprofits, and the state, were not there to support me, it was really discouraging. And I think

“I was incarcerated for almost a decade and my criminal history made it almost impossible for me to find employment… To feel like your community, and the nonprofits, and the state, were not there to support me, it was really discouraging. And I think that people that have never been touched by the criminal justice system, they think, ‘well, you know, you served your time, and you get out, and now find a job and be a productive member of society,’ and they don’t fully understand just how difficult that is, just how many barriers exist for that to happen.” - JENNIFER

“I was sentenced to fifteen years in Texas prison. I committed three robberies, and that was out of desperation for drugs. It was after a long period of experiencing a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder. For decades I had struggled w

“I was sentenced to fifteen years in Texas prison. I committed three robberies, and that was out of desperation for drugs. It was after a long period of experiencing a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder. For decades I had struggled with pretty severe depression. I had been in psychiatric hospitals, lots of suicide attempts. I desperately needed psychiatric care.” - DOUG