Jail & Criminal Justice Reform
This action team is dedicated to holding the Tarrant County Jail, Commissioners Court, and other institutions in the criminal justice system accountable.
Special Initiatives:
Our team studies the incarceration of people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. We collaborate with the Texas Jail Project for necessary legal reforms. We also aim to understand the county’s opaque budget process and push for more transparency.
Public Advocacy:
We regularly deliver comments at Commissioners Court meetings to ensure that community concerns are heard.
Direct Communication:
We host letter-writing campaigns and teach advocates about submitting online comments to key officials.
State-Level Engagement:
Our team members travel to Austin to attend meetings of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Collaboration with Leaders:
We meet with officials and other partner organizations to advocate for meaningful reforms.
Research and Analysis:
Members of our action team conduct in-depth investigations to bring critical issues to light.
So many aspects of the criminal justice system in Tarrant County are inhumane.
We hope you will join this Action Team to help us advocate for reform. Contact Nan Terry or Katherine Godby.
“As a federal judge has found, the documented allegations of deficient supervision, suspicious inmate deaths, and the highest mortality rate in North Texas are sufficient to ‘put a reasonable policymaker on notice about potential condition of confinement issues at the jail.’ (Memorandum Opinion & Order, ECF No. 61, at 27-28, Congious v. City of Fort Worth et al., Docket No. 4:22-cv-00092 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2023).”
One of our Action Team members, Becky Delaune, making a public comment at Tarrant County Commissioners Court in 2023.
The Justice Network has long advocated for a written contract between JPS and the county, a contract that clearly delineated responsibilities and expectations. We were told by a previous county administrator that there was no need for such a document, but now that we have one we believe its benefits in holding each party responsible are easily seen. Harriet’s comments demonstrate the level of detailed knowledge that many of our action team members have achieved.
Another Action Team members, Harriet Harral, making a public comment at Tarrant County Commissioners Court in 2025 regarding the contract between JPS and the county.
Cash Bail and Pre-trial Detention in Tarrant County
A large percentage (60% to 70%) of persons incarcerated in the Tarrant County Jail are there because they cannot afford to pay bail. They haven’t had a trial; they are legally innocent. How long they remain incarcerated pre-trial varies, but the average time in the jail for all persons is 112 days.
The United States and the Philippines are the only two nations in the world with a cash bail system dominated by bail bond companies. The practice discriminates against the poor and against people of color; it is immoral and in dire need of reform. Please read this brief article published by the Brennan Center of Justice to learn more.
A current issue: The budget for the Tarrant County Jail must be approved by the County Commissioners Court — the budget process of Tarrant County is anti-democratic.
08-14-2025. Harriet Harral’s Letter to the Editor / Fort Worth Star-Telegram:
Tarrant County Shuts Out Citizens in Budget Process
The Tarrant County budget process is effectively closed to the public. The proposed 2025–2026 budget wasn’t posted until August 11—just three days before a workshop and initial action, with no effort to alert residents. The final vote is set for August 19, following a token “Public Hearing” held at the same meeting and immediately followed by a vote. This timeline ensures citizen priorities will not be considered.
Other Texas counties show respect for their residents:
• Bexar County holds weekly August Budget Town Halls for public input.
• Harris County offers online tools and multiple public forums for their residents.
• Dallas County invites the public to all budget hearings over months of development.
Why are Tarrant County residents denied similar opportunities for meaningful participation? We deserve transparency, engagement, and respect—not last-minute gestures designed only to look like public involvement.
Questions? Leader of this action team is Nan Terry with Katherine Godby assisting as needed.
They host a virtual meeting prior to each Commissioners Court to discuss the upcoming agenda.
