Check out our most recent efforts to bring tempature control to Texas prisons,
Read MoreLioness
Justice Impacted Women's Alliance
About Us
Mission
Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance is a nonprofit organization led by currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women, and gender-expansive people. Our mission is to end the incarceration and systemic devaluation of our population within the Texas criminal legal system, while also building power within our communities.
Vision
We envision a society where we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically free from all forms of violence and harm in the criminal legal system. Our vision can be achieved through radical advocacy, leadership development, community building, grassroot organizing and civic engagement.
Values
We believe that lived experience is the guiding force to change.
We believe in honoring each other’s differences while striving to bring one unified voice of currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women and gender expansive people in Texas into all spaces.
We believe that jails and prisons by nature perpetuate harm and violence.
Equity Statement
We are committed to nurturing a space rooted in the intersectionality of the women's rights movement and grounded in the lived experiences of justice-impacted individuals. We recognize that while all girls, women and gender expansive people face systemic oppression, the ways in which we all experience oppression are different, by race, age, class, gender identity, sexuality, disability, and more. We strive to ensure that every person who connects with our work feels seen, respected, valued and represented.
Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Lioness: Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance is a nonprofit organization led by currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women, and gender-expansive people. Our mission is to end the incarceration and systemic devaluation of our population within the Texas criminal legal system, while also building power within our communities.
Vision
We envision a society where we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically free from all forms of violence and harm in the criminal legal system. Our vision can be achieved through radical advocacy, leadership development, community building, grassroot organizing and civic engagement.
Values
We believe that lived experience is the guiding force to change.
We believe in honoring each other’s differences while striving to bring one unified voice of currently and formerly incarcerated girls, women and gender expansive people in Texas into all spaces.
We believe that jails and prisons by nature perpetuate harm and violence.
Equity Statement
We are committed to nurturing a space rooted in the intersectionality of the women's rights movement and grounded in the lived experiences of justice-impacted individuals. We recognize that while all girls, women and gender expansive people face systemic oppression, the ways in which we all experience oppression are different, by race, age, class, gender identity, sexuality, disability, and more. We strive to ensure that every person who connects with our work feels seen, respected, valued and represented.
Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Meet the Team
Make a Donation
Support Our Mission
We need your support to accomplish our mission and vision! Click Learn More to make a donation.
Learn MoreLioness Joins Heat Lawsuit
For nearly 30 years, Texas jails have been kept under 85 degrees, and the recently filed lawsuit asks the court to order that Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities be required to do the same, according to organizational plaintiffs including Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance, Texas Prisons Community Advocates, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and Texas C.U.R.E.
More than 85,000 incarcerated Texans cannot access air conditioning in the summer. As temperatures rise to triple digits, tiny prison cells can reach 140 degrees. Our inside Lioness members have reported heat conditions that have led to severe illness and death. Extreme temperatures are inhumane, a violation of 8th Amendment rights, deadly, and affect the health and mental well-being of all who live and work in Texas prisons. Multiple studies link extreme heat to higher rates of death in prisons. Other studies have shown increases in violence and suicide risks, according to National Public Radio.
Lioness Director of Community Engagement Marci Marie Simmons spoke at a press conference about the lawsuit on April 22. “Lioness has over 700 directly system-impacted members,” Simmons said. “A large percentage of our membership is still under the direct authority of TDCJ, making us particularly vulnerable to potential retaliation. Despite these risks, we bravely stand in pursuit of humane and non-life-threatening temperatures in Texas prisons.”
Read more about the dangerous temperatures in Texas prisons and what Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance is doing to fight for incarcerated women, girls, and gender-expensive individuals. “People are going to die this summer”: Advocacy groups join Texas lawsuit over excessive heat in prisons (19thNews.org) Advocates sue Texas over prisoners being ‘cooked to death’ (Austin Chronicle) Texas inmates are being ‘cooked to death’ in extreme heat, complaint alleges (Texas Tribune) “There have to be limits”: Lawsuit urges scorching prisons to cool down (Texas Observer)
Priorities
Lioness continues to highlight the challenges faced by incarcerated women when pursing higher education opportunities.
Read MoreWe continue the fight to end the over policing of women and girls while in custody. Read studies about how women are punished more severely and more often for minor infractions.
Read MoreSolitary confinement also known in Texas as administrative segregation, is cruel and unusual punishment that affects women in very specific ways. We remain committed to ending it.
Read MoreRead about the history and the most recent corruption, abuse, and mismanagement within the Texas youth justice system.
Read MoreGender expansive people in the Texas criminal legal system are constantly attacked and harrassed. We stand together for justice for our trans men and women. Read recent articles about their struggles.
Read MoreCommunity Supervision can be a set up for failure for many women. Read the report on how the system doesn't work and what we can do to fix it.
Read MoreCounty jails in Texas are often unsafe, dirty and dangerous, especially for women and gender expansive people. We are working on advocating around conditions and bail reform. Check out some articles about what's going on here in Texas.
Read MoreLearn more about the compelling evidence supporting her innocence and the ongoing efforts to secure her release.
Read MoreTaking Action!
Lioness Members Published Articles
Our members take a great risk in writing about their experiences. Check out these incredible authors!
Learn MoreCivic Engagement
Our members are empowered by participating in local and state government. Learn about bills that were impacted and informed through our lived experience!
Learn MoreCommunity Building
We believe that nothing happens without community. Read about our efforts to connect to local communities for collective healing and restorative justice.
Learn MoreResources
COMPREHENSIVE DATA
How many women are held in prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities in the United States? Why are they there? How are their experiences different from men’s? Check out the reports to understand the reasons for their incarceration, and the unique challenges they face compared to men.
Learn More
RESOURCES FOR ADVOCATES
It can be confusing and overwhelming knowing where and how to start advocating for yourself and your community. These are a few resources that we often use that help inform and guide our efforts.
Learn MoreEvents
Join us as we honor and remember the incarcerated Texans who have lost their lives due to extreme temperatures in Texas prisons. We also stand in solidarity with the incarcerated Texans and TDCJ staff still suffering under these dangerous conditions. 🕯️Battery operated candles will be provided. Feel free to bring posters, pictures of loved ones, etc. 🎤Rep Carl O. Sherman will offer opening remarks. Rev Joanna Crawford will lead us in non-denominational prayer.
Join us for the first-ever Lioness Wellness Resource Fair co-hosted by Simply Grace! Featuring yoga, sound healing, open microphone speakers, and tons of resources. Help us inspire one another and Build Our Force!
What better way to celebrate women's history month than with the most vilified women in Texas? Join Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance on March 30th, 6pm-9pm, at Austin Cinemaker Space, as we explore what it truly means to be the most dangerous women in Texas.
On December 8th, 2023 at 6PM we are having a holiday card writing party with Girls Empowerment Network, Texas After Violence Project and Finish the Five! Come wearing your ugly holiday sweater and/or pjs!! We hope to have over 500 cards for the youth in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. What to bring: blank non specific holiday cards to fill out (no glitter, ribbons or anything attached) and if you can, some food! Join the community in sending love and solidarity to our incarcerated youth!
Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance, Girls Empowerment Network, Texas After Violence Project and Texas Center for Justice & Inequity Finish the 5 are on a mission to send holiday cards to every incarcerated youth inside of the Texas Juvenile Justice System! Join us for community as we send hope and love to the young people locked behind prison walls. If you’re able, please bring non specific holiday cards. No need for postage.
Join us for a restorative Peace Walk that aims to bridge the divide between formerly incarcerated individuals and the community where they were once incarcerated. We invite residents, business owners, Faith leaders and other community leaders, to hear and share stories of inspiration and hope beyond the history of incarceration. We are so much more than our past. Come join us!
Join us as we honor the lives lost and the continued suffering of the women and men in our Texas prisons during the heat crisis.
Advocates, family members and friends of the men and women incarcerated within Texas Department of Criminal Justice will convene at the Capitol to voice their concerns about the extreme temperatures in the prisons this summer. We are coming together to implore that our elected officials and community stakeholders unite to bring our loved ones relief.
This event is hosted by Lioness Justice Impacted Women's Alliance and the Statewide Leadership Council. Join us and State Representatives as we celebrate the success and voice the struggles of currently and formerly incarcerated girls and women in Texas.
Get Involved
- PO Box 12051, Austin, Texas 78711
Contact us to receive the Lioness newsletter and links to join our monthly meetings. (Let us know what city you are in so we can direct you to our regional groups as well)
