The Texas Jail Project (TJP), a newly formed advocacy group made up of former women inmates and jail activists, will form a caravan in Austin and drive to Dallas, Texas on January 23rd, 2007.

There they will join with women from the Dallas area in making short statements to the County Commissioners about conditions in the women’s unit of the Dallas County Jail.

Reports of a dismal and deteriorating situation for the women in this jail have become increasingly frequent and now two former inmates have come forth to tell TJP of their own devastating experiences there in 2006. Those women and TJP advocates will speak about the suffering being caused by various forms of neglect: a lack of medication and help for women with HIV and AIDS, poor or non-existent medical treatment for women with mental health issues and no representation or services for indigent women.

TJP will hold a press conference following the commission meeting.

Texas Jail Project formed in 2006 to improve conditions for incarcerated women by publicizing the widespread abuse and neglect in the 255 county facilities in Texas.

Contact Diana Claitor: diana@texasjailproject.org