Illuminating Incarceration
Welcome to the Texas Prison Transparency Project, based in Newark, Texas. We're committed to fostering transparency, compassion, and collaboration within the Texas prison system, giving a voice to both inmates and staff. Join us in driving real cultural change across Texas prisons.
Our mission
The Texas Prison Transparency Project (TPTP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, rehabilitation, and justice within the Texas prison system.
Our mission is to bring light to what happens behind prison walls—advocating for humane treatment, improved conditions, and ethical practices for both incarcerated individuals and correctional staff.
Through public awareness, investigative reporting, education, and community engagement, we work to amplify the voices of those affected by incarceration, bridge the gap between prisons and the public, and advance meaningful reform that leads to safer facilities, stronger families, and more successful re-entry into society.
Our work
At the Texas Prison Transparency Project (TPTP), we are committed to exposing truth, promoting accountability, and building a bridge between prisons and the public.
Our work focuses on transparency, rehabilitation, advocacy, and community connection — creating lasting change through both compassion and action. But it doesn't end there.
Consulting
Building Bridges. Changing Culture. Transforming Lives.
At the Texas Prison Transparency Project (TPTP), we help organizations create trauma-informed, transparent, and productive environments that promote understanding, accountability, and human dignity.
Our consulting services draw on lived experience, advocacy insight, and proven reform strategies to create positive change inside institutions and throughout the communities they serve...
For Second-Chance Employers
We train employers to confidently hire, support, and retain individuals returning from incarceration.
Our approach helps you understand the post-incarceration mindset, improve communication, and develop leadership rooted in empathy and structure.
By building trauma-informed workplaces, you cultivate loyalty, reduce turnover, and strengthen your company culture.
Areas of focus:
- Trauma-informed leadership and management
- Communication and conflict resolution
- Reducing stigma and bias
- Reentry integration and mentoring
For Correctional Institutions
We collaborate with correctional facilities to improve staff morale, safety, and cultural climate through practical, evidence-based training.
Our programs strengthen relationships between officers, administrators, and incarcerated individuals — resulting in safer, more rehabilitative environments.
Key outcomes:
- Reduced staff burnout and tension
- Improved inmate behavior and engagement
- Enhanced communication and collaboration
- Facility-wide cultural improvement strategies
For Schools & Youth Programs
TPTP provides dynamic educational sessions for students, educators, and youth organizations focused on prevention, empathy, and second chances.
We help young people understand the realities of incarceration and empower them to make choices that lead to personal and community success.
Offerings include:
- Real-life perspectives on incarceration and reform
- Leadership and emotional resilience workshops
- Family impact and restorative justice discussions
- Volunteer and community engagement opportunities
Why Partner With Us
Our strength lies in authenticity.
Led by individuals with both professional and lived experience, TPTP bridges the gap between policy and humanity.
We understand every side of the system — and we bring that understanding to every classroom, workplace, and institution we serve.
Let’s Work Together
Whether you’re an employer building opportunity, a facility improving culture, or an educator shaping future leaders —
TPTP is your partner in progress.
Advocacy
Advocacy Work with Inmates and Families
At the Texas Prison Transparency Project (TPTP), advocacy is at the heart of everything we do.
We stand beside incarcerated individuals and their families, giving voice to the voiceless, amplifying stories that need to be heard, and building bridges of understanding between those inside and the world beyond the walls.
Supporting Incarcerated Individuals
TPTP provides a trusted platform for inmates to safely share their experiences, concerns, and ideas for positive change.
Through our Inmate Liaison Program, we communicate directly with incarcerated individuals across Texas to document conditions, track incidents, and advocate for humane treatment.
We help shine a light on issues that often go unseen, such as neglect, heat crises, mental health needs, and systemic failures, while working collaboratively with administration and the public to drive meaningful reform.
Our goal is not only to expose problems but to create solutions that improve safety, dignity, and rehabilitation opportunities for everyone within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).
Empowering Families
Families are a critical part of the reentry and reform process.
We work closely with loved ones of the incarcerated to ensure their voices are heard and their experiences are validated.
TPTP offers guidance, advocacy support, and a sense of community for families navigating the challenges of Texas’s prison system.
From assisting with communication barriers and grievance processes to hosting community discussions and family-centered events, we empower families to become informed advocates and active participants in reform.
Connecting Both Sides of the System
TPTP serves as a bridge between inmates, families, and correctional staff, encouraging open dialogue rooted in respect and humanity.
We believe true reform happens when all sides are seen, heard, and involved in the process.
By connecting these perspectives, we build a foundation for transparency and collaboration that leads to lasting change.
Through Advocacy, We Build Hope
Our advocacy is not about confrontation; it is about transformation.
Through compassion, communication, and courage, TPTP works every day to ensure that no one is forgotten and every story matters.
Voices of Change
Board of Directors
Ashleen Gaddy — President & Founder
Ashleen Gaddy is the visionary founder and President of the Texas Prison Transparency Project.
A passionate advocate for prison reform and the mother of an incarcerated son, Ashleen has dedicated her life to building transparency, accountability, and humanity within Texas prisons.
Her leadership emphasizes collaboration between staff, inmates, and families to achieve sustainable reform and rehabilitation.
She is also an experienced public speaker and advocate for community partnerships that drive meaningful, long-term change.
Monika Shepherd — Vice President
Monika Shepherd helps lead efforts focused on transparency, accountability, and positive prison culture reform. She also acts as our Director Of Family and Community Services. She works to strengthen communities between families, incarcerated individuals, and correctional institutions while promoting collaboration over conflict.
Monika is committed to building bridges that support dignity, structure, and meaningful change within the correctional system.
Steven Pham — Treasurer
Steven Pham is a financial strategist and advocate for second-chance opportunities. He served 16 years in the United States Armed Forces (Army). Steven also is formerly incarcerated.
As Treasurer, he oversees the organization’s fiscal planning and ensures transparency and accountability in all financial operations.
Steven’s work focuses on building systems of trust and sustainability that allow TPTP to grow its impact while staying true to its grassroots values.
Gaye Weintraub — Secretary
Gaye Weintraub brings extensive administrative and organizational expertise to her role as Secretary.
She is dedicated to maintaining efficient communication and record-keeping across TPTP’s projects and committees.
Her attention to detail and commitment to order ensure that TPTP continues to operate with professionalism, integrity, and consistency.
Hillary Randall — Director of Media & Communications
Hillary Randall leads TPTP’s media and communications efforts, ensuring that stories of advocacy, reform, and resilience reach a broad audience.With a background in storytelling and media engagement, she develops content that raises public awareness, drives transparency, and amplifies TPTP’s mission across all platforms. Hillary is also a current student at San Jacinto College studying for a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice.
Jamie Lynn Byers — Director of Research & Development
Jamie Lynn Byers oversees research initiatives and data collection for TPTP’s transparency and accountability reports. She has over a decade of experience in logistics and research.
Her analytical approach ensures that TPTP’s advocacy is rooted in evidence, accuracy, and measurable outcomes.
Jamie’s work bridges compassion with data, supporting reform through informed and credible advocacy.
Russell Byrd — Corrections Specialist
Russell Byrd offers decades of professional experience in correctional systems and brings an invaluable perspective to TPTP’s reform work.
As an advisor, he helps guide strategies for facility engagement, staff support, and policy development to ensure our transparency efforts remain practical and effective.
Advisory Board Members
Tad Wright- Organization and Programs Spiritual Advisor
Open Position— Juvenile Services & Gang Intervention Specialist
Together, We Are the Voice for Change
The Texas Prison Transparency Project stands as a collective force for truth, compassion, and reform.
Every member of our leadership team shares a common belief — that when we bring light to injustice and humanity to policy, we create a safer and more compassionate Texas for everyone.
"TPTP has provided an invaluable platform for staff and inmates to communicate openly, fostering a more understanding and compassionate environment." - TDCJ Staff Member
"The training provided by TPTP was instrumental in shifting our perspective and improving our interactions with the inmate population."
Michael Davis
"Thanks to TPTP, we have a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by inmates, which has enabled us to implement more effective and supportive programs."
Emily Carter
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