Terra is a policy analyst with more than a decade of experience in the Texas legislature and criminal justice field. Terra serves as the Texas State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice where she is responsible for developing and executing justice reform campaigns that center safety and that elevate the voices of crime victims.
For the past ten years, Terra served as a policy analyst working for the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, alongside Committee Chair and Dean of the Senate, Senator John Whitmire. She was responsible for drafting legislation related to criminal and juvenile justice, evaluating policy, guiding implementation, monitoring state agencies including the Texas prison system, and working with constituents on individual and community issues.
Terra served on select committees and boards dealing with human trafficking, wrongful convictions, and juvenile records. Most notably, she has used her experience working across party lines to help pass legislation to decriminalize truancy and maintain treatment options for incarcerated individuals in Texas. Additionally, she was instrumental in the passage of legislation to improve mental health standards in jails and establish pre-jail diversion for arrested persons.
Terra received a BA in Psychology from St Edward’s University in Austin.