Justin carlson

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Justin is a veteran police officer and former major crimes detective who has dedicated fifteen  years to serving communities in East Texas and the Dallas–Fort Worth area. During his time in law enforcement, Justin worked tirelessly to solve some of the most heinous crimes, including child sex crimes and homicides.

His passion for justice and unwavering dedication to the community earned him numerous accolades and commendations throughout his career. However, after years of working within the criminal legal system, Justin began to witness a disturbing trend of corruption, misconduct, and leadership failures from within. That realization led him to step away from law enforcement and launch Failing Justice, an organization and podcast aimed at exposing systemic failures and giving voice to those impacted by them.

Now back in law enforcement, Justin brings with him the perspective of someone who has lived on both sides of the system. His time away helped him see what he couldn’t from the inside, and now, he's working to make a difference from within. He remains a staunch advocate for police reform and criminal justice accountability and is currently pushing for legislation in Texas that would require wrongful conviction training for all new police cadets.

Through Failing Justice, Justin hosts and interviews leaders in legal reform, exonerees, advocates, and those directly impacted by wrongful convictions. His platform seeks to humanize the issues, educate the public, and build bridges between communities and the system meant to serve them.

In addition to his advocacy and law enforcement work, Justin actively speaks at colleges and universities to help educate and inspire the next generation. His goal is to bring awareness to young adults, especially those entering law, criminal justice, or public service, so they understand the realities of the system, the consequences of injustice, and the responsibility that comes with power.

Justin knows firsthand the uphill battle of trying to do the right thing within a broken structure. He has faced retaliation, including termination for standing up against misconduct, but continues to fight for a more just and equitable system. He believes true change requires transparency, bold leadership, and the courage to speak up, even when it’s costly.

His dedication has earned him the respect and admiration of many across both the law enforcement and legal reform communities. He is a father of two boys, who remain his driving force in this work. He is committed to helping create a world where they can grow up believing in fairness, integrity, and real justice.

Justin has received thousands of hours of law enforcement training and has served in a wide range of roles since beginning his career at 18, including jail operations, patrol, investigations, and administration. He has held multiple leadership roles—patrol sergeant, investigations sergeant, and admin lieutenant—and worked on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Justin has also attended advanced leadership programs, including the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development and the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas. Justin holds an instructor’s license through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and continues to train officers across the state.

Justin is a vocal supporter of ethical law enforcement and believes deeply in the need for police in our communities, but he also recognizes that trust must be earned. His work is driven by a belief that with the right leadership, integrity, and accountability, we can rebuild that trust and restore justice where it’s been lost.