tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post116273660122337438..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Texas Recidivism Rates: Is "why are they so low?" the wrong question?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89528025844541858892010-11-12T14:48:05.262-06:002010-11-12T14:48:05.262-06:00I know this is a little bit old, but I just came u...I know this is a little bit old, but I just came upon it while trying to find the newest numbers for a newspaper article I am writing about our ministry to show that faith based re-entry programs are actually helping those incarcerated to not re-offend and I had to post a response to something that I saw both on this and the previous blog post.<br /><br />The truth of the matter is that Tx offers a lot of spiritual and re-entry programs and we are working hard to keep people from re-offending upon release, support groups are on the rise, and a lot of the men and women getting out of prison are going back into the prisons to show that they can do it, they can get out and change their lives. <br /><br />As for no air conditioners and things like that, yes there are air conditioners in the prisons, they do get toiletries and things like that even if they don't have money, it is called indegent supplies and it is against their rights to not be allowed to have those things, so if you know someone who is in prison not getting toiletries or envelopes, stamps or paper, tell them that they need to send an I-60 to their chaplain and get on the indegent list (there are qualifications they must meet to be considered indegent).<br /><br />I know this information first hand, my husband and I operate a prison ministry within Texas, and my husband was incarcerated in a prison in Texas twice.<br /><br />I would like to leave you with the newest numbers for Texas, a continued decline: http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2010-01-PP04-justicereinvestment-ml.pdfNo Turning Back Prison Ministryhttp://www.noturningbackministry.webs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-42645509627908796812010-06-14T14:32:43.800-05:002010-06-14T14:32:43.800-05:00In my opinion the reason is simple. Would you want...In my opinion the reason is simple. Would you want to go back to a place where in the heat of summer, can reach upward of 100 degrees? There are no air conditioners in all Texas prisons. It's just a factor that no one thinks to take into account. How about asking an actual offender, "why?" They will tell you about the agonizing heat, no soap or toiletries for those without money in their accounts, and various other restrictions. <br /><br />The theory that the state jail system aids in the lower rate is extremely flawed. Even though no parole is exacted on these inmates, there ARE restrictions placed on every state jail felon for up to 6 months after release. One such example is suspension of a driver's license. Any such violation of this can result in further incarceration.<br /><br />I would also like to see further comparative analysis between the two systems and what kind of help or rehabilitation is available to each--which may help to enlighten us as to why Texas seems more successful on this. There must be other factors taken into account such as Texas' prisons may get a higher rate of spiritual needs services(religious) as opposed to California, for example.Keirasingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1162815781119748112006-11-06T06:23:00.000-06:002006-11-06T06:23:00.000-06:00Judge, someone else suggested that, too, but the s...Judge, someone else suggested that, too, but the statistics aren't caveated that way, and the UC Irvine study claims to compare apples to apples without mentioning the discrepancy. Be sure to look at LBB's 2005 recidivism report. Maybe I'm missing something, but I couldn't find anywhere that said the statistic excluded state jails. I'll email the report authors at LBB to doublecheck, and maybe see what Judge Gist has to say.<BR/><BR/>Michael, your question makes my head hurt. The recidivism conundrum is difficult enough to wrap my brain around. ;) Best,Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1162813075012410862006-11-06T05:37:00.000-06:002006-11-06T05:37:00.000-06:00State Jail felons must serve EVERY day of their se...State Jail felons must serve EVERY day of their sentence and they serve it day-to-day -- there is no good conduct time. Thus, they are not supervised when released (unless they were serving a higher felony sentence at the same time and are released on parole from that charge.<BR/><BR/>And while many "non-violent" offenders are sentenced to either State Jails and/or other penitentiaries, they are hardly ever "first time" offenders. Most jurisdictions use probation, reduced sentences, and every tool available to try to keep from sending someone to the pen.<BR/><BR/>I, too, am amazed at the low recidivism rate being cited, and wonder if it is being quoted for the entire system, which does include the relatively low-risk State Jail Felons.<BR/><BR/>It would be interesting to know the rate for the more serious offenders -- i.e., those convicted of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree felonies, plus capital murder (from which you previously could be paroled). It has to be much higher.<BR/><BR/>I'd recommend you contact Judge Larry Gist of Beaumont for his insight. Larry has great experience and is considered one of the leading Texas Judges on the idea of sentencing alternatives.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1162757315031009822006-11-05T14:08:00.000-06:002006-11-05T14:08:00.000-06:00If you catch corrections directors at the right ti...If you catch corrections directors at the right time, they will tell you that, should their systems be effective in moving more low-level offenders to treatment, their recidivism rates will go up and they have to inoculate their appointers to be ready to have to explain to the public why that's happening and a good thing. You can see the obvious counterintuitive incentives to keep things as they are. Now let me throw this one at you: if people are more likely to report offenses to law enforcement that is effective than folks who are ineffective, then should you live in a community with a high or low crime rate??Michael Connellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03292758786206928065noreply@blogger.com