tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post3918207837991398662..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Texas criminal justice reform legislation passed in 2009Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-5026779867865141122009-07-04T09:51:30.874-05:002009-07-04T09:51:30.874-05:00You also failed to mention that police will begin ...You also failed to mention that police will begin taking blood from drunk drivers without their consent in serious intoxication cases. Seems like you only want to highlight the leniency in the law. Why not also point out laws that make sure the guilty are caught and convicted?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-39759679594462954342009-06-30T18:21:02.991-05:002009-06-30T18:21:02.991-05:00Just added an addendum at the end of this post abo...Just added an addendum at the end of this post about the Office of Capital Writs. Thanks for pointing out the omission - I don't watch the capital stuff closely.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-19213238334163241212009-06-30T17:35:47.657-05:002009-06-30T17:35:47.657-05:00What about the bill to establish a state office of...What about the bill to establish a state office of capital writs. I haven't seen any news stories about it. It is not a statewide office that would be responsible for death penalty and other capital cases beginning at the trial level, which would be better, but it is a start. <br /><br />Scott, can you explain the significance of the new writs office?<br /><br />ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-64877655245467150882009-06-30T10:30:30.529-05:002009-06-30T10:30:30.529-05:00It is good to see Texas beginning to move into the...It is good to see Texas beginning to move into the 21st Century. Most of these laws move in a positive direction that is likely to decrease recidivism, improve public safety and reduce cost. <br /><br />Facilitating successful reentry by providing appropriate supports and reduction of barriers to reentry for those released from prison or jail is crucial. The US will release over 700,000 people from prison each year for the foreseeable future. Of those 30,000 will return to cities in Texas. Most large communities in Texas will have several thousand returnees come home each year.<br /><br />These new laws suggest that we may be experiencing a shift away from counter-productive policies that restricted their ability to obtain education, find employment, obtain an place to live, get health insurance, etc. The list of restrictions could go on and on. <br /><br />As one parolee commented on day "Many times I been a half hour from committing a new crime because I was hungry, had little hope and did not know where to turn." After several failures in the past, he has successfully re-established a law abiding life because of the supports and assistance he received during reentry.<br /> <br />Prevention -- can be and often is more effective at fighting crime than enforcement. It is good to see Texas moving in a more sensible way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48494768597413070272009-06-30T00:32:03.751-05:002009-06-30T00:32:03.751-05:00The ID bill is a very good and very simple piece o...The ID bill is a very good and very simple piece of legislation, but it is still sad that it takes legislation to make some agencies do the common-sense thing.<br /><br />I'll be interested to see what TDCJ define as "educational" and "reference" books.<br /><br />The release of inmates from regional centres may help TDCJ's budget, but may not help families pick up their loved onee.sunray's wenchhttp://silvaculture.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69706878204763391972009-06-29T22:49:18.775-05:002009-06-29T22:49:18.775-05:00Nice to see that someone finally realized that inn...Nice to see that someone finally realized that innocents released are in just as dysfunctional a state as anyone else coming out of prison. I know there are always lots of people around to help right afterward but I can also see them moving on to other things faster than the non-offender actually needs.Soronel Haetirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639906179427371695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-78721556116919906522009-06-29T21:45:42.613-05:002009-06-29T21:45:42.613-05:00Well they had better try that Ray Brookins and tha...Well they had better try that Ray Brookins and that other guy before September 1st unless they have physical evidence rather than just inmate testimony.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75585861451168395582009-06-29T17:30:39.565-05:002009-06-29T17:30:39.565-05:00They actually did more than I thought.They actually did more than I thought.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-35859971915476483882009-06-29T16:34:04.152-05:002009-06-29T16:34:04.152-05:00Some good stuff for TDCJ and folks re-entering soc...Some good stuff for TDCJ and folks re-entering society.Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20071411592829660862009-06-29T15:20:54.329-05:002009-06-29T15:20:54.329-05:00Hi Scott, I just emailed you the list of bills we ...Hi Scott, I just emailed you the list of bills we put together. Are you still getting our alerts?<br />AnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com