tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post4201098272313965627..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: 2011 Budget Blues: Close prison units to shave 2.5% at TDCJGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-79531667492385364792010-03-24T20:34:13.303-05:002010-03-24T20:34:13.303-05:00Hey I got an idea. Instead of the sate of Texas sp...Hey I got an idea. Instead of the sate of Texas spending 31 Million on the super bowl this year use it for something productive like the prison system. I mean we all love football, but would you go buy some really expensive tickets to a football game, and just not pay your mortgage? Or how about this one. TDCJ requested 66 million dollars from the Texas legislative budget board for cameras, x-ray machines, and metal detectors not for inmates, but for officers. Ok so I know there is a corruption problem within the ranks of TDCJ both Gray, and freeworld, but it is a small problem blown up in the media to look a lot larger than it is. Maybe the state should put that money into something like paying it's bills, and not cutting it's budget, and instead start prosecuting these wolves in sheeps clothing that are bringing contraband into these facilities. But I guess that would make waaaaaayyyyyy too much sense. Oh well as long as they keep giving me a paycheck, and don't keep me from getting my retirement in the next 20 years or so I guess we will all just have to learn to live with the stupidity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-60260795991481299312009-12-23T10:08:38.301-06:002009-12-23T10:08:38.301-06:00In most of the 49 other states, you get good time ...In most of the 49 other states, you get good time credit for every day served. UNLESS you screw up and catch major disciplinary cases, you are RELEASED once you meet the criteria set forth in state law. Indiana is one example that comes to mind. You get 2 days credit for every day served.<br /><br />Only in Texas can you meet all of the criteria described in state law and then be denied by a parole board that votes in the privacy of each members closet and rarely if ever face public scrutiny.<br /><br />This draconian style of justice is typical of the Texas system which seems to enjoy this mental torture.Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-78400931291184644782009-12-23T03:57:19.449-06:002009-12-23T03:57:19.449-06:00Sunray . Discretionary Mandatory Supervision (DMS)...Sunray . Discretionary Mandatory Supervision (DMS) is a oxymoron. Only an Texas. Can something be both mandatory and the state have “discretion” over whether it can happen or not. <br /><br />Why don't they call it what it is parole and stop using semantics to claim TDCJ and BPP are following the letter and intent of the law. Or does the law only apply to those who cannot afford justice?<br /><br />BPP, could if they so choose to do so parole. Those who are eligible, and they become eligible. As long as they have done, what is asked of them in the form of classes, and programming as needed and have a clean disciplinary record . <br />If 2/3 approximately 66% or 102300. are eligible at some point unless they are disciplinary problems or have not met, whatever mandated conditions become eligible, such as: taking courses, programs, etc. they should be paroled. Doing the math 52,700 aren't parole eligible . A much more manageable number of prisoners. <br /><br />Texas could also would be very simple change in law return good time as a way of discharging a sentence and becoming parole eligible in a shorter period of time.<br />Other states use this old to save cost and a tool to maintain order and good behavior in their prisons and for those under some form of state supervision or control. Having realistic,rational and less secretive parole policies, as well as meaningful good time is not soft on time, but smart on crime, not to mention easier on everyone's wallet. Keep in mind income and property taxes are not the only one of taxation . Like other states without an income tax taxes as many fees and fines to make up for it, as well as a high property tax rate.<br /><br />Looking at and removing many of the 2383+ felonies, including the infamous oyster felonies. The goat felonies, and all those that have been declared unconstitutional by a federal court, including the Supreme Court. Note all of these lawsuits over turning the state legislatures already costly making every behavior of felony. Texas needs to learn. It simply cannot arrest persecute err prosecute incarcerate its way out of social problems. <br /><br />The more difficult to achieve, but realistic approach is the incremental legalization of drugs, starting with marijuana. Just because it's legal does not mean people are going to rush out and buy marijuana or for that matter, any now illegal drug. If they were made legal for people who want illegal substances already get them.<br /><br /><br />This in turn reduces all crime and the need for lots of prisons in Texas case 112 units in some over years the oldest being the “Walls” at 161 years old. Though I hardly see the “Walls” being closed. It will always be open in some capacity, Texas fetish for prisons will not allow for it to be closed . Though turning it and to a place that gives testimony to the humane brutality of Texas Prisons might be appropriate . <br /><br />Grits had any earlier post and thread on the age and cost of all 112 units complete with graph. <br /><br />http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/11/data-on-tdcj-unit-age-and-cost.html<br /><br /> This recent Grits Post and thread makes a perfect predecessor to the threat now being discussed.<br /><br />http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/11/as-2011-budget-crisis-looms-should-most.html.TDCJ EXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17572197378656241382009-12-23T00:36:14.166-06:002009-12-23T00:36:14.166-06:00anon @3.15 ~ absolutely agree with you. There is s...anon @3.15 ~ absolutely agree with you. There is such huge disparity between sentencing in Texas. <br /><br />Reorganise the parole process and look at things less emotionally.sunray's wenchhttp://www.helium.com/items/1645988-prison-lockdownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-87767317700519035772009-12-22T21:16:09.868-06:002009-12-22T21:16:09.868-06:00Please...dont anyone hold your breath waiting for ...Please...dont anyone hold your breath waiting for Texas to close a prison...still ROFLMAO!!! CANT STOP!!Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-56132229981644302212009-12-22T03:15:42.457-06:002009-12-22T03:15:42.457-06:00My first thought is without going past the first s...My first thought is without going past the first sentence in this article is WHY DON'T WE RE-EXAMINE THE PEOPLE WE'VE LOCKED UP IN THE EXTREME SENTENCING phase TX initiated in the 1990's after building all those prisons and let those men and women out on parole. Many of them have already done 15 or more years for non violent crimes...or a crime you might consider violent such as an attempted rape, but a got a 30 year sentence that someone who tortured raped and murdered only got a 27 year sentence. Do you see my point. Moses is crying: "Let my people go!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-88365321693540792602009-12-21T17:41:34.246-06:002009-12-21T17:41:34.246-06:00Still laughing........Still laughing........Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-41769891599047455912009-12-21T11:33:29.760-06:002009-12-21T11:33:29.760-06:00@Independent Accountant - any system that seriousl...@Independent Accountant - any system that seriously uses the term "Discretionary mandatory" for anything has to be flawed.sunray's wenchhttp://www.helium.com/items/1458948-prison-reform-and-rehabilitation-curenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-1982460906904093852009-12-21T11:20:47.849-06:002009-12-21T11:20:47.849-06:009/6....some folks need to be off the streets and y...9/6....some folks need to be off the streets and you are probably one of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-86322047960889357602009-12-21T09:06:24.623-06:002009-12-21T09:06:24.623-06:00Anytime America closes a prison for any reason,it ...Anytime America closes a prison for any reason,it is a step in the right direction for mankind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82425538491739670632009-12-20T22:18:34.396-06:002009-12-20T22:18:34.396-06:00Hey I have an Idea, Why dont we get Rick Perry a c...Hey I have an Idea, Why dont we get Rick Perry a cheaper House to live in????? I was reading in the statesman awhile back and we were paying 10k a month for His house in Austin....But I do feel TDCJ Should cut the private Prisons out and just keep the State runs open, That would save some money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45769446950533915602009-12-20T20:37:53.771-06:002009-12-20T20:37:53.771-06:00Close prisons? In Texas? ROFLMAO!Close prisons? In Texas? ROFLMAO!Hook Em Hornshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660612847019528535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44450995725447998582009-12-20T17:26:11.039-06:002009-12-20T17:26:11.039-06:00Maybe the State needs to look at consolidating TJP...Maybe the State needs to look at consolidating TJPC and TYC once again. How many millions of dollars could be saved there?<br /><br />TYC numbers are down and there is clearly a push to serve the kids in their community. Seems to me that one agency could handle the task.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31058845560407099592009-12-20T15:26:33.625-06:002009-12-20T15:26:33.625-06:00There are thousands of TDCJ inmates who are eligib...There are thousands of TDCJ inmates who are eligible for "DMS". It should be granted virtually all of them in the next 60 days!<br />When the MS law was changed, we were told that DMS was for "the worst of the worst". I calculated that 98.6% of DMS eligible inmates were to get it if only 1,199 new beds would be required in the five years after DMS passed. Now only 50% of DMS eligible inmates get it!Independent Accountanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07800220849565219709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82780179780812953642009-12-20T15:06:44.018-06:002009-12-20T15:06:44.018-06:00Grits if they close a unit or units which one'...Grits if they close a unit or units which one's do you see them looking at.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46380665919652874982009-12-20T13:15:30.478-06:002009-12-20T13:15:30.478-06:00Hey Grits,
TDCJ should not close TDCJ run prisons...Hey Grits,<br /><br />TDCJ should not close TDCJ run prisons, but cut their private contract beds. There are over 18,700 contract beds in TDCJ. Let's start there before we start closing State run prisons. <br /><br />These private prisons have just about as much security as Boy Scout Camps. The inmates at these private units are low risk inmates, who are the ones most likely eligible for Parole.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17016714551693710162009-12-20T10:08:20.489-06:002009-12-20T10:08:20.489-06:00Cailiphonya is going broke partly due to unwise de...Cailiphonya is going broke partly due to unwise decisions related to its correctional system. Economic decisions based on political correctness often lead to disaster.<br /><br />Google: Why is California Going Broke?<br /><br />Check on the situation in New York also.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com