I'm glad to see CPPP working on this - I'd missed the bill because it came through a health instead of criminal-justice related committee. But this is important legislation both for encouraging re-entry after prison (who is more likely to steal than a hungry person) and reducing recidivism among felony drug users. Here's a portion of CPPP's fact sheet on the topic:
Support HB 854 - Lift the Lifetime Ban on Food Stamps for Drug Felons
House Bill 854 by Representative Elliott Naishtat removes the lifetime ban on Food Stamps for people convicted of a drug felony. Please urge all members of the House Human Services Committee to support HB 854. Go here for contact information.
HOUSE BILL 854
• Helps people with felony drug convictions successfully reintegrate into society
HB 854 provides a lifeline for people making the transition from prison to mainstream society. Many people with criminal records are not "job-ready" immediately and require services such as substance abuse treatment, job training, or education before they can enter the job market. Food Stamps help ex-offenders become "job-ready," support their families, and lead productive lives.
• Helps reduces recidivism
The lifetime ban on Food Stamps for people convicted drug felons is counterproductive. It undermines Texas’ efforts to reduce recidivism and help people with drug felony convictions reestablish themselves as productive and lawful members of our society.
• Helps Texas children
Denying assistance to mothers with drug convictions reduces the food available to her children. HB 854 will support these parents’ efforts to care for their families and rebuild their relationships with their children.
• Doesn’t cost Texas a dime and may actually reduce state costs
Foods stamps are 100% federally funded. Texas currently spends a significant amount of its own money to incarcerate repeat offenders. Using federal Food Stamp dollars to reduce recidivism among first-time drug felons will reduce these costs to the state.
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5 comments:
The legislature needs to pass and the governor needs to sign this bill into law. Then, we'll know if Texas wants to be smart about crime, a theme touted in this and other sessions. It's a no brainer and I'm a relatively conservative person when it comes to punishment.
The stigma of a felony conviction haunts hundreds of thousands of Texans looking for work and a lawful way of life. The law needs to go beyond those presently involved in a rehab program. Many have completed a program and still need assistance, especially those who historically have been disenfrachised in our society because of their race. This is not a liberal or conservative agenda. It's just good common sense.
The idea of denying anyone in this country food while the government pays farmers so they will not plant food crops is pure lunacy.
I thought the we took pride in our ability to feed everyone.
Creating a ban on food stamps, education grants and anything else that helps anyone become a responsible contributor to our society is mean spirited and does nothing to prevent crime!
anonymous 4:18
Please, can I have an education grant? Unfortunately, I don't fit your definition. I already am a positive contributor to society. You guys crack me up. Tell you what, I'll go out and commit a crime, with you then "grant" my child a free education?
Didn't think so. Bunch of losers. I'm tired of paying for losers.
Anon 9:22 you seem to be full of pride in yourself. You must be a totally self made man. Guess you even educated yourself and took care of all of your own needs from birth. It is not often you get to meet a real winner like you who never needed any help from anyone. You should be proud of yourself, oh I forgot you are very proud of yourself!
@ anonymous 9:22 - I think you misunderstand. Ed grants and food stamps aren't given to offenders, they're DENIED only to offenders. If your kid is eligible for the ed grant, he'd get it. If he'd been busted before with a bag of pot, IMO he'd still deserve it, is the point. But it's not true that people can't access such programs who are "positive contributors to society." You've got it exactly backwards.
That said, most research shows a big correlation between lack of education, particularly illiteracy, and crime. That's why failing to aim education resources at ex-offenders is penny wise and pound foolish. It worsens public safety and runs counter to efforts to reduce crime.
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