tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post4562742556308424665..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: On the differences between DOJ and TDCJ prison population totals for Texas, and the Next Big TaskGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91487644005531430442013-09-13T10:02:04.346-05:002013-09-13T10:02:04.346-05:00I think people are missing the boat on this one. ...I think people are missing the boat on this one. Texas over the past two years has closed down 3 prisons signaling the tough on crime state is wanting to get smart on crime or right on crime, depending on what party your behind. <br /><br />TDCJ's population was forecasted to be 162,000, is now only 152,000 inmates thanks to several changes. Now I agree Texas can do more. The Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles should seriously reduce the TDCJ inmate population 6,000 to 10,000 inmates by next session. <br /><br />In the short term TDCJ can closed the Connally Unif and should look to close Bridgeport and Lindsey State Jail by next session. Leasing beds when you have existing beds is stupid. Why would TDCJ lease beds from CCA Bridgeport when they could move those females to Marlin and use the old VA hospital as a satelite unit and save money. <br /><br />I think it's time for Senator Whitmire to call Brad again and ask him why he is wasting money on the old Marlin VA Hospital and leasing beds for low level female offenders who could be housed at the old VA hospital. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-8666605495900013042013-09-12T00:48:13.592-05:002013-09-12T00:48:13.592-05:00And once they are released from prison the probati...And once they are released from prison the probation period goes on forever. I would bet there are probation officials in the field that could point out individuals that are not a risk. Cut those people loose and give these folks the job of supervising those who need to be supervised. I would guess there are thousands who could go on about their business with no risk to society. Are those fees more than the cost of supervision? I resent it when people do everything right and are still kept on a leash.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-54388799172752164482013-09-11T09:13:48.439-05:002013-09-11T09:13:48.439-05:00I totally agree with the person above me. Some of ...I totally agree with the person above me. Some of these inmates have spent over 23 years as an inmate and have caught no cases in the last ten years. These people have been up for parole for the past 10 years, did not make it and was not told why. This makes no sense. Most of these people were 17, 18 years old when they committed a crime, now they are in their 40's. Why have they not made parole? Just to keep the count up? get real, Parole Board!!!!!!Let them out on parole, they have grown up in the system. If they have been a model inmate for the past 10 years or more, give them a chance!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-30023465117756176082013-09-11T08:25:54.509-05:002013-09-11T08:25:54.509-05:00Two things come to mind that I would like to ask a...Two things come to mind that I would like to ask about. On a daily basis TDCJ has hundred of inmates "in transit". These inmates may stay in transit for weeks and they lose their beds when they are in transit. How do you get a head count on those? There has always been a lot of speculation about the number of prisoners who travel the state in very uncomfortable circumstances. A 3 hour trip to or from Galveston can take a week or more. That can be extremely harmful to sick inmates.Surely there is a better way but there are many who suspect this is done to avoid head count. Do you know the answer to that?<br />Secondly,let's look at the other end of the spectrum. I expect there are many stuck with long parole/probation terms that no longer need to be there. A huge cut could be made from that end and it would be extremely beneficial in keeping inmates getting out and finally getting off. Has such a move ever been considered? I try to keep up and I have heard nothing but I see that as an important part of the process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89264472781744251002013-09-10T19:59:08.826-05:002013-09-10T19:59:08.826-05:00JG, I wouldn't be so quick to scoff. The three...JG, I wouldn't be so quick to scoff. The three prison closures are real and Texas prison and state jail pop is far below earlier projections. Just because TDCJ and DOJ are measuring different things doesn't make TDCJ's measurement invalid.<br /><br />Moreover, TPPF has advocated a more aggressive path than the Lege has taken, especially in the sessions since 2007 when the Lege did virtually nothing toward de-incarceration. They take a "catch more flies with honey" approach, to be sure, but then I'm personally more on the abrasive side, so I appreciate those who can play "good cop." :)Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-42784505812370767872013-09-10T17:39:35.745-05:002013-09-10T17:39:35.745-05:00@Grits:
I totally get that TRI was good for Texas...@Grits:<br /><br />I totally get that TRI was good for Texas, since prison population growth was continuing an upward trend while most states had leveled off and a few had begin a downward spiral. I also appreciate the Right on Crime buzz, which has finally brought most state officials to see the futility of the "get tough" binge.<br /><br />But every time I read that Richard Viguerie and Grover Norquist are urging other states to reduce their prison populations "like Texas did" I get a sudden urge to send them a spreadsheet of DOJ/BJS national prison population figures for the last decade.<br /><br />Like you, I'm waiting for TPPF to urge Texas to adopt some of the criminal justice reforms that are working to reduce prison populations and costs in many other states.<br /><br />You can keep Jerry Madden at home, advocating the sentencing reforms we both agree are badly needed in your state.JGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-2180851944179909672013-09-10T16:38:05.005-05:002013-09-10T16:38:05.005-05:00JG, you're right, they've got a lot invest...JG, you're right, they've got a lot invested at this point in promoting the "Texas model," which with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight wasn't as big a factor as was initially thought in recent prison pop reductions. I wouldn't say it has nothing to do with it, but increased parole rates are the bigger factor.<br /><br />JRI, if you want to call it that (I don't) was part of the reason the upward curve on new prison and state jail entrants leveled off. E.g., all the parolees in ISFs stay there for 4-6 months instead of being revoked to prison for however many years are left on their sentences. That's helpful toward the goal of long-term reductions, however they're counted in the data. So there are parts of the '07 reforms that are working well.<br /><br />Also, don't underestimate TPPF's work on juvenile stuff as well, where the state cut the number incarcerated in state youth prisons by 2/3. They have done more than most to move forward the public debate in Texas and America on overincarceration.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81247702150810044212013-09-10T11:54:02.259-05:002013-09-10T11:54:02.259-05:00Please send me an alert when Levin acknowledges th...Please send me an alert when Levin acknowledges that the real reason that TDCJ's population is FINALLY declining has nothing whatsoever to do with "Justice Reinvestment" Texas style.JGnoreply@blogger.com