tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post8386390952772999401..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Ideology, interest and Texas probation reformsGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-69221944593255033452013-08-27T21:28:03.002-05:002013-08-27T21:28:03.002-05:00There were several bills in 2003, 05 and 07, but t...There were several bills in 2003, 05 and 07, but the biggest changes were in the budget in '07 when they financed treatment and diversion programs that were on the books but unused because of no funds. There's not really a one stop shopping list of the reforms that I know of, but the folks at the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition and the Texas Public Policy Foundation could probably help you nail it down.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67614046727646434812013-08-27T12:40:42.830-05:002013-08-27T12:40:42.830-05:00Apri8it Grits.
Regarding probation reforms, any i...Apri8it Grits.<br /><br />Regarding probation reforms, any idea as to where I'd locate a list of actual Texas reforms? <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-81518391363615608822013-06-24T15:15:28.950-05:002013-06-24T15:15:28.950-05:00TAB wasn't around on these topics in 2007, 11:...TAB wasn't around on these topics in 2007, 11:54, but they helped on several good bills this year, <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/19/business-association-boosts-criminal-justice-bills/" rel="nofollow">see here</a>.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45230912585088365812013-06-24T12:27:57.811-05:002013-06-24T12:27:57.811-05:00While we are on the subject of reforming probation...While we are on the subject of reforming probation, in Texas. <br />I'd like to thank all of those that took time to heed the calls to contact the long list of public servants asking them to consider reforming the probation related fiasco and its direct correlation to the 97% plea bargain rate, from the top down. *Some of us even did it in person & vowed to return. <br /><br />Sadly, they all seemed to ignore the part where we asked them (for months & months) to put aside gang affiliations and reduce the 97% plea bargain rate with a bill aimed at forcing CDLs to lists any & all reason(s) for advising client(s) on Probation (at time of arrest) to stop jury trial(s) in order to Plea Bargain. Basically, this form of transparency would have provided an official record regarding 'all' Reason(s) as they become part of the defendant's case file & filed with the District clerk’s office. <br /><br />Therefore, when a lawyer takes or is appointed a felony case that ends up in a jury trial, he / she can no longer fake their way to this crucial point only to extract a guilty plea from their very own client(s) based on the following lie. Btw, a verifiable lie that: the Judge, the ADA, the Defense & the Defendant’s Probation Officer all must be in on in order to result in – incarceration via an erroneous / false confession. <br /><br />"Stop the jury trial. Take the plea, Guilty or Not, you are going to prison just for being arrested on a new unrelated charge while on probation." <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-42934833325263978472013-06-24T11:54:17.412-05:002013-06-24T11:54:17.412-05:00Grits, regarding probation reforms.
Does the TAB ...Grits, regarding probation reforms.<br /><br />Does the TAB get any credit for their part or did they actually do anything to deserve credit? <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-18805576310618870152013-06-24T09:12:39.431-05:002013-06-24T09:12:39.431-05:00OTOH, the juvie side is a good example of where th...OTOH, the juvie side is a good example of where the adult system could eventually go. They cut their prison population by more than half in a very short span of time and juvenile crime continued to drop. Even if funding for probation is expanded, and I couldn't agree more it should be (haven't looked at the details of what you're talking about - I thought it was), it's a remarkable achievement to have that level of short-term de-incarceration. And for all the sky-is-falling predictions from the tuff-on-crime crowd, juvenile crime continued to fall during this period, undercutting the ability of political opponents to make hay with the issue.<br /><br />At least they covered the healthcare deficit for probation departments, that oughtta help some.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68246255183267232012013-06-24T08:03:02.190-05:002013-06-24T08:03:02.190-05:00It's interesting to see how the juvenile side ...It's interesting to see how the juvenile side pushed for intervention before juveniles could come into the legal system and with everyone doing such a great job overall referrals are down. THEN the LBB used that against the fiels and cut money to probation departments. What is wrong wqith that picture. Shoulda have added more money to keep more out of the system which in turn could reduce the number growing up and getting into the adult systemAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-24204646516039131582013-06-23T08:09:44.670-05:002013-06-23T08:09:44.670-05:00Yes, but the elections of Watkins and Lykos in Dal...Yes, but the elections of Watkins and Lykos in Dallas and Harris and Duty in Williamson at least temporarily reduced the clout of the biggest demagogues.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-89267615039602577402013-06-22T22:21:57.642-05:002013-06-22T22:21:57.642-05:00Apparently the the bulk of District Attorney Offic...Apparently the the bulk of District Attorney Offices were on a sabbatical when all this reform took place. They are still pushing and driving "lock em all up" approach. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com