The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has recommended significant changes to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including closing correctional facilities struggling with staffing shortages and improving the oversight of inmate rehabilitation programs.
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, a body that evaluates the performance of state agencies, recommended Wednesday that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) take several steps to improve its operations. The commission, comprised of 10 lawmakers and two public members, highlighted issues with staffing shortages and the lack of adequate oversight of inmate rehabilitation programs. The commission voted to recommend legislation addressing these concerns to the Texas Legislature.
The commission's report, released in September 2023, revealed that some Texas prisons were grappling with staff vacancies reaching up to 70%. This alarming trend, coupled with concerns about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, prompted the commission to call for immediate action. TDCJ was urged to identify the root causes driving employee turnover and create better pathways for career advancement within the agency. Additionally, the commission stressed the need for TDCJ to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation and reentry programs, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently.Furthermore, the commission recommended that TDCJ collaborate with Windham School District, which provides educational services to incarcerated Texans, to expand postsecondary career and technical education opportunities. This partnership aims to equip inmates with valuable skills for successful reintegration into society. The commission also recommended digitizing certain processes, such as allowing inmates to access their institutional and disciplinary records on tablets and enabling the viewing of parole status letters on these devices. To enhance efficiency and address overcrowding concerns, the commission proposed ending the mandate requiring TDCJ to maintain certain state jails designed for low-level offenders
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRISON REFORM STAFFING SHORTAGES INMATE REHABILITATION
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