TexasCriminalJusticeCoalition|2017|www.TexasCJC.org

1

AdultCriminalJusticeSystemReforms:1993–Present

• 1993–BirthoftheStateJail:Statejailsystemiscreatedtodivert individualswithlow-leveldrugoffensesfromlongsentencesinTDCJprisons.Statejailsareconceptualizedasaback-upsentenceforindividualswhodonotcomplywithcommunitysupervision. [Overnextseveralyears,however, tensof thousandsofTexanswith low-leveldrugoffensesaresentenceddirectlytostatejail,serving,onaverage,overoneyearandunderminingoriginalintentofstatejails.]

• 2001 – Landmark Defense Policy & Anti-Racial Policing Policy Passed: Texas enacts Fair Defense Act, which sets

framework for improving indigent defense policies in Texas and, among other things, establishes a Task Force onIndigentDefense (now called the Texas IndigentDefense Commission). Governor also signs law requiring Texas lawenforcement agencies todevelopdepartmental policieson racial profiling, and compile annual reportsonwho theystopandsearch,byrace.

• 2003–PreliminarySentencingReform:Shiftfromtough-on-crimetosmart-on-crimesentimentbegins.Filedpolicies

promote use of progressive sanctions for drug offenses involving possession of small amounts of certain controlledsubstances (signed into law), shortened and strengthened probation term lengths, and stronger treatmentinfrastructure. But state budget shortfall results in devastating cuts to probation, treatment, and parole – drivingprisonstobreakingpoint.

• 2005–DiversionFunding:Massmobilizationofindividualsadvocatingforsmart-on-crimereformsresultsinpassageof

policiesthatincreaseaccountabilityfordrugtaskforcesandincreaseaccessibilitytoidentificationcardsforpreviouslyincarceratedindividuals,whilealsoallocatingadditionalfundsforprobation.

• January2007–AlarmingPrisonProjections:Texasfacesprojectedprisonpopulationincreaseofupto17,000inmates

by2012(inadditiontonearly6,000bedsaddedbetween2004and2007)ifTexas’paceofincarcerationcontinues.• 2007LegislativeSession– JusticeReinvestment:Ratherthanagreeingtospend$2.63billionoverfiveyearsonnew

prison construction and operations, policy-makers work collaboratively and diligently to reinvest fraction of thisamount–$241million–inprobation,parole,treatmentbeds,etc.

• 2011–PrisonClosure:HistoricalshiftsresultinTexas’firstprisonclosure(SugarLandFacility).• 2011-2012–SunsetReviewofCriminal JusticeAgencies:SunsetAdvisoryCommissionreviewsTexasDepartmentof

Criminal Justice, Community Justice Assistance Division, Parole Board, and other agencies. Advocates call formajorimprovementsinallareas.

• 2003-2017–Smart-on-CrimePolicyPassage&Implementation:130newcrime-reductionstrategiespositivelyimpact

thecriminaljusticesystem,resultingintaxpayersavingsandfallingcrimeratesinTexas.Texasisseeingsafereductionsin incarceration levels at state and county levels, investments in treatment and diversion programs, progressivesanctions for drug offenses, increased reliance on risk assessments to inform probation conditions, reductions inpenalties across property offenses, greater emphasis on indigent defense delivery and prevention of wrongfulconvictions,higherparoleapprovalrates,andreentrymeasuresthathelppeopleavoidfurthersysteminvolvement.

• 2013–FacilityClosureApproved:Stateofficialsapproveclosureoftwoprivatefacilities,reflectingcontinuedshift in

attitudeamongTexasleadership,amidstfallingcrimeratesandbetterevidenceofalternatives.• 2015–MajorPenaltyReclassification:Forfirsttimein22years,Texasupdatesmonetary“thresholds”associatedwith

propertyoffensepenalties,leadingtosignificantreductionsinadmissionstostatejailsfortheft,andsavingmillions.• 2017 –Additional Facility Closures: Legislature largelydeprioritized criminal justice reformduring2017 session,but

budgetdesignatesfourcorrectionalfacilitiesforclosure,includingoneprison,onestatejail,oneintermediatesanctionfacility,andonepre-paroletransferfacility.Thisfollows2016closureofanotherintermediatesanctionfacility.Texas’crimeratehasfallen30percenttoalevelnotseensincelate1960’s,whileincarcerationratehasfallen20percent.

TexasCriminalJusticeCoalition|2017|www.TexasCJC.org

2

JuvenileJusticeSystem:2005–Present• Pre-2005–PunitiveApproachtoYouth:Juvenilejusticeisback-burnerissueinTexas.

• 2005 – Preliminary Youth Justice Efforts: Two juvenile justice bills are filed (addressing youth length-of-stay

requirements, lack of cultural competence in treatment programs and among field staff, and lack of independentinvestigationofabuseandneglectinTexasYouthCommission[TYC]).Billsdieincommittee.

• 2006-2007–PublicOutcryforReformtoAddressAbuse:IntensemediaandgovernmentalscrutinyexposeabuseandviolencetakingplaceinTYC.

• Spring 2007 – Swift LegislativeResponse: State leaderseffect immediate change inTYC leadershipand launch jointinvestigativecommittee.

• May 2007 – Sweeping Policy Reform: Policy-makers pass omnibus reform legislation (S.B. 103) with unanimousbipartisansupport.Legislationcontainsmorethan150specificreformsforTYCtoaccomplish.

• 2008 – Continued Scrutiny and Resource Reallocation: Texas’ juvenile justice agencies undergo Sunset AdvisoryCommission review. These include TYC, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC), andOffice of the IndependentOmbudsman(OIO).ResultingSunsetlegislationredirectssignificantamountoffundingtowardrehabilitationprogramsoperatedby county juvenileprobationdepartments, andcontinuesTYCandTJPCas stand-aloneagencies subject totwo-yearprobationaryperiod.

• 2011 Legislative Session – Agency Merger through Sunset Process: Senate and House budgets reduce TYC’sinstitutionalcapacity,callingforclosureofuptothreefacilities.NewSunset legislationwillmergeTYCandTJPC intonewTexas Juvenile JusticeDepartment and redirect currently incarcerated youth to juvenileprobation systemor toremaininglock-ups.

• June2011–FacilityClosures:ThreeTYCfacilitiescloseandtwoareconsolidated,resultingintransferofapproximately400youth;mostrelocatetooneofsixremainingstatefacilities,withfewreleasedintocommunity.

• December2011–NewYouthSystem:TexasJuvenileJusticeDepartment(TJJD)beginsoperations,withoversightoverprobationandcorrectionssystem.

• 2012–OngoingMonitoringofNewSystem:Advocatescontinuetomonitorimplementationof2011Sunsetlegislationatbothstateandcountylevels.

• 2007-2013–Smart-on-CrimePolicyPassage&Implementation:Morethan50newstrategiespositivelychangecourseofjuvenilejustice,resultinginmorehumanetreatmentofTexas’system-involvedyouth.

• August2013–FacilityClosureVote:Stateofficialsapproveclosureofsecurefacilityformentallyillyouth;advocatesmonitoryouthtransfers.

• 2015-2017–MajorReforms:Texaspolicy-makerspass lawsthatmoveTJJDtoaregionalmodelthatwillkeepyouthclosertohomeinlieuofcommitmenttostatefacilities;expandjurisdictionofOfficeoftheOmbudsman;andrequireautomaticjuvenilerecordsealingorpermanentrecorddestructionincertaincircumstancestoreducefuturebarrierstoeducation,employment,housing,andotherservices.

• November2017–ContinuedIncidentsofAbuse:Reportsuncoverabuse,neglect,andsexualmisconductatGainesvilleStateSchool,promptingadvocatesandsome lawmakers todemandreform.TJJDset tohirenewExecutiveDirector,whowillbetaskedwithoverseeingneededreforms.