In 2007, Tom Craddick, the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, issued a series of interim charges. Included among them was a joint charge to both the House Committee on Corrections and the House Committee on County Affairs. These committees were charged by the speaker to: Study policies and procedures related to illegal immigration and border security of the Texas … [Read more...] about Impact of Illegal ImmigrantsCounty Jail Survey Report 2008
Jails
Mental Health Courts and Their Essential Elements
Across the United States a disproportionate number of people with mental illnesses are repeatedly coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Estimates indicate that between 7 percent and 16 percent of individuals in U.S. jails and prisons have serious mental illnesses. Because these individuals' mental health needs often have not been adequately addressed in the … [Read more...] about Mental Health Courts and Their Essential Elements
TCJS Conducts First-Ever Strategy Session
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) met Feb. 6, 2008, in Austin for its first strategic planning session in the Commission's 33-year history. This session was part of an ongoing effort to ensure that the Jail Commission is not only meeting its statutory responsibilities and fulfilling its mission, but also providing the best possible service to the citizens of the … [Read more...] about TCJS Conducts First-Ever Strategy Session
Jail Commission Adopts Changes
Commission Adopts Changes The Texas Commission on Jail Standards adopted two changes at its Nov. 1 meeting, said Brandon S. Wood, assistant director with the Commission. The mental history check was modified so that facilities housing only federal inmates will no longer be required to perform the check, and the term "offender" was changed to "inmate" to better reflect … [Read more...] about Jail Commission Adopts Changes
Texas County Jails: Current Events
County Progress asked Adan Munoz, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), to address some of the relevant issues facing county jails. Q: With no new prisons in almost 10 years, Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) units are once again overflowing. What needs to be done to prevent a backlog of state inmates in county jails? A: County … [Read more...] about Texas County Jails: Current Events