By Brandon Wood, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Jail Standards For the most part, our job at the Texas Commission on Jail Standards hinges on communication – not halfhearted or insincere attempts at communicating, but real communication. Whether it is in Austin or one of the far-flung corners across this huge state, I have had the opportunity to meet … [Read more...] about Open Communication Key to State/County Partnership
Jails
Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness Part 3
Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness: Pretrial Diversion Across the Country and the Next Steps for Texas to Improve its Efforts and Increase Utilization Editor’s Note: The following is Part 3 in a series, “Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness,” a report released in June 2015. The full report is available at … [Read more...] about Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness Part 3
Overincarceration of Mentally Ill Inmates Part 2
Pretrial Diversion Across the Country and the Next Steps for Texas to Improve its Efforts and Increase Utilization Editor’s Note: The following is Part 2 in a series, “Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness,” a report released in June 2015. The full report is available at http://rightoncrime.com/2015/06/overincarceration-of-people-with-mental-illness/. Part 1 ran in … [Read more...] about Overincarceration of Mentally Ill Inmates Part 2
Special Jail Section
TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION TIDC Awards Grant to Fund Public Defender Program in Willacy County On Aug. 21, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC or Commission) awarded a two year grant for $313,308 to provide funding for the Willacy County Public Defender Office (WPDO). Willacy County is currently facing a financial crisis due to the termination … [Read more...] about Special Jail Section
Texas County Jails: Current Events
County Progress asked Brandon Wood, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (Commission), to address some of the relevant issues facing county jails. Q: As we approach the 84th Session of the Texas Legislature, do you anticipate any impact on the TCJS? The agency was instructed to submit a supplemental appropriations request that would … [Read more...] about Texas County Jails: Current Events