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
Jails
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
Texas Commission on Jail Standards: Latest Meeting Recap
By Burnet County Judge Donna Klaeger, Chairman The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (Commission) voted to adopt a change to Standard and was briefed on preparations for the upcoming legislative session at the Commission’s quarterly meeting on May 1 in Austin. The adopted Standard adds the loss of good time credit as a sanction for a minor infraction. Current rules only … [Read more...] about Texas Commission on Jail Standards: Latest Meeting Recap
Walker County Celebrates New Jail
Facility Opens Under Budget and Ahead of Schedule Walker County broke ground on its new jail in mid-December 2012 and celebrated its completion March 25, 2014, with a well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony. For six years, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards had been urging Walker County to build a new jail. The old, run-down lockup was only able to pass inspection via a … [Read more...] about Walker County Celebrates New Jail