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Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 81st Legislature
Subjects:	Capital murder trials \| Child abuse \| Correctional officers \| Criminal justice \| Criminal Justice, Texas Department of \| Deferred adjudication \| Drug trafficking \| Homicide \| Juvenile justice system \| Mental health services \| Mentally ill inmates \| Methamphetamine \| Occupational licenses \| Ombudsmen \| Pardons and Paroles, Texas Board of \| Penalties and sentences (Criminal justice) \| Police officers \| Prison population \| Prison security \| Prisoner re-entry \| Privately-operated prisons \| Pseudoephedrine \| Recidivism \| Searches and seizures \| Sex offenders \| Substance abuse \| Texas Code of Criminal Procedure \| Theft \| Youth Commission, Texas \| Youthful offenders \|
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 C868
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [113 pages File size: 13,967 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Determine how private prisons are complying with state laws and how cost, safety, living conditions and rehabilitative services at private prisons compare with state-run facilities. Include an assessment of the staff turnover rates and compensation of private contractors when compared with state-operated facilities, and of the contract bidding processes used by the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
2.	Monitor the implementation of SB 103, 80th R.S., and the continuing reforms to the Texas Youth Commission and the juvenile criminal justice system. Identify barriers to effective implementation and provide recommendations to ensure that the goals of this legislation are achieved. Provide recommendations relating to best practices and identify needed additional treatment programs for juvenile sex offenders.
3.	Study the impact of laws designed to reduce illegal drug use and make recommendations for reducing access to illegal drugs and for developing best practices for preventative programs, focusing on drugs targeted for the younger population, such as cheese heroin. Assess the impact of limiting access to pseudoephedrine, including the impact restrictions have had on illegal manufacturers' methods for producing methamphetamine.
4.	Monitor the implementation of the new and expanded programs provided to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) within the Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009 budget, and identify their impact on the criminal justice populations. Study security issues within TDCJ, including staffing issues, use of lock down procedures, the control and containment of infectious diseases and the introduction and control of contraband within the institutions. Review the use of career ladders for employees of TDCJ and issues surrounding the retention of professional corrections staff. Study the issues of independent oversight of TDCJ, including the use and effectiveness of the TDCJ ombudsman system. Provide recommendations for the reduction or elimination of barriers to an effective corrections system.
5.	Study and make recommendations for reducing the number of law enforcement officer deaths in the line of duty. This study should include: an assessment of the types of calls and assignments that put law enforcement officers most at risk; the geographic regions of the state that suffer the most deaths; the agencies experiencing the highest rate of deaths in the line of duty; the time in an officer's career, and the officer's age that he or she is most susceptible to death in the line of duty; and the times of year, month, and day that are most dangerous.
6.	Study the issue of criminal asset seizure and the use of seized and forfeiture funds by district attorneys and law enforcement agencies. Review the oversight of these matters by the Texas Attorney General and provide recommendations to improve the dissemination of information concerning these funds. Ensure that these funds have the appropriate accountability and fiscal controls required for public funds.
7.	Study the system of deferred adjudication in Texas courts and make recommendations for resolving any problems and reducing the potential for release of dangerous criminals.
8.	Study and recommend best practices for reducing re-victimization of child abuse victims associated with delay in resolution of criminal cases. Recommend options for reducing the time lapse between child victimization and criminal hearings.
9.	Review the processes for re-entry of criminal offenders into communities. Identify barriers to the successful return to law-abiding behavior, including the absence of employment opportunities created by restriction on obtaining certain state occupational licenses. Provide recommendations for improvements to our current statutes governing this matter.
10.	Study whether Articles 36.09 (relating to trying multiple defendants from the same transaction either separately or jointly) and 36.10 (relating to severing defendants that show prejudice from a joint trial) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure provide sufficient safeguards to ensure fair and reliable trial results in capital cases with multiple defendants. Determine whether the articles provide trial judges with sufficient instruction regarding joinder or severance of defendants and, if not, make recommendations to improve procedures.
11.	Study the relationship between the public mental health system and the criminal justice and civil courts systems, including the identification and sharing of information regarding mentally ill offenders, including minors, among criminal justice and mental health agencies, the courts, state hospitals, and the Veterans Administration. Study how current confidentiality laws impact the exchange of information among groups described above. Study the sentencing of mentally ill offenders compared to non-mentally ill offenders, including minors, and the affect that has on statewide prison capacity and on the health care provided to mentally ill offenders. (Joint Charge with Senate State Affairs Committee)
12.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Criminal Justice Committee, 80th R.S., and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, report on the implementation of SB 909, 80th R.S., the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Sunset legislation, including provisions relating to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, and monitor implementation of the new laws relating to copper theft (SB 1154, 80th R.S., HB 1766, 80th R.S., and HB 1767, 80th R.S.).
Committee:	Senate Criminal Justice
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 80th Legislature
Subjects:	Border drug trafficking \| Border issues \| Border security \| Child abuse \| Competency to stand trial \| Inmate health \| Mentally ill inmates \| Methamphetamine \| Non-citizen inmates \| Privately-operated prisons \| Probation \| Pseudoephedrine \| Youth Commission, Texas \|
Library Call Number:	L1836.79 C868
Session:	79th R.S. (2005)
Online version:	View report [69 pages File size: 16,360 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the resources and facilities available to offenders with mental health needs in the Texas criminal justice system. Provide an inventory of resources and facilities. Develop recommendations to better allocate existing resources and efficiently address the needs of this population.
2.	Study the expenditure patterns and identify trends in the community supervision and corrections departments' use of state and local monies, known collectively as the Judicial Districts Trust Funds. Ascertain the percentages spent on direct supervision of probationers and identify notable policy decisions. Provide recommendations for improvements and methods of maximizing the use of these funds.
3.	Examine the allegations of abuse and neglect within the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) facilities and the appropriateness of TYC response. Include an analysis of factors that may be affecting the safety of inmates and staff and make recommendations for Legislative actions to improve the safety of inmates and staff at these facilities.
4.	Monitor the implementation of legislation relating to reducing the production and abuse of methamphetamine, including the predicted impact of methamphetamine's increased availability on state resources and criminal justice populations, and make recommendations for additional programs for further reductions in abuse and production.
5.	Study and make recommendations for methods to reduce kidnapping and violence along the Texas Border, focusing on reducing drug-related crime.
6.	Monitor the expenditure of funds for adult probation services dedicated to the lowering of revocations to state prisons and state jails. Examine the compliance with and effectiveness of associated budget riders and make recommendations for future funding needs.
7.	Study the feasibility of the State of Texas establishing or contracting with a private prison facility in the country of Mexico in order to house non-violent Mexican Nationals currently being housed in Texas prisons.
8.	Review other states' correctional health care systems and make recommendations, if necessary, for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Texas' system.

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