New Criminal Justice Bills Balance Crime & Adult Prison Population
- By Sen. John Whitmire
- Published 08/16/2009
- Political
- Unrated
Sen. John Whitmire
Senator John Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District comprised of north Houston and north Harris County. He was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. With over 20 years of service in the Texas Senate, Senator Whitmire ranks first in seniority and serves as the "Dean of the Texas Senate."
View all articles by Sen. John Whitmire
Three-hundred and eighty-seven bills (both Senate and House) were referred to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, which conducted hearings on 260 bills, passing to the Senate floor 245, of which 131 were passed to enrolled and have become new laws. Thoroughly vetting of these bills was necessary to maintain the balance that has been achieved between addressing crimes and leveling out our adult prison populations. Concerning the adult system, within SB 1, the State budget, the TDCJ reforms of 2007 were funded for the completion and implementation of the planned treatment programs (6000 treatment beds and programs).
SB 809, (Whitmire), was amended onto HB 963 to allow an individual to receive a pre-qualification letter from a licensing authority concerning their criminal history before enrolling in required education or training classes. It also allows the licensing authority to issue provision licenses to certain offenders, who offenses were not directly related to that occupation and are over five years from the date of offense. This will allow skilled workers to re-enter the Texas workforce and maintain employment (including probationers and parolees). If successful for six months than a permanent license is to be issued.
Re-entry issues along with Prison and jail contraband issues (cell phones, tobacco, drugs, etc.) were addressed by house bills that I sponsored:
• In HB 1711 by Turner requiring the TDCJ to establish a comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan for offenders released on discharged from TDCJ facilities.
• In HB 1728 by Madden to allow TBCJ-OIG to issue administrative subpoenas for certain communications records.
• In HB 2086 by Moody placing certain crimes in prisons involving three or more person to introduce contraband or plan escapes, as well as street gang activities under the organized crime statues.
• In HB 2161 by Turner creating a process for DPS to issue personal identification certificate or driver license to present or former inmates of TDCJ.
• In HB 2289 by Madden establishing release points from TDCJ without having to release all from the Huntsville Unit. This should begin diverting releasee and parolees away from the downtown Houston bus station.
• In HB 3228 by Madden creating new tools to identify, block, jam and prosecute contraband issues in prison such as cell phones.
A major disappointment was in the attempt to correct observed problems in the asset forfeiture area. SB 1529 was left on the House major state calendar. I amended onto HB 1320 dealing with illegal cock fighting which also failed to pass the House. Concerning County Jails, I worked with Senator Averitt SB 2340 to include new tools for Harris County to use to discharge jail time through electronic monitoring, work programs and community service.
Concerning Juvenile justice, I passed the budget plan in SB 1 to reduce the population of TYC to 1900 in 2010 and 1800 in 2011, while providing more funds to the TJPC to keeps youth and provide treatment within their communities. At the same time maintaining the reforms establish in SB 103 (80R) and keeping both TYC and TJPC under sunset for two more years to perfect these reforms.
SB 809, (Whitmire), was amended onto HB 963 to allow an individual to receive a pre-qualification letter from a licensing authority concerning their criminal history before enrolling in required education or training classes. It also allows the licensing authority to issue provision licenses to certain offenders, who offenses were not directly related to that occupation and are over five years from the date of offense. This will allow skilled workers to re-enter the Texas workforce and maintain employment (including probationers and parolees). If successful for six months than a permanent license is to be issued.
Re-entry issues along with Prison and jail contraband issues (cell phones, tobacco, drugs, etc.) were addressed by house bills that I sponsored:
• In HB 1711 by Turner requiring the TDCJ to establish a comprehensive reentry and reintegration plan for offenders released on discharged from TDCJ facilities.
• In HB 1728 by Madden to allow TBCJ-OIG to issue administrative subpoenas for certain communications records.
• In HB 2086 by Moody placing certain crimes in prisons involving three or more person to introduce contraband or plan escapes, as well as street gang activities under the organized crime statues.
• In HB 2161 by Turner creating a process for DPS to issue personal identification certificate or driver license to present or former inmates of TDCJ.
• In HB 2289 by Madden establishing release points from TDCJ without having to release all from the Huntsville Unit. This should begin diverting releasee and parolees away from the downtown Houston bus station.
• In HB 3228 by Madden creating new tools to identify, block, jam and prosecute contraband issues in prison such as cell phones.
A major disappointment was in the attempt to correct observed problems in the asset forfeiture area. SB 1529 was left on the House major state calendar. I amended onto HB 1320 dealing with illegal cock fighting which also failed to pass the House. Concerning County Jails, I worked with Senator Averitt SB 2340 to include new tools for Harris County to use to discharge jail time through electronic monitoring, work programs and community service.
Concerning Juvenile justice, I passed the budget plan in SB 1 to reduce the population of TYC to 1900 in 2010 and 1800 in 2011, while providing more funds to the TJPC to keeps youth and provide treatment within their communities. At the same time maintaining the reforms establish in SB 103 (80R) and keeping both TYC and TJPC under sunset for two more years to perfect these reforms.