House Committee on Security and Sanctions - 66th R.S. (1979)
Committee Members
- Jimmie C. Edwards III, Chair
- Jim D. Rudd, Vice Chair
- Bill Blanton, Vice Chair - Appropriative Matters
- Jerry L. Benedict
- Matt Garcia
- Joe Hernandez
- Ted Lyon
- Robert 'Bob' Maloney
- James Nowlin
- Irma Rangel
- Craig A. Washington
Charges
- Study issues associated with jail standards and conditions in Texas, including the operation and accomplishments of the Jail Standards Commission, the impact of Ruiz v. Estelle on county jails, possible future legal challenges, and issues for rural county jails.*
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Oversight functions shall be conducted for all appropriations-related actions of those agencies assigned to this committee for appropriative purposes during the 66th Regular Session of the Legislature. The agencies include:
Texas Youth Council
Texas Department of Corrections
Pardons and Paroles
Texas Adult Probation Commission
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Department of Public Safety (less Traffic Law Enforcement)
- Conduct an in-depth study of the current status of the Texas prison system, specifically in regard to housing, medical-dental care, rehabilitative alternatives to incarceration, the use of inmates as building tenders, training standards for correctional officers and other personnel, and education services available to inmates.
- Compare trends in recidivism rates and treatment costs per youth involved in Juvenile Probation Service, CHINS, Wilderness Programs, etc.
- Study the purpose of parole supervision and its effectiveness.
- Assess the ability of the Adult Probation Commission to ensure performance-based success of local grant programs.
- Develop legislation in coordination with the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence concerning a limited criminal record-keeping system.
- Determine the extent to which the State should assist local jails in court cases involving jail standards.
- Study the feasibility of the Department of Corrections contracting with private, non-profit agencies to assist prior offenders to obtain employment, housing, transportation and counseling.
* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.
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