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Conservative Republican Dedicated American |
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A Legacy of Serving Texas One Issue At A Time |
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State Jail, Re-entry
Challenges, and Technological Advances
For Immediate Release Contact::Merita Zoga AUSTIN– Thursday, the Texas House Corrections Committee held a public hearing to review the state jail system, prisoner re-entry challenges, and the use of technology in criminal justice activities. The Committee heard from various agencies and public testimony from across the state.
Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice discussed the recently approved prisoner
phone contract along with representatives from the software
vendors, Embarq Corp and its partner Securus Technologies. The
phone system is estimated to be installed over a 7 1/2 month
period with advanced safeguards such as biometric identifiers
and voice recognition to provide victim's security measures
as required by enabling legislation. Mr. Livingston also outlined
highlights in TDCJ's Legislative Appropriations Request including
a pay package for correctional and20parole officers, expansion
of in-prison therapeutic community substance abuse treatment
programs, and enhanced re-entry services for offenders to address
logistical
Independent organizations representing areas from Austin, San Antonio, Lubbock, and Tarrant County testified to the success in their individual programs for prisoner re-entry. All stressed that treatment and community based programs are critical to reducing recidivism.
Chairman Madden invited directors from the UT Dallas Center
for Brain Health after the Center for Disease Control estimated
that as high as 86% of incarcerate individuals suffer from an
earlier brain injury. The Center for Brain Health is using functional
brain imaging along with other technological advancements to
conduct research to assess head injuries, the ability to reason,
with the hope to develop innovative solutions concerning the
education of our youth and preventing what's been dubbed as
the school
Testimony throughout the hearing identified consistent problems with certain databases, sharing of information, as well as the lack there of The committee delved into problem areas indentified in TDCJ's long overdue Offender Information Management System by the State Auditor's Report.
The Texas House Corrections Committee will publish a report with legislative recommendations to the interim charges late this fall.
Merita Zoga
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Letter From the Representative Jul 21, 2008 Madden Joins Group of Leaders to Discuss Justice Issues July 28, 2008 Csg Justice Center Convenes Bipartisan Group Of Leaders
Apr 10, 2008 Representative Jerry Madden To Attend White House Ceremony
Feb 5, 2008 Whitmire And Madden Optimistic About New Prison Population Projections
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