Is it Time for a Change in Texas’ State Jail System?
In 1993, Texas made history (and drew the attention of the entire country) by establishing a state jail system designed to offer specialized treatment to certain inmates in order to lower their risk of recidivism and encourage them to become productive members of society. The program was specifically aimed at inmates convicted of a: • Nonviolent drug-related offense • Relatively minor theft crime • First-offense • Fourth-degree felony For several years, the state jail system seemed to be working, lowering an original recidivism rate for these petty criminals from an all-time high of 60 percent to a more manageable 34 percent. Keep in mind, however, that even the 34 percent rate is much higher than inmates coming out of the state prison system, which averages a rate of 28 percent. The mission of the state jails – to rehabilitate and treat the so-called “confinees,” giving them coping and technical skills necessary to rejoin society at a lower cost to the taxpayers – has shifted in recen
