Texas Prison Reforms

According to a new report released by the Justice Department, Texas has become a successful example of a state that worked to reduce its prison population and find new solutions for nonviolent offenders.

In 2007, Texan lawmakers passed measures geared toward reducing the prison population and saving $443 million. They also invested $241 million in substance abuse and mental health treatment programs. These measures proved successful and the state’s prison population increased by .4% in 2008 (down from an average annual increase of 3% since 2003).

Texas is still considered far behind many other states in reducing its prison population, but these steps are the beginning.

According to University of Houston Law Center professor Sandra Guerra Thompson, University of Houston Law Center professor, agrees: “We’re way behind many other states, and we have a long way to go to catch up.” But, she said, “There seems to have been a change recently, a more nuanced approach.”

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