Sweeping new prison plan would save state millions

TDCJ Photo

 By Mike Ward

Significant changes in how Texas operates its state prisons and punishes its nonviolent, low-level felons are to be proposed today in a move that supporters say could save tens of millions of additional dollars for a cash-strapped state budget.

Included is a plan to expand the use of "shock probation" sentences with limited prison time, to charge imprisoned felons more for their medical care, to study hiring additional private companies to run state jails and transport convicts between prisons, to consider releasing some critically ill convicts to save on medical bills and to begin selling over-the-counter medications to convicts rather than giving them away.
A fiscal note on the proposed changes says they could save nearly $13.5 million in two years, according to a copy of the document obtained by the American-Statesman. But House leaders said they expect that the savings could be at least twice that.

See entire Story Here ! 


Backgate Says:

Does the state of Texas need the liability of an outside company paying it's Officers minimum wage to watch over some pretty bad inmates ? We have all seen the meltdowns in the past surrounding private prison companies. Riots, murders, etc. - Keep prisons under state care.