The crime rate is down, and fortunately, so is the number of people in Texas prisons. Texas is one of seventeen states that are in the early stages of a criminal justice reform program which takes the money that is being saved by reducing prison populations and invests it into programs designed to reduce first-time incarceration and recidivism.

State leaders have chosen to opt out of building more prisons to house non-violent offenders, and are focusing instead in improving drug treatment and parole programs. Some of the notable reforms include giving more power to courts designed specifically to deal with drug offenses, rethinking the parole program, and making it easier for former prisoners to integrate into society after their release.

Drug courts are specialized courts for non-violent persons who are charged with drug-related offenses. The focus of drug courts is rehabilitation, rather than punishment, and they serve to help offenders move forward in their lives as productive members of society. Prior to 2001, there were only seven drug courts in Texas. There are now seventy four. Participants in drug court programs attend regular status hearings, where they inform the court of their progress through their individualized program of assessment, monitoring, and comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Probation and parole reforms have reduced the amount of people who are sent back to jail after violating the conditions of their release by providing intermediate steps in between an initial violation and a return to prison. Intermediate sanction facilities are intended for short-term confinement, where offenders can receive additional treatment and another chance at avoiding a return to prison.

When prisoners are released, it is often difficult for them to get a fresh start because they encounter difficulties in finding housing, jobs, and other resources that can help them begin building a better life. Recent reforms have increased the amount of preparation that prisoners undergo before they are released, in hopes that this will help them to make better choices once they gain their freedom. Community organizations like “Bridges to Life” in Amarillo and similar programs throughout the state provide training and support to released prisoners, which increase their chance of success.

The reforms have been effective so far, and are expected to continue to be just as effective if not even more so. Between 2004 and 2007, the percentage of released offenders who went back to prison within three years of their release dropped from thirty percent to twenty four percent. Three adult prisons and six juvenile detention facilities have been closed, thanks to programs that focus on treatment and rehabilitation within the community setting rather than confinement. There also have been reductions in overall criminal justice spending, even as the amounts spent on treatment, probation, and other community-based services have increased. Perhaps most importantly, the people who are most affected by the reforms, the offenders and their families, are being handled in a way that acknowledges their potential for change and personal growth while keeping the public safe by ensuring that the most dangerous offenders are securely confined.

If you are facing criminal charges, it is essential that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. A knowledgeable East Texas criminal defense attorney can help you to present your best possible case and evaluate any possible alternatives to conviction which may be available to you. To learn how a criminal defense attorney can help you, call Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Alex Tyra now, of the Law Office of Alex Tyra, P.C., to schedule a free initial consultation. We can be reached at (903) 753-7499, or you may visit our website and submit a convenient online contact form.