New Prison Construction Proposed in Texas

DALLAS – Texas may have to build as many as five prisons over the next six years to meet a rising number of offenders and probation violators in a prison system already near capacity, the Dallas Morning News reports.

A board composed of state leaders reported Jan. 18 that the new prisons may be needed if the current rate of incarceration continues. There are currently 150,575 inmates in the state’s prison system. More than 14,000 inmates could be added to that system by 2010, said the Legislative Budget Board.

The report said many criminal justice officials believe the prison population is climbing because of a failed probation system. The number of revoked probations rose 18 percent between 2001 and 2004.

The rate of felons having their probation revoked rose 18 percent between 2001 and 2004, according to the report obtained by the Dallas Morning News. It is due to be released in late January.

A preliminary state budget, released recently, suggests spending an additional $40 million for contracted space in county jails and cutting funding for adult probation departments, whose rolls are falling.

Officials interviewed for the budget board's report also recommended reducing the probation terms for some offenses, revising laws to keep small-time drug users out of state jails and prisons, and reducing the probation terms of offenders who have successfully completed drug treatment programs.

Texas Youth Commission facilities are also expected to exceed capacity in the next two years. The report says 236 more juveniles would be added to commission facilities by 2007, which would put the facilities nearly 12 percent over capacity.