AUSTIN, TX – Texas’ largest statewide effort to reform the state’s criminal justice system today lauded the Texas Legislature for their work in making the system smarter, safer and more cost effective. From women’s dignity legislation to occupational licensing reform, criminal justice reform generated broad-based, bipartisan support during this year’s Legislative Session.

“Criminal justice reform is about getting better results, better outcomes and lower costs. It’s about creating opportunities for redemption,” said Bill Hammond, Chief Strategist of Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition. “The Texas Legislature showed its commitment to these core values of reform in a significant way this session. There’s work still to be done, but we’ve made great strides to reform our broken criminal justice system, strengthen our communities, reduce taxpayer costs and keep Texas safe.”

Among the bills passed this Legislative Session that the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition considered a priority:

 

 

“Republicans and Democrats stood together to pass meaningful reforms to improve the treatment of women incarcerated in Texas’ state correctional facilities,” said Lindsey Linder, Senior Policy Attorney, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. “From improving conditions of confinement for women to addressing some of the root causes that contribute to women being incarcerated, to training to support pregnant women inmates, to understanding women’s unique role as primary caregivers, the Texas Legislature made women’s dignity a top priority in reforming the criminal justice system.”

 

The Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition pointed to previous polling by the coalition that showed strong Republican voter support for increasing job training for people in jail or prison and for reducing regulations so that former felons who have paid their debt to society can more readily apply and receive licenses for gainful employment.

 

“By funding a work re-entry pilot program authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2017, the Texas Legislature is addressing a significant area of reform by providing education, job training and job placement for non-violent offenders — the more than 70,000 people who return to our communities from prison each year,” said Traci Berry, Goodwill Central Texas.

 

“Easing job licensing requirements offers a second chance to people with a criminal record while reducing recidivism,” said Craig DeRoche, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Public Policy, Prison Fellowship. “Occupational licensing reform passed this Session will allow those who have served their time access to the dignity of work, will build the local economy, and contribute to stronger families and communities.”

 

While the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) was a well-intentioned idea when the Texas Legislature created it in 2003 to fund trauma centers, the coalition noted it has created severe economic hardships, put more unlicensed drivers on the roads and limited employment opportunities.

 

“We’re pleased to see the Texas Legislature repealed the Driver Responsibility Program that’s caused significant unintended consequences for Texas and our criminal justice system, while looking to other funding to support our state’s trauma centers while” said Nicholas Hudson, Smart Justice Strategist, ACLU of Texas.

 

To learn more about the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition and these legislative priorities, visit smartoncrimetexas.com.

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About the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition

The Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition is the largest statewide effort working to make Texas’ criminal justice system smarter, safer, and more cost effective. The Coalition brings together businesses, faith organizations, nonprofit organizations, and the state’s most prominent conservative and progressive advocacy organizations to pursue a plan to address, reduce, and prevent crime. Members of the coalition include the Texas Association of Business, Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, Prison Fellowship, Christian Life Commission, Goodwill Central Texas, Texas Association of Goodwills, and ACLU of Texas.

 

Online at smartoncrimetexas.com, on Twitter @SmartOnCrimeTX and on Facebook.com/TXSmartOnCrime.