NCJ Number
169823
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study presents data and information on the projected county jail backlog by year (fiscal years 1995-2000) in Texas under various policy assumptions, with attention to the projected impact of S.B. 15, which bears upon the use of jails for State felons.
Abstract
Under a "Baseline" scenario, the key assumption used for the jail population projection is that current law is modified for maximum use of available capacity. Such modification would allow offenders to stay in transfer facilities longer than 12 months and would also allow State jails to be used as transfer facilities after September 1, 1997. Under a "Current Law" scenario, the current law would not be modified to allow offenders to stay in transfer facilities longer than 12 months or to allow State jails to be used as transfer facilities after September 1, 1997. Under the "S.B. 15/Current Law" scenario, there would be the same assumptions as under the "Current Law" scenario except that State jail felons can be directly sentenced to State jails; the maximum State jail sentence will be 3 years; State jail felons with any two prior convictions can be enhanced as third-degree felons and be sentenced to prison; and the burglary of a vehicle can be changed from a misdemeanor to a State jail felony. The "S.B. 15/Baseline" scenario would have the same assumptions as "S.B. 15/Current Law," except that it is assumed that current law is modified to allow offenders to stay in transfer facilities longer than 12 months and that State jails can be used as transfer facilities after September 1, 1997. This report presents data on prison and State jail backlogs under each scenario for each fiscal year from 1995 through 2000.