NCJ Number
179576
Date Published
1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This report details efforts of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to manage sex offenders, based on information from agency databases, interviews with program administrators and staff, a survey of the 122 community corrections agencies, and focus group discussions.
Abstract
Offenders are generally considered to be sex offenders if their current offense is a sex offense, if they have a prior sex offense, or if they admit to participating in criminal sexual behavior. The adult criminal justice system in Texas is responsible for supervising at least 38,650 felony sex offenders; these amount to 9.7 percent of the felony population. Eighty-four percent of the Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD) Judicial Districts require treatment as a standard condition of community supervision for sex offenders. Ninety-five percent of required sex offenders are registered; 90 percent of parolees were registered in 1997. Ninety-three percent of the sex offenders who were on parole on August 31, 1998 and were required to attend the treatment program were actively participating. Forty-nine percent of the CSCDs have specialized supervision as a standard condition of community supervision. Approximately half of the CSCD Judicial Districts require sex offenders to be screened and assessed to identify their treatment needs as a standard condition of community supervision. A review of the national sex offender treatment models and the Texas programs indicates that the TDCJ has implemented crucial strategies suggested by experts. Footnotes and discussion of policy issues related to sex offender registration, sex offenders in State jails, program coverage, and service delivery