NCJ Number
197915
Date Published
2002
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This 2001 Annual Review of The Texas Department of Criminal Justice presents data and information on offender supervision, programs, support services, and oversight.
Abstract
An overview of the work of the Department of Criminal Justice encompasses the role and activities of the Board of Criminal Justice and the Department of Criminal Justice. The Board of Criminal Justice is composed of nine members appointed by the governor and is charged with governing the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The mission of the Department of Criminal Justice is "to provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate offenders into society, and assist victims of crime." The "Overview" section of this report also addresses employee service to the community, community work projects, organizational structure of the Department of Criminal Justice, and a financial summary. In improving public safety, the Department developed defensive tactics training for unit employees and supplied Global Positioning Satellite units for dog-tracking teams to aid in tracking fugitives. New offender programs were developed, and successful ones were expanded to promote positive behavioral change in the offender population, such as the Fatherhood Program and the Habitat for Humanity partnership. In the area of supervision support functions, greater attention was given to alternatives to incarceration, including the expansion of the mental health initiative. In order to enhance offender reintegration, the Windham School District emphasized its reading program and offered, along with Texas Correctional Industries, offender training and certification in a number of marketable trades. In providing better tools for supervising parolees, the Department improved training for parole officers. The Department continued to serve as a central source of information and support for crime victims.