HB 1915 and SB 653: Are they worth it?

State Representative Jerry Madden

On February 28, 2011, House Bill 1915 was filed.  This bill, authored by Madden, suggests “abolishing the Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and transferring powers and duties of those agencies to the newly created Juvenile Justice Department and to the functions of the independent ombudsman that serves the department” (Texas Legislature Online).  Representative Jerry Madden (R-Plano) and Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston) recommended this bill and stated that the merging of the two agencies would both save the state money and have a positive impact on juvenile justice in Texas. 
On March 2, 2011, Senate Bill 653 was filed.  This bill suggests the same abolishment as HB 1915 and was authored by Senator John Whitmire.

State Senator John Whitmire

If passed, what will this mean?

     Several rural facilities will be closed and most offenders will be sent to urban areas that are close to other resources.  By relying less on rural and ineffective facilities and giving more attention to more local, community-based institutions, youth outcomes can be improved.  The concentration of most offenders in institutions close to their homes might also be beneficial to the offenders’ emotional well-being and would reduce costs.  Approximately $150 million would be saved but not all of the funds would be transferred back to the state. Hopefully, some funds would be given to the TJJD for probation funding so that juveniles can be followed throughout the probation process.  As mentioned previously in a blog about TYC, the daily cost for one inmate in 2010 was $359.  Conversely, probation costs were only $23 per day. Although HB 1915 and SB 653 would cut juvenile justice costs down, would they really have a positive impact on juvenile justice?

More to follow!

Texas Legislature(2011). Texas Legislature Online: 82nd Legislature Regular Session.  Retrieved March 28, 2011 from http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB01915

Texas Youth Commission (2011). Texas Youth Commission. Retrieved April 11, 2011 from http://www.tyc.state.tx.us/index.html