NCJ Number
143238
Date Published
1993
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The projection for Texas jail backlogs between fiscal years 1993 and 2000 was conducted using the JUSTICE computerized projection and simulation model developed by the Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council.
Abstract
The report accompanying the projection is based on several assumptions concerning prison release/admission rates, prison and State jail capacities, beds available in community corrections drug treatment programs, and sentencing patterns. The projection assumes the continuation of the current prison release policy of 75 per day; it also accounts for the increase in prison capacity due to a recent court settlement and new State jail capacity. The projected jail backlog of State offenders in county jails will be 21,408 by 1995 and the population of State jails will be 12,549; under status quo prison release and sentencing policies, Texas will not be able to meet its commitment to accept by September 1, 1995 all offenders sentenced to prison. Time served in prison is projected to increase from 18 percent of sentence in 1991 to 38 percent of sentence by 2000; present legal provisions preclude time served in prison increasing beyond 42 percent of sentence unless good time credit awards are restricted. 4 tables, 4 charts, and 3 appendixes