Dear Reader,
As the Executive Director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC), I am thrilled to provide the public with our first policy guide, which promotes criminal justice solutions that embody the principles of effective management, accountability, public safety, and human and civil rights.
Right now Texas has the opportunity to be at the forefront in the nation by developing and implementing a plan that will decrease crime and yield a larger return of investment for taxpayers. This legislative session state lawmakers must work to improve three crucial areas: the ineffective supervisory practices that are overburdening our prisons; the inefficient police practices that are adversarial to those most in need of protection; and the unconstitutional court practices that are impeding fair treatment in our legal system.
Texas prisons are at a breaking point. Lawmakers can either attempt to mask the problem by continuing the status quo and building more prisons, or they can tackle the root causes of overcrowding head on by implementing crime reduction strategies that include stronger probation and parole structures and the delivery of effective treatment.
Employing more efficient police practices will benefit both law enforcement and the communities they serve. Texas has an obligation to safeguard its police officers; we must clearly define law enforcement duties to insulate them from liability while they carry out their responsibilities. This will allow them to focus on better protecting the public, rather than causing them to waste time second-guessing the legality of their actions.
Protecting the innocent and defending the constitutional rights of the accused promotes judicial efficiency by rendering more sound verdicts. Ensuring that all Texans have access to the courts and that innocent people are given the available tools to prove their innocence will restore faith in the system.
Texas is at a crossroads. This publication has been created to point those who are committed to meeting Texas’ public safety needs in the right direction. We urge all policy-makers to join in this bipartisan and historic effort to deliver taxpayers a greater return of investment while promoting a safer Texas.
As the Executive Director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC), I am thrilled to provide the public with our first policy guide, which promotes criminal justice solutions that embody the principles of effective management, accountability, public safety, and human and civil rights.
Right now Texas has the opportunity to be at the forefront in the nation by developing and implementing a plan that will decrease crime and yield a larger return of investment for taxpayers. This legislative session state lawmakers must work to improve three crucial areas: the ineffective supervisory practices that are overburdening our prisons; the inefficient police practices that are adversarial to those most in need of protection; and the unconstitutional court practices that are impeding fair treatment in our legal system.
Texas prisons are at a breaking point. Lawmakers can either attempt to mask the problem by continuing the status quo and building more prisons, or they can tackle the root causes of overcrowding head on by implementing crime reduction strategies that include stronger probation and parole structures and the delivery of effective treatment.
Employing more efficient police practices will benefit both law enforcement and the communities they serve. Texas has an obligation to safeguard its police officers; we must clearly define law enforcement duties to insulate them from liability while they carry out their responsibilities. This will allow them to focus on better protecting the public, rather than causing them to waste time second-guessing the legality of their actions.
Protecting the innocent and defending the constitutional rights of the accused promotes judicial efficiency by rendering more sound verdicts. Ensuring that all Texans have access to the courts and that innocent people are given the available tools to prove their innocence will restore faith in the system.
Texas is at a crossroads. This publication has been created to point those who are committed to meeting Texas’ public safety needs in the right direction. We urge all policy-makers to join in this bipartisan and historic effort to deliver taxpayers a greater return of investment while promoting a safer Texas.
I would also like to acknowledge several individuals and organizations for their continued hard work and commitment to criminal justice issues.
Sincerely,
Ana Yáñez Correa
Executive Director