TCJS Sunset
The performance and effectiveness of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) is currently being reviewed by the Legislature as required under the Texas Sunset Act. Occurring only once every twelve years, the Sunset Commission is evaluating TCJS to determine if the agency is still needed, and what improvements are needed to ensure that state funds are well spent. Based on the recommendations of the Sunset Commission, the Texas Legislature ultimately decides whether an agency continues to operate into the future. You can find more information on the Sunset process here.
Read the Sunset self-evaluation report submitted in 2007 by TCJS.
On December 15th and 16th, 2008, the Sunset Advisory Commission heard public testimony on the recommendations set forth in the Sunset Staff Report. All public comments on the Staff Report are available on the Sunset advisory Commission's website, here.
Read TCJC's full written response to the Sunset Staff Report here.
In response to questions posed by the Sunset Advisory Commission in regards to the mission and performance of TCJS, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition recently developed an anonymous on-line survey to measure the feedback of Texas Sheriffs, County Court Judges, and Jail Administrators. This survey has allowed TCJC to determine how they perceive the effectiveness with which county jails in Texas are regulated.
TCJC has developed this document to provide the Sunset Advisory Commission with valuable and relevant findings to consider during its examination of TCJS – including during its observations of public hearings, review of testimony, and examination of other expert recommendations regarding the mission and performance of TCJS.