Bills that Address Victims’ Needs
No institution can exceed the expectations or capacity of the people who operate it, so this year TCJC supported legislation that would improve training and recruitment practices to ensure best possible employees are enlisted to make things work better. Quite a few of these bills succeeded:
1. HB 2437 by Escobar, Relating to the establishment, operation, and funding of pretrial victim-offender mediation programs.
Analysis: Creates pretrial victim-offender mediation programs in counties over 100,000 for misdemeanors and state jail felonies; offenders who successfully participate in mediation with victims could avoid a conviction with an apology and victim compensation. However, if mediation is unsuccessful or if a defendant fails to fulfill terms set by the mediator, they would still be prosecuted.
2. HB 2750 by McClendon, Relating to the establishment, operation, and funding of pretrial victim-offender mediation programs in certain counties.
Analysis: Establishes victim-offender mediation for first-time criminal mischief or theft offenders, mandatory in all counties with population 1-1.4 million.
3. HB 1121 by Anchia, Pena, and Riddle, Relating to judicial findings, a criminal offense, and preventative actions regarding human trafficking or other similar abuse.
Analysis: Ensures that police, prosecutors, and courts punish traffickers.
4. HB 433 by Madden, Relating to disclosure by the inspector general of the Department of Criminal Justice of the identifying information of victims of sex offenders who are confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department.
Analysis: Authorizes such disclosure and excepts such disclosure from the restrictions imposed under Article 57, Code of Criminal Procedure.