Public Policy Center | [Appropriations]

Appropriations

Juvenile Justice

The budget process for state juvenile justice spending was spirited and dynamic, with final decisions still up in the air until late May.

Ultimately, approximately $48 million in new money was provided to the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) for distribution to juvenile probation departments in order to divert youth from placement in TYC facilities. Juvenile probation departments that receive a portion of the diversion funding will be required to report a variety of information to TJPC about their use of the new state funding, including details about the kinds of programs that will be developed or expanded, and outcomes for all youth placed in the diversion programs as an alternative to TYC commitment.

Criminal Justice

In the state budget, policy-makers chose to continue and strengthen previous smart-on-crime reforms, once again proving their commitment to hardworking practitioners and ensuring the fidelity and success of responsible crime-reduction best practices – particularly diversions and other programs to reduce recidivism.

Specifically, prison diversions through probation and community-based programs were allocated more than $280 million for FY 2010 and $286 million for FY 2011, out of TDCJ’s total allotment of $2.9 billion for FY 2010 and $3 billion for FY 2011.

Diversions funding is as follows: more than $111 million in FY 2010 and nearly $113 million in FY 2011 for Basic Supervision; nearly $119 million in FY 2010 and $123 million in FY 2011 for diversion programs; nearly $39 million in both FY 2010 and FY 2011 for community corrections; and nearly $12 million in both FY 2010 and FY 2011 for the Treatment Alternatives to Incarceration Program.

This investment in diversions through probation and community-based programs is especially important: When the probation system is under-funded and breaks down, our prisons fill up needlessly with low-level, non-violent offenders. A lack of treatment resources is an additional source of prison overcrowding. A continued financial commitment to community supervision and treatment beds will save taxpayers millions of dollars in prison construction costs while giving individuals the tools to live responsibly.

Included in the budget is:

General Funding for Community Supervision and Corrections

Approximately $11.1 million was allocated for projected community supervision population growth.
$13.1 million was allocated for a 3.5% pay increase in FY 2010 and an additional 3.5% salary increase in FY 2011 for community supervision officers and direct care staff. A similar increase (about 3.5% in each year of the biennium) was also provided to correctional and parole officers.

Treatment and Services Funding for Community Supervision and Corrections Departments

$20 million was allocated to fully operationalize the Intermediate Sanction Facility and Substance Abuse Felony Punishment beds funded during Texas ’ previous legislative session.
$4 million was allocated for the Serving for Success diversion program.

Riders Impacting Community Supervision

The "Medically Targeted Substance Abuse Treatment Rider" was introduced during the previous session and specifically targeted $2 million towards “physician supervised acute medical treatment for methamphetamine and/or cocaine-addicted offenders.” The rider has been revised so that it would allow this $2 million to be used to provide out-patient substance abuse aftercare treatment.
The "Community Supervision Officers and Direct Care Staff Salary Increases Rider" appropriates $13.1 million over FY 2010-2011 and specifies that “It is the intent of the legislature that community supervision officers and direct care staff receive a 3.5% salary increase in fiscal year 2010 and an additional 3.5% salary increase in fiscal year 2011.”

Other Criminal Justice Funding

$5.2 million was allocated for 64 full-time Reentry Coordinators.
$92.6 million above the FY 2008-09 base funding levels was allocated for Correctional Managed Care.

Related Health & Human Services Funding

$55 million was allocated for Community Mental Health Services.