Texas spends almost all of its criminal justice dollars on prison beds and law enforcement – not on programs that work, like drug treatment and diversion programs.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) spends billions of our state tax dollars each year, but it spends little of its funds on proven treatment and diversion programs. In fact, TDCJ gets about $5 billion from the Texas Legislature every two years, and it spends an average of 90% of those funds on prison beds or "hard incarceration." Only 10% goes towards community-based programming, like substance abuse treatment and probation programs.[1]
Over the past ten years, TDCJ funding of programs outside of prison walls has actually decreased.[2]
The cost of failing to provide Texans with the help they need extends far beyond the criminal justice system. In Texas, the total economic cost associated with alcohol and drug abuse in 2000 alone was estimated at $25.9 billion.[3]
Revocations cost the state more than a half billion dollars in recurring incarceration costs and contribute to the projected need for new prisons.[4]
In 2001, 37 percent of prison intakes and 41 percent of state jail intakes that were revoked probationers accounted for $547 million in direct incarceration costs.[5]
Revocations for technical violations, which range from missing a counseling meeting to a dirty urinalysis, result in average prison sentences of 2.5 years.[6]
More than $650 million in incarceration costs attributable to revoked probationers.[7]
The 11,594 revocations to prison in 2001 represented 33% of all prison admissions and this group will cost the state approximately $470 million in housing costs for their projected prison length-of-stay.[8]
The 9,115 revocations to state jails represented 42% of state jail admissions and this group will cost the state approximately $77 million in housing costs for their projected state jail length-of-stay.[9]
Furthermore, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, over 1.3 million Texans need but do not receive treatment for alcohol abuse, and over 400,000 Texans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug use.
[1] TDCJ Community Justice Assistance Division, Report to House Corrections / Appropriations Committees, March 17, 2004.
[2] TDCJ Community Justice Assistance Division, Report to House Corrections / Appropriations Committees, March 17, 2004.
[3] Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Annual Report, 2003.
[2] TDCJ Community Justice Assistance Division, Report to House Corrections / Appropriations Committees, March 17, 2004.
[3] Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Annual Report, 2003.
[4] Marc Levin. “Laying the Foundation for Better Probation,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. June 2006.p 2
[5] Marc Levin. “Laying the Foundation for Better Probation,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. June 2006.p 8
[6] Marc Levin. “Laying the Foundation for Better Probation,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. June 2006.p 8
[7] Marc Levin. “Laying the Foundation for Better Probation,” Texas Public Policy Foundation. June 2006.p 9
[8] Tony Fabelo, “Trends, Profile and Policy Issues Related to Felony Probation Revocations in Texas.” Criminal Justice Policy Council. May 2002. p i
[9] Tony Fabelo, “Trends, Profile and Policy Issues Related to Felony Probation Revocations in Texas.” Criminal Justice Policy Council. May 2002. p i