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NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Report


Texas’ Department of Criminal Justice is facing a staffing crisis, putting inmates and staff at risk and potentially running out of space for incarcerated individuals. The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission staff has identified severe staffing shortages, outdated record-keeping practices, and a lack of oversight on rehabilitation programs within the agency. The report recommends reallocating staff, closing facilities with persistent staffing challenges, and modernizing data collection processes.

The growing prison population is expected to exceed bed capacity by the end of next year. The report highlights the lack of air conditioning in many prisons, the wrongful release of inmates due to incorrect data entry, and the limited evaluation of rehabilitation programs. The Commission’s recommendations include submitting a 10-year plan to address staffing shortages, phasing out certain facilities, and improving data collection and oversight of programs.

Staff report feeling unsafe in prisons, with exposure to adverse events negatively impacting their physical and mental health. The report also mentions unpaid compensatory time off, delays in performance evaluations, and unrealistic workload expectations. TDCJ is urged to address these issues and make necessary changes to improve the safety and efficiency of the agency.

The Commission’s final recommendations are expected to be sent to lawmakers in December, ahead of the legislative session in January. TDCJ spokesperson Amanda Hernandez stated that recruitment is a top priority for the agency, which is undergoing a cultural shift focused on inmate rehabilitation. The agency is committed to collaborating with the Commission and the Legislature to address the issues highlighted in the report.

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