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IN NUMBERS: INCARCERATION-RECIDIVISM-EDUCATION THE NEED FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION BEHIND BAR

IN NUMBERS: INCARCERATION-RECIDIVISM-EDUCATION THE NEED FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION BEHIND BAR . COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011. OVERVIEW.

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IN NUMBERS: INCARCERATION-RECIDIVISM-EDUCATION THE NEED FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION BEHIND BAR

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  1. IN NUMBERS:INCARCERATION-RECIDIVISM-EDUCATIONTHE NEED FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION BEHIND BAR COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  2. OVERVIEW • The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the nation’s third largest prison system (along with California and the Federal Bureau of Prisons). • In 2011 there were 154,795 inmates on hand in TDCJ-run correctional facilities. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 Graph 1: distribution of inmates on hand among different types of TDCJ facilities source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justicelink: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/FY2010StatisticalReportFiscalYear2010.pdf

  3. INMATES: GENDER RATIO • From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: • 92.23% are male and 7.77% are female • the largest share of female inmates is in the SAFP: 23.55% • the largest share of male inmates is in prisons: 93.8% source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justicelink: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/FY2010StatisticalReportFiscalYear2010.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  4. INMATES: RACE & ETHNICITY RATIO • From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: • 36.21% are African American, 32.26% are white, and 31.03% are Hispanic source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justicelink: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/FY2010StatisticalReportFiscalYear2010.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  5. INMATES: OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING • From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: • 51.20% were initially sentenced for violent offenses • 17.83% were initially sentenced for drugs-related offenses • 16.58% were initially sentenced for property offenses • 14.39% were initially sentenced for other types of offenses COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justicelink: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/FY2010StatisticalReportFiscalYear2010.pdf

  6. INMATES: OVERVIEW OF BREAKDOWN BY GENDER, RACE & ETHNICITY, AND OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justicelink: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/executive/FY2010StatisticalReportFiscalYear2010.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  7. INMATES and STAFFBEYOND CAPACITY As TDCJ confines 154,795 inmates, most of its facilities operate beyond their capacity. Overcrowding is not a problem unique to the Texas penitentiary system. In fact, it is reported that : State prisons are operating between 1% and 16% above capacity. Federal prisons operate at 31% above capacity. “Overcrowding exacerbates the chronic pains of imprisonment”[Dr. Craig Haney from the University of California Santa Cruz- http://www.veradc.org/statements/haney_craig.pdf ] COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 source: Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justicelink: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/ascii/p01.txt

  8. INMATES and STAFFPROBLEMS The staffing levels in TDCJ facilities do not match the increasing influx of inmates. Here are some figures: 35 inmates : 1 staff member For the 154,795 inmates in TDCJ correctional facilities there is a staff of approximately 4,000 guards. This means that for every 100,000 inmates there are ca. 2,600 TDCJ correctional facility employees There are over 35 inmates per 1 TDCJ correctional facility employee COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 source: NuPhysicia’s Analysis and Recommendations for California Prison Health Care System University of California Santa Cruz March 2010

  9. INMATES v. INMATESASSAULT Overcrowded facilities and high inmates to staff ratio exacerbate the issue of prison violence. State and Federal correctional facilities report a 27% increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults Many correctional facilities in Texas do not count the number of inmate-on-inmate assaults. The average annual number of inmate-on-inmate assault is estimated as ca. 82 assaults per county. Texas has the highest reported number of inmate-on-inmate sexual violence cases: 4 times higher (3.95 per 1,000) than the U.S. average (1.05 per 1,000). COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 Source: Texas Commission on Jail Standards , 2004 House Bill 1660 Report to the Texas Legislation, link: http://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/docs/hb%201660%20report.pdf

  10. INMATES v. STAFFASSAULT Inmate violence increasingly targets correctional facility staff: State and Federal correctional facilities report a 32% rise in inmate-on-staff attacks. 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against staff. Correctional Officers (COs) have the second highest mortality rate of any occupation The average annual number of inmate-on-staff assault is estimated as ca. 17 assaults per county. Source: Texas Commission on Jail Standards , 2004 House Bill 1660 Report to the Texas Legislation, link: http://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/docs/hb%201660%20report.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  11. STAFFHIGH TURNOVER The Texas correctional system faces the problem of high voluntary staff turnover. 41.3% of probation officers and direct care staff have serious thoughts about leaving in the near future or are actively looking for alternate employment. Source: Community Justice Assistance Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice , link: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/cjad/publications-cjad-salary-turnover-survey.htm COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  12. STAFFHIGH TURNOVER The high voluntary turnover contributes to: Unstable caseload sizes Inexperienced staff Training issues Decreased quality of supervision Lower staff morale Source: Community Justice Assistance Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice , link: http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/publications/cjad/publications-cjad-salary-turnover-survey.htm COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  13. RECIDIVISM Recidivism is the return to criminal activity after release from a correctional facility. Recidivism has far-reaching and expensive consequences. The annual correctional costs in the United States equal $52 billion. By decreasing recidivism rates by 10% Texas can save $33.6 million a year High recidivism rates carry devastating individual cost for the offenders and high social costs for their families and the community. Source: The Pew Charitable Trust (2011). State of recidivism: the revolving door of American prisons link: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Pew_State_of_Recidivism.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  14. RECIDIVISM Recidivism rates are indicative of the effectiveness of the correctional system. They can be used to predict the future growth of the prison system Offenders are most likely to recidivate within 3 years ofrelease from a correctional institution. Texas comes close to the national average recidivism rate of 41%. average national rate of 41% recidivism within 3 years of release Graph 2: RECIDIVISM LEVELS FOR THE 2004 STATE PRISON RELEASE COHORTS WITHIN 3 YEARS OF RELEASE Source: The Pew Charitable Trust (2011). State of recidivism: the revolving door of American prisons linkhttp://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Pew_State_of_Recidivism.pdfvey.htm COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  15. RECIDIVISM BY OFFENDER CHARACTERISCTIS The latest data on the recidivism of Texas correctional facilities release cohorts is available for the following fiscal year (FY) cohorts: Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/PubSafety_CrimJustice/3_Reports/Recidivism_Report_2011.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  16. RECIDIVISM BY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Not all offenders are equally likely to recidivate. Recidivism rates vary by gender, race/ ethnicity, type of offense of initial sentencing, and correctional facility Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/PubSafety_CrimJustice/3_Reports/Recidivism_Report_2011.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  17. RECIDIVISMBY GENDER Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/PubSafety_CrimJustice/3_Reports/Recidivism_Report_2011.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  18. RECIDIVISM BY OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/PubSafety_CrimJustice/3_Reports/Recidivism_Report_2011.pdf COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  19. EDUCATION THE UNMET NEED One cost-efficient and successful way to reduce violence in correctional facilities and decrease recidivism levels is through education. It is important to keep in mind that people who make up the incarcerated population are, in fact, those who have had the least opportunity to succeed prior to imprisonment. Prisoners are under-educated in comparison to the community and have lower literacy skills to handle everyday tasks that they confront. (Bureau of Justice Statistics) About 75% of state prison inmates, almost 59% of Federal inmates, and 69% of state jail inmates did not have not completed high school. In comparison, only about 18% of the general population have not graduated from high-school. Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  20. EDUCATION 1 in 6 jail inmates dropped out of school because they were convicted of a crime, sent to a correctional facility, or otherwise involved in illegal activities. Ca. 50% of state prison inmates reported they have participated in an educational program since their most recent admission to prison. Ca. 25% state prison and jail inmates have taken basic education or high school level course and about one third have taken vocational courses. About 35% of State inmates, 33% of Federal inmates, 22% of jail inmates, and 11% of probationers had successfully passed the GED while incarcerated. Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  21. EDUCATION THE BENEFITS Educational programs and vocational training for incarcerated offenders: • Help incarcerated establish positive communication and relations with others • Increases the offenders’ success in securing employment upon release • Reduce the financial, social, and individual costs of incarceration • Contribute to the reduction of recidivism Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

  22. EDUCATION THE BENEFITS The Windham School District is an example of the success of educational and vocational programs that target the incarcerated offenders in Texas. Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

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