R-1992-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . RESOLUTION NO. 92-05 WHEREAS, rampant crime continues to be the number one problem in HoustonlHarris County, resulting in law-abiding citizens living in fear of crime; and WHEREAS, a leading cause of crime in HoustonlHarris County is the early release of parolees who have not served significant portion of their sentence; and WHEREAS, the early release of parolees in Texas has been caused by a severe shortage of state prison and correction facilities for felons and by overly restrictive court orders agreed to by the state in the Ruiz prison overcrowding lawsuits; and WHEREAS, early release has become so extensive that convicted felons are routinely released on parole having served less than one month for each year of their sentence; and WHEREAS, lack of adequate supervision of parolees by the state in HoustonlHarris County has made this region a parolee haven, especially since a lack of corrections facilities for parole violators allows parolees to violate the terms of their parole with impunity; and WHEREAS, fear of crime has resulted in the loss of convention business in Houston/Harris County and damaged the ability of HoustonlHarris County to attract new businesses to the region. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: section 1. That the Greater Houston Partnership should immediately to take action to assist Houston and Harris County Officials in the effort to end the early release of parolees. Section 2. The Governor of Texas is requested to work with the City of Houston and Harris County to develop reliable and objective numerical information on parolees, their destinations, and the allocation of parole officers per parolee. Section 3. The Governor of Texas is requested to work with the city of Houston and Harris county to reform the process by which parolees are released in the Houston area, including improved communication between Pardons and Paroles and local law enforcement agencies. Section 4. State officials are requested to work with City of Houston and Harris County on the availability of substance abuse beds for juvenile offenders and on legislative proposals for enhancing the effectiveness of juvenile programs. Section 5. State Officials are requested to establish as soon as possible an intermediate sanctions facility for parole violators in HoustonlHarris County. Section 6. The Attorney General should immediately request the Federal Courts for an expedited hearing of the State's attempt to reverse the earlier Ruiz court actions and that the State must fight the Ruiz plaintiffs and Judge Justice by not compromising nor settling for a hollow victory that ends the Ruiz lawsuit yet leaves in place the expensive restrictions of that litigation. Section 7. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice should change the policy on "gate money" to require parolees to check in to their halfway house before receiving all $200 instead of the present practice of receiving all of the money upon leaving prison. Further, the money should be disbursed over the term of their stay at the halfway house.