HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1992-05
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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.
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Resolution 92-05, Page 2
section 8. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice should
transport parolees to halfway houses using TDCJ buses when those
vehicles are scheduled to travel empty outbound from Huntsville to
retrieve new admissions into the state prison system.
section 9. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice should
expedite the expansion of prison facilities, especially
construction of the new Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities,
authorized by the November 1991 State bond election.
section 10. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards and Texas
Department of Criminal Justice should responsibly implement all of
the provisions of H.B. 93 of the second called session of the 72nd
Legislative and the CountYlstate litigation settlement agreement.
section 11. Harris County and the city of La Porte support
the State's efforts to reform the penal code to provide adequate
punishment for criminal behavior while wisely utilizing state
prison resources though such an effort should not be used to shift
the cost of felony punishment onto local property taxpayers.
section 12. The Texas Comptroller should direct his ongoing
Texas Performance Review audit team on Pardons and Paroles with a
focus on improving the effectiveness of parole supervision in urban
areas.
PASSED & APPROVED this the 23rd day of March, 1992.
CITY OF LA PORTE
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N rman L. Malon , May r
ATTEST:
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Cherie Black, City Secretary