Inmates convicted of crimes in Texas face punishment ranging from probation to life imprisonment. The state has several facilities for holding inmates, including county jails, state prisons, and federal prisons.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is responsible for operating the state’s prison system. It also provides services such as medical care, education, and vocational training.
TDCJ operates four major correctional institutions: two medium security units, one minimum security unit, and one women’s facility. The agency has a staff of more than 20,000 employees. In addition to its main headquarters in Huntsville, Texas, TDCJ maintains offices in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Waco.
Texas Department of Corrections
The Texas Department of Corrections has more than 100,000 inmates housed in its facilities. There are currently more than 50,000 offenders serving sentences in the state’s prisons. It is a system that has been criticized for years by advocates and lawmakers alike.
The prison population has grown at an alarming rate over the past decade, with the number of prisoners increasing from about 40,000 to nearly 60,000 since 2005. In 2010, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 4, which requires the department to reduce the inmate population by no less than 2,500 people
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is responsible for law enforcement activities within the state. It includes the Texas Highway Patrol, the Texas Rangers, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the Texas State Guard, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
The Texas Board of Pardoning and Parole is responsible for granting pardons and paroles to inmates who have served at least half of their sentences.
They also review applications for parole. Inmates can apply for a pardon or parole through the board, but they must first be approved by the governor. The board has the power to grant pardons in cases where an inmate was convicted of murder, rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping, arson, theft, embezzlement, perjury, bigamy, incest, sodomy, bestiality, sexual assault, indecency.
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) is responsible for inspecting jails and penal institutions throughout the state. It has the authority to inspect any jail or prison facility within its jurisdiction.
The TCJS may conduct unannounced inspections of a jail or prison at any time, without prior notice. Inspection reports are available online through the 🔗 Texas Department of Criminal Justice website. These reports include information about conditions in each area inspected as well as recommendations for improvement.
The inspection process begins when an inspector arrives at the jail or prison. During this initial visit, the inspector will observe