Home      Login

Abstract: 

Since 1989, the State of Texas has attempted to reform its adult probation system. The impetus for reform has been to deal with prison overcrowding which has periodically become an issue with the state legislature. Despite efforts to reform the system, the outcomes have not improved over the last 30 years but instead have worsened. This is partly due to the fact that adequate funding has not been provided to local community supervision and corrections departments (CSCDs, also known as adult probation departments) to support the changes that the legislature has mandated. The other reason is that over this same period, there has been no attempt to incorporate emerging practices in other disciplines, such as psychology, medicine, neurology, economics, or social work. Instead the approach to addressing problems in probation has been some variation of the approach that was followed in 1989. This article examines past approaches to community corrections in Texas and also considers what emerging practices could be incorporated that would improve outcomes, increase public safety, and enhance the lives of those under the supervision of CSCDs. Finally, this article explains why certain policies, such as the reliance on probationer-paid fees to support the operation of CSCDs, is no longer sustainable.

Keywords: Probation in Texas, probation fees, assessments, funding and implementing meaningful probation reforms

Affiliations:  1: Bell/Lampasas Counties CSCD (Retired).