Texas Lawmakers Propose Releasing Criminals To Save Cash
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - Thousands of convicted criminals could soon be let out of Texas prisons as part of a new proposal that trades clemency for cash.
"The thing we're critically interested in is making sure the people that we are releasing are the low-risk and the non-violent guys who do not create a significant risk of public safety," said Representative Jerry Madden (R – Richardson).
Madden is one of several lawmakers who support the release of two categories of prisoners. The first includes illegal immigrants imprisoned for minor offenses such as DWI, drug possession and theft.
Madden said these criminals would be deported immediately.
"We don't think we are generally endangering public safety by deporting," Madden said.
The second category includes elderly and ill prisoners who are considered nonviolent and are up for parole.
The idea of releasing prisoners would be attached to House Bill 1, which establishes the state's overall budget for 2012-2013.
Marcos Ronquillo is a public policy attorney in Dallas who argues that releasing inmates is bad public policy.
"If there's an inmate or prison population release in the community, they will probably go to the lower, socio-economic parts of our community where crime is already up and poverty is very high," Ronquillo said. "It's just going to make a bad situation even worse."
Madden said for every 1,000 prisoners released, the state will save $12 million a year. Officials believe as many as 4,000 could be freed.
And with Texas facing a budget shortfall estimated to be between $15 billion and $27 billion, supporters say every option must be on the table.
