IN NUMBERS: INCARCERATION-RECIDIVISM-EDUCATION THE NEED FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION BEHIND BAR COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 OVERVIEW The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the nation’s third largest prison system (along with California and the Federal Bureau of Prisons). In 2011 there were 154,795 inmates on hand in TDCJ-run correctional facilities. Graph 1: distribution of inmates on hand among different types of TDCJ facilities source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice link:

INMATES: GENDER RATIO From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: 92.23% are male and 7.77% are female the largest share of female inmates is in the SAFP: 23.55% the largest share of male inmates is in prisons: 93.8% source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice link: PRISONSTATE JAILSAFPTOTAL ON HAND number% % % % TOTAL139,316100%12,133100%3,346100%154,795100% GENDER FEMALE8, %2, % %12, % MALE130, %9, %2, %142, % COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES: RACE & ETHNICITY RATIO From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: 36.21% are African American, 32.26% are white, and 31.03% are Hispanic PRISONSTATE JAILSAFPTOTAL ON HAND number% % % % TOTAL139,316100%12,133100%3,346100%154,795100% RACE ETHNICITY AFRICAN AMERICAN50, %4, % %56, % HISPANIC42, %4, %1, %48, % WHITE45, %3, % %49, % OTHER %540.45%130.39% % source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES: OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING From the 154,795 inmates in Texas prisons, state jails, and substance abuse felony program (SAFP) facilities: 51.20% were initially sentenced for violent offenses 17.83% were initially sentenced for drugs-related offenses 16.58% were initially sentenced for property offenses 14.39% were initially sentenced for other types of offenses PRISONSTATE JAILSAFPTOTAL ON HAND number% % % % TOTAL139,316100%12,133100%3,346100%154,795100% OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING VIOLENT78, % % %79, % PROPERTY18, %5, % %25, % DRUGS22, % %1, %27, % OTHER19, %1, % %22, % source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES: OVERVIEW OF BREAKDOWN BY GENDER, RACE & ETHNICITY, AND OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING PRISONSTATE JAILSAFPTOTAL ON HAND number% % % % TOTAL139,316100%12,133100%3,346100%154,795100% GENDER FEMALE8, %2, % % 12, % MALE130, % 9, %2, %142, % RACE ETHNICITY AFRICAN AMERICAN50, %4, % %56, % HISPANIC42, %4, %1, %48, % WHITE45, %3, % %49, % OTHER %540.45%130.39% % OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING VIOLENT78, % % %79, % PROPERTY18, %5, % %25, % DRUGS22, % %1, %27, % OTHER19, %1, % %22, % source: Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2010 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES and STAFF BEYOND CAPACITY As TDCJ confines 154,795 inmates, most of its facilities operate beyond their capacity. Overcrowding is not a problem unique to the Texas penitentiary system. In fact, it is reported that : State prisons are operating between 1% and 16% above capacity. Federal prisons operate at 31% above capacity. “ Overcrowding exacerbates the chronic pains of imprisonment ” [ Dr. Craig Haney from the University of California Santa Cruz- ] source: Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES and STAFF PROBLEMS The staffing levels in TDCJ facilities do not match the increasing influx of inmates. Here are some figures: 35 inmates : 1 staff member For the 154,795 inmates in TDCJ correctional facilities there is a staff of approximately 4,000 guards. This means that for every 100,000 inmates there are ca. 2,600 TDCJ correctional facility employees There are over 35 inmates per 1 TDCJ correctional facility employee source: NuPhysicia’s Analysis and Recommendations for California Prison Health Care System University of California Santa Cruz March 2010 COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES v. INMATES ASSAULT Overcrowded facilities and high inmates to staff ratio exacerbate the issue of prison violence. State and Federal correctional facilities report a 27% increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults Many correctional facilities in Texas do not count the number of inmate-on-inmate assaults. The average annual number of inmate-on-inmate assault is estimated as ca. 82 assaults per county. Texas has the highest reported number of inmate-on-inmate sexual violence cases: 4 times higher (3.95 per 1,000) than the U.S. average (1.05 per 1,000). Source: Texas Commission on Jail Standards, 2004 House Bill 1660 Report to the Texas Legislation, link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

INMATES v. STAFF ASSAULT Inmate violence increasingly targets correctional facility staff: State and Federal correctional facilities report a 32% rise in inmate-on- staff attacks. 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against staff. Correctional Officers (COs) have the second highest mortality rate of any occupation The average annual number of inmate-on-staff assault is estimated as ca. 17 assaults per county. Source: Texas Commission on Jail Standards, 2004 House Bill 1660 Report to the Texas Legislation, link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

STAFF HIGH TURNOVER The Texas correctional system faces the problem of high voluntary staff turnover. 41.3% of probation officers and direct care staff have serious thoughts about leaving in the near future or are actively looking for alternate employment. Source: Community Justice Assistance Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 fiscal year (FY) 2005 fiscal year (FY) 2006 fiscal year (FY) 2007 VOLUNATRY TERMINATION RATE (% of staff size ) 13.5%13.2%14.6% REASONS FOR VOLUNTARY TERMINATION pay and benefits56% family/personal/ medical32% career advancement3% working conditions9%

STAFF HIGH TURNOVER The high voluntary turnover contributes to: Unstable caseload sizes Inexperienced staff Training issues Decreased quality of supervision Lower staff morale Source: Community Justice Assistance Division, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

RECIDIVISM Source: The Pew Charitable Trust (2011). State of recidivism: the revolving door of American prisons link: Recidivism is the return to criminal activity after release from a correctional facility. Recidivism has far-reaching and expensive consequences. The annual correctional costs in the United States equal $52 billion. By decreasing recidivism rates by 10% Texas can save $33.6 million a year High recidivism rates carry devastating individual cost for the offenders and high social costs for their families and the community. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

RECIDIVISM Graph 2: RECIDIVISM LEVELS FOR THE 2004 STATE PRISON RELEASE COHORTS WITHIN 3 YEARS OF RELEASE Source: The Pew Charitable Trust (2011). State of recidivism: the revolving door of American prisons link Recidivism rates are indicative of the effectiveness of the correctional system. They can be used to predict the future growth of the prison system Offenders are most likely to recidivate within 3 years of release from a correctional institution. Texas comes close to the national average recidivism rate of 41%. average national rate of 41% recidivism within 3 years of release COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

RECIDIVISM BY OFFENDER CHARACTERISCTIS Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: The latest data on the recidivism of Texas correctional facilities release cohorts is available for the following fiscal year (FY) cohorts: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY YEAR RE-ARREST RATE 76.4% 73.6% *** TIME FROM RELEASE TO RE- ARREST 13 months *** 3-YEAR RE-INCARCERATION RATE *** 41.2% 35.7% TIME FROM RELEASE TO RE- INCARCERATION *** 15 months 14 months

RECIDIVISM BY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: Not all offenders are equally likely to recidivate. Recidivism rates vary by gender, race/ ethnicity, type of offense of initial sentencing, and correctional facility COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 FY 2006 RELEASE COHORT FY 2007 RELEASE COHORT TYPE OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY RELEASED OF THEM RE-INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS RELEASED OF THEM RE- INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS #% #% SUBSTANCE ABUSE FELONY PUNISHMENT FACILITIES 5,3292, % 5,4642, % IN-PRISON THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES % % STATE JAILS 24,2187, % 24,2137, % STATE PRISONS 40,4381, % 41,0519, % INTERMEDIATE SANCTION FACILITIES 10,5494, % 10,2214, %

FY 2006 RELEASE COHORT FY 2007 RELEASE COHORT TYPE OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY GENDER % of RELEASED COHORT % OF COHORT GENDER GROUP RE- INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS % OF RELEASED COHORT % OF COHORT GENDER GROUP RE- INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS SUBSTANCE ABUSE FELONY PUNISHMENT FACILITIES MALE 79.3%40.3% 80.5%42.4% FEMALE 20.7%36.8% 19.5%31.4% IN-PRISON THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES MALE 67.2%26.9% 78.5%25.7% FEMALE 32.8%18.5% 21.5%21.1% STATE JAILS MALE 76.6%33.9% 77.6%33.4% FEMALE 23.4%28.1% 22.4%26.7% STATE PRISONS MALE 90.1%26.8% 90.0%25.0% FEMALE 9.9%18.6% 10.0%17.9% INTERMEDIATE SANCTION FACILITIES MALE 90.3%43.9% 90.6%40.9% Female 9.7%34.6% 9.4%32.3% RECIDIVISM BY GENDER Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

RECIDIVISM BY OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING Source: Texas Legislative Budget Board (2011). Statewide Criminal Justice Recidivism and Revocation Rate link: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 FY 2006 RELEASE COHORT FY 2007 RELEASE COHORT TYPE OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OFFENSE OF INITIAL SENTENCING REELASED AS % OF COHORT % OF COHORT INITIAL OFFENSE GROUP RE-INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS released as % of cohort % OF COHORT INITIAL OFFENSE GROUP RE-INCARCERATED WITHIN 3 YEARS SUBSTANCE ABYSE FELONY PUNISHMENT FACILITIES VIOLENT 18.2% 41.2% 19.1% 45.1% PROPERTY 24.8% 48.2% 24.8% 49.0% DRUGS 38.8% 36.8% 40.0% 36.0% OTHER 15.7%32.8% 16.0%32.0% IN-PRISON THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES VIOLENT 10.6% 26.5% 8.7% 26.1% PROPERTY 22.6% 34.4% 23.0% 27.9% DRUGS 52.5% 19.0% 54.2% 23.5% OTHER 14.3%25.0% 14.1%23.2% STATE JAILS VIOLENT 1.0% 22.0% 1.1% 18.6% PROPERTY 43.2% 33.6% 44.1% 34.6% DRUGS 44.0% 32.1% 42.4% 29.5% OTHER 11.8%31.2% 12.4%31.3% STATE PRISONS VIOLENT 26.1% 20.8% 25.9% 20.2% PROPERTY 22.6% 34.1% 21.6% 32.2% DRUGS 31.6% 25.6% 31.7% 24.0% OTHER 17.8%24.1% 20.8%21.5% INTERMEDIATE SANCTION FACILITIES VIOLENT 16.1% 43.1% 16.6% 38.6% PROPERTY 36.7% 46.8% 34.8% 44.5% DRUGS 35.7% 40.4% 36.9% 37.5% OTHER 11.4%38.5% 11.8%37.5%

EDUCATION THE UNMET NEED Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. One cost-efficient and successful way to reduce violence in correctional facilities and decrease recidivism levels is through education. It is important to keep in mind that people who make up the incarcerated population are, in fact, those who have had the least opportunity to succeed prior to imprisonment. Prisoners are under-educated in comparison to the community and have lower literacy skills to handle everyday tasks that they confront. (Bureau of Justice Statistics) About 75% of state prison inmates, almost 59% of Federal inmates, and 69% of state jail inmates did not have not completed high school. In comparison, only about 18% of the general population have not graduated from high-school. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011

EDUCATION 1 in 6 jail inmates dropped out of school because they were convicted of a crime, sent to a correctional facility, or otherwise involved in illegal activities. Ca. 50% of state prison inmates reported they have participated in an educational program since their most recent admission to prison. Ca. 25% state prison and jail inmates have taken basic education or high school level course and about one third have taken vocational courses. About 35% of State inmates, 33% of Federal inmates, 22% of jail inmates, and 11% of probationers had successfully passed the GED while incarcerated. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

EDUCATION THE BENEFITS Educational programs and vocational training for incarcerated offenders: COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Help incarcerated establish positive communication and relations with others Increases the offenders’ success in securing employment upon release Reduce the financial, social, and individual costs of incarceration Contribute to the reduction of recidivism

EDUCATION THE BENEFITS The Windham School District is an example of the success of educational and vocational programs that target the incarcerated offenders in Texas. COMMUNICATION BEHIND BARS TDCJ REHABILITATION PROGRAMS DIVISION AUGUST 2011 Source: Gaes, G. G. (2008). The impact of prison-education programs on post-release outcomes. Re-entry roundtable on education Wolf Harlow. C. (2003). Education and Correctional Population. Bureau of Justice Statistics. FY 2008FY 2009FY 2010 offenders who received educational services through the Windham School District 82,50079,00077,500 GED (General Education Development) awarded5,0394,8935,287 % of vocationally trained offenders released during the fiscal year who have secured employment and earn income in one or more occupations related to the vocational training they received while incarcerated 70%79%75%