Bill
HB 104
85(R) - 2017
House Corrections
Senate Criminal Justice
House Corrections
Senate Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice
Criminal Procedure
Vote Recommendation
Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
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Neutral
Author(s)
James White
Sponsor(s)
Robert Nichols
Bill Caption
Relating to notification required to victims of certain criminal offenses.
Fiscal Notes
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
If
a defendant had been previously convicted of a serious offense that makes them
ineligible for community supervision, or has been previously convicted of a
crime related to the use or exhibition of a deadly weapon, and if they served a
sentence of imprisonment and were subsequently released, an attorney
representing the state would be required to notify the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice (TDCJ) within 10 days if this individual is, once again,
indicted on one of the aforementioned charges. After the TDCJ receives this
notification they would be required to make a reasonable effort to provide
notice to the victim of the crime for which the individual served their sentence.
This bill would require the department to adopt a procedure for a victim, guardian
of a victim, or close relative of a deceased victim may request to receive notice
under this section.
Vote Recommendation Notes
It is well within the proper role of government to uphold victims’ rights, and to prosecute violent criminals. Notifying a victim of a previous crime that the same criminal has re-offended is a courtesy and reasonable accommodation that TDCJ can easily make without incurring extra expense to the state. The procedures outlined in this bill do not directly affect our liberty principles and we see no principled reason for anyone to oppose HB 104. We remain neutral.
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