| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to parole determinations and individual treatment plans for inmates.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 2793 would make certain changes to laws regarding parole. It would require the written decisions of parole panels, when denying an inmate parole, to explain the specific actions the inmate must take to address factors that contributed to their denial. They would have to provide copies of their written decision to the Rehabilitative Programs division of the Department of Criminal Justice. If enacted, the Board of Pardons and Paroles would be permitted to adjust their parole guidelines by adjusting the way the guidelines account for inmate progress in their individual treatment plans. The Board's annual explanation of their guidelines in their annual report would have to explain how they account for inmate progress in individual treatment plans and how they use the guidelines to make individualized decisions to approve or deny parole.
HB 2793 would require the Department of Criminal Justice to obtain an evaluation of the educational, rehabilitative, and vocational needs of each new inmate and the results of a risk and needs assessment for each new inmate. It would shorten the amount of time the Department is required to obtain all pertinent information regarding a new inmate from 120 days to 45 days. They would also be required to develop an individual treatment plan for each new inmate within 60 days of obtaining the information. If enacted, the Department would be required to revise each inmate's risk and needs assessments at least once each year. One year before an inmate's parole eligibility date, they would have to conduct a new risk and needs assessment to reflect the inmate's completion of programming.
Texas Action is neutral on HB 2793 as it does not touch directly upon any of our Liberty Principles. Providing individualized treatment plans for inmates is within the legitimate correctional authority of the government.