MINUTES
SENATE INTERIM COMMITTEE ON GANGS AND JUVENILE JUSTICE
Thursday, October 2, 1997
10:00 a.m.
Senate Chamber
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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Interim Committee on
Gangs and Juvenile Justice was held on Thursday, October 2,
1997 in the Senate Chamber at Austin, Texas.
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MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West Senator Chris Harris
Senator Robert Duncan Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Jon Lindsay
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The Chair called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
Senator West offered the committee rules and time line for
future committee hearings. Senator Duncan moved adoption of
both items. There being no objection, the motions prevailed.
The following witnesses testified before the committee:
Senators West, Duncan and Lindsey made opening statements.
Lisa Capers, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission--Summarized
Texas laws that focus on gangs and juvenile justice. (The
overview covered the Penal Code and the Civil Practice and
Remedies Code, Family Code and Education Code).
Neil Nickels, Texas Youth Commission--Mr. Nickels presented an
overview of House Bill 1550.
Kim Ogg, Director, The Houston Mayor's Anti Gang Office--Ms.
Ogg presented testimony on the nuisance laws of the state of
Texas and the scope of which those laws are being used.
Tony Fabello, Director, Texas Criminal Justice Policy
Council--Dr. Fabello presented an overview of the juvenile
justice system in Texas.
Steve Robinson & Dwight Harris, Texas Youth
Commission--presented an overview on the affect juvenile gangs
members have on the juvenile justice system/Texas Youth
Commission.
Vicki Spriggs, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission--presented
an overview of the programs The Texas Juvenile Probation
Commission has implemented to combat the Texas gang problem.
Robert Martinez and Elizabeth Buhman, The Office of the
Attorney General--presented an overview of the 1997 Attorney
General's Gang Survey.
Gary Johnson, Texas Department of Criminal Justice--presented
an overview of how street gangs have affected the criminal
justice system as well as the gangs in the Prison setting
(4800 identified gang members exist in Texas correctional
facilities, their membership includes Bloods, Crips, the Latin
Kings and gangs that exist only in prisons).
David Gavin, Department of Public Safety--presented an
overview of the juvenile justice information system in the
state of Texas.
Thomas Chapmond, Michelle Duhart & Howard Baldwin, Department
of Protective and Regulatory Services--presented an overview
of the prevention programs that have been implemented such as
the STARS program, the Gang Activity Prevention Program &
Community Youth Development Program.
Billy Jacobs, Kay Beth Stavely, Gloria Black, Texas Education
Agency--presented an overview of TEA/federally funded
prevention/intervention programs in schools.
Karen Hale, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental
Retardation--presented an overview of the Texas Children's
Mental Health Plan.
Jim Hutchins, Office of Court Administration --presented an
overview of the juvenile court caseloads in Texas.