MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

10:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice was held on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator John Whitmire, Chair	Senator Rodney Ellis
Senator Joan Huffman, Vice Chair	Senator Glenn Hegar
Senator John Carona
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Dan Patrick

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:02 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

The chair called invited and public testimony on interim charge 5, study the use of administrative segregation in TDCJ, including issues related to: the frequency and justification of its use; the process and classification system which determines an inmate's placement; the impact on prisoners' mental health and recidivism rates; the process of reviewing placement and inmates' transition into both the general prison population and the general public; options for alternative confinement arrangements; and the potential for the expansion of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI) or similar programming in order to improve inmates' transition from solitary confinement to the general public.

The chair called invited and public testimony on part of Interim Charge 8,

Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the overall care of female inmates.

At 11:30 AM Senator Huffman assumed the chair.

There being no further business, at 11:58 AM Senator Huffman moved that the Committee be adjourned. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator John Whitmire, Chair

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Terra Tucker, Clerk