LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 14, 2013

TO:
Honorable Abel Herrero, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2579 by Wu (Relating to the prosecution of certain offenses committed against a person in custody.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the offenses of violation of the civil rights of a person in custody and improper sexual activity with a person in custody.  The bill adds any place or facility at which a person suspected of a violation of federal immigration law is detained to the definition of a correctional facility in this offense.  The offenses of violation of the civil rights of a person in custody and improper sexual activity with a person in custody are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, a state jail felony, or a second degree felony, depending upon the circumstances. 

 

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year and/or a fine not to exceed $4,000. A state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for a term from 180 days to two years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  A second degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to twenty years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

 

The bill's provisions expand the definition for the offenses of violation of the civil rights of a person in custody and improper sexual activity with a person in custody.  This change is expected to increase demands on state and county correctional resources by increasing the number of offenders eligible for confinement in state and county correctional facilities.  However, it is assumed that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agency resources.  In fiscal year 2012, there were 32 arrests, 21 community supervision placements, and ten admissions to prison for the offenses of violation of the civil rights of a person in custody and improper sexual activity with a person in custody.



Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
UP, GG, JPo