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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the assessments used by the Board of Pardons |
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and Paroles to make parole decisions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.1446 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.1446. STUDY ON ASSESSMENTS USED DURING PAROLE |
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DECISIONS. (a) The board shall conduct a study on the |
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effectiveness of the assessment components of the parole guidelines |
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adopted under Section 508.144 and used by the board and parole |
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panels in determining which inmates should be released on parole. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the board: |
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(1) shall obtain information on inmates considered for |
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parole during the period beginning January 1, 2015, and ending |
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December 31, 2017, from the Texas Board of Criminal Justice, the |
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department, and any other criminal justice agency with relevant |
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information on the recidivism of: |
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(A) inmates sentenced to the institutional |
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division; and |
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(B) releasees under the supervision of the |
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division; and |
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(2) may use information for a select group of inmates |
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based on an acceptable research methodology. |
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(c) In evaluating the effectiveness of the assessments, the |
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board shall compare and analyze the recidivism rates and parole |
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guideline score of the inmates used in the study. The board shall |
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determine for each category or score within the parole guidelines: |
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(1) the number of inmates released on parole who are |
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convicted of a misdemeanor offense following release on parole; |
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(2) the number of inmates released on parole who are |
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convicted of a felony offense following release on parole; and |
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(3) the number of inmates released on parole who have |
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had parole revoked for a reason other than a new conviction. |
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(d) Not later than January 1, 2019, the board shall submit a |
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report on the results of the study to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and each member of the legislature. The report must |
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include any recommendations the board considers necessary to |
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improve the parole decision-making process, including any changes |
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to the assessments used or to the parole guidelines or recommended |
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parole approval rates described by Section 508.144. |
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(e) This section expires August 31, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |