LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT

87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
April 7, 2021

TO:
Honorable Andrew S. Murr, Chair, House Committee on Corrections
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB2177 by Moody (Relating to the release of certain inmates on parole; changing parole eligibility.), As Introduced

The provisions of the bill addressing parole eligibility are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Government Code as it relates to parole eligibility and release procedures. Under the provisions of the bill, the Board of Pardons and Paroles would be required to consider age at offense and, if available, the opinions of certain officials as mitigating factors and, in certain circumstances, age would be a determining factor for eligibility for consideration for release onto parole. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2021 and apply to any individual who confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

To estimate the population impact, LBB staff analyzed individual–level data associated with those confined within state correctional institutions on August 31,2020. After excluding individuals who were ineligible for parole, those who did not meet the age criteria, and those who had not yet met or would not meet the calendar time served requirements, the most recent 24-month observed parole approval rate was applied to the 4,826 individuals who remained and would be eligible during the next five fiscal years.  The bill would be retroactive in its application resulting in a greater proportion of individuals eligible for consideration in fiscal year 2022.

Assuming arrests, court activity, sentencing, and other criminal justice system processes will return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic functions by the end of fiscal year 2022, the probable impact of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five fiscal years following passage, in terms of daily demand upon the adult corrections agencies, is estimated as follows:


Fiscal Year
Decrease In Demand For TDCJ Correctional Institution Bed Capacity
Increase In Demand for Parole Supervision
20221,1631,163
2023141141
2024160160
2025190190
2026204204



Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JMc, LM, DGI, CMA