PRESS CLIPS 718 WEST 5th ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 4P79:36'755 News Bowie, Texas MAY 2 8 1981 We are moving forward full speed with a plan to re- lieve the problem of over-crowding in the Texas prison system. Through a new conditional parole program utilizing existing halfway houses and a temporary tent encamp- ment within the perimeter of prison security areas, we will be able to get 3,000 inmates who now sleep on De- partment of Corrections floors into more-comfortable facilities by July 1. Our plan is responsive to the order of Federal Dis- trict Judge William Wayne Justice to eliminate triple- ceiling of inmates by August. Attorney General Mark White is seeking a stay of Judge Justice's far-reaching decision with regard to the Texas prison system, many aspects of which we strongly disagree with. We do agree, however, that over-crowd- ing must he eliminated promptly. Hopefully, 750 inmates will be paroled to halfway houses by June 1 and another 750 before July 1. Mean- while, I have recommended $16 million be appropri- ated for intensively-supervised halfway houses during the next biennium. Board of Pardons and Paroles contracts with halfway houses and individual parolee contracts will be drawn tightly to insure protection of law-abiding citizens, resti- tution to victims of crimes and minimum cost to tax- payers. A supplemental grant of $1.25 million from the Governor's Office of General Counsel and Criminal Justice to the Board of Pardons and Paroles permits immediate placement of conditional parolees in halfway houses. Inmates will receive the highest degree of super- vision to assure protection of the public. Initial condi- tional parolees have been identified and are being pro- cessed to halfway houses with advice of local judges, prosecutors and sheriffs. Meanwhile, we are obtaining military tents from the Texas National Guard to house another 1500 low risk inmates temporarily within prison unit security areas. July 1 is our goal for this relocation. The tents, which have been used by our loyal servicemen in the field, will certainly be a preferred alternative to triple-celling of inmates during a brief, five-months period. The Legislature already has approved my emergency request for a $35 million appropriation to construct additional permanent housing for inmates. When this construction is completed November 1, inmates who have spent the summer and early fall in the tent en- campments will be transferred to the new quarters. Texas Department of Corrections is studying possible purchase of the Harris County Rehabilitation Center or building new facilities on state land to expand work furlough programs under my $18 million appropriations request. We have also increased funding for adult pro- bation programs. The TDC construction program for the 1982-83 bien- nium will provide 10,800 additional permanent bed spaces by August 31, 1983. I am encouraged, based on my meeting with U.S. Attorney General William French Smith, that the Rea- gan Administration is re-examining its position in the lawsuit involving the Texas prison system. I am in- creasingly hopeful of a stay on appeal of the Ruiz v. Estelle suit. We are, indeed, in a crisis situation, however—one NOlich could cost the state billions of dollars. I am confident the programs I have set out will elimi- nate the problem of inmates sleeping on floors by July ithout need for wholesale release to homes via an inadequately-supervised work furlough arrangement. All of this has been undertaken in good faith and with integrity to alleviate the situation in our prisons. I believe that Judge Justice will be pleased with our efforts.