System Needs Analysis and Master Plan Update

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Grace McDaniel
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Master Plan Update for the Travis County Adult

1 FILED FOR RECORD 10/28/2014 9:00 AM Dana Debeauvoir - County Clerk, Travis County,TX System Needs Analysis and Master Plan Update for the Travis County Adult Correctional System STATUS REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT October 28, 2014

2 Court Analysis

3 Observations, Preliminary Findings Decline in Criminal caseloads for both County and District Courts since 2008 caseload volume is not driving bedspace demand. New Case Filings - Criminal Court Number of New Filings 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 Criminal Court - County Courts-At-Law 32,900 29,307 29,044 27,942 28,120 26,464 25,508 25,513 24,458 Criminal Court - District 36,978 35,704 36,500 34,033 34,318 14,898 14,148 12,328 12,806 13,495 13,812 10,000 12,826 11,864 10,315 10,308 11,042 10,638 12,782 12,615 5,000 32,370 31,366 11,199 11, Data source: State of Texas Office of Court Administration

4 Observations, Preliminary Findings Average time to disposition up slightly suggesting more complexity in cases and potentially impacting length of stay in jail. Average Time from Booking to Disposition 350 # Days Year Misdemeanors Felonies

5 Court Analysis: Key Findings Specialty dockets speed time to disposition for minor offenses, with biggest impact on jail beds from the Magistrate Special Reduction Docket mag docket and the jail reduction docket. Best practice Specialty Courts have been in place for many years. (Drug court; Mental Health court; Veteran s court). These practices are ingrained in the system with no indication of changes that would impact jail usage. Discussion with judiciary suggest that change in charging for B and C misdemeanors could impact jail usage. Conversations with the judiciary indicate that the enhancement of mental health initiatives could impact jail usage.

6 Court Analysis: Recommendations Continue use of specialty dockets and specialty courts. Explore expanded use of video conferencing and courtrooms for specialized dockets at Correctional Complex. o o Mental Health docket has been identified as having potential for this Continued discussion with the Judiciary is needed

7 Correctional System Bedspace Projections

8 Key Findings: Jail System Activity Overall, reported crime and arrests have remained stable since 2004 with only a slight increase in 2006 and The most recent 3 years of data show a decline in both reported crime and arrests. Although the county population is expected to continue to increase, there is no correlation between the county population and jail booking or ADP. Bookings and ADP have declined since Since 2012, both appear to have stabilized. Throughout this decline jail LOS has also remained stable at approximately 15 days.

9 County Historical Reported Offenses Property 60,000 Source: Travis County Justice & Public Safety Planning Division 55,512 Violent 5,000 50,000 46,143 49,059 47,899 47,579 47,673 51,599 51,550 4,359 4,251 4,726 52,814 4,463 48,728 49,508 4,500 40,000 4,054 3,851 4,065 3,990 4,023 4,000 3,689 3,669 30,000 3,500 20,000 Average Annual Percent Change Property: +0.8% Violent: +1.1% Violent Total Property Total 3,000 10,000 2, ,000

10 County Historical Arrests Versus Population Population 1,200,000 1,000, ,000 Source: Travis County Justice & Public Safety Planning Division Historical Arrest Sheets Note: Arrests are UCR Part I Crimes only, misdemeanor and Part II crimes not tracked. 859, , , ,432 7,171 7, ,145 6, ,241 7,188 1,008,075 1,035,099 1,069,198 1,079,093 7,904 8,320 7,711 7,533 Arrests 12,000 1,113,744 10,000 8,000 6, ,000 Average Annual Percent Change Arrests: -0.2% ( ) Total Population: +2.6% 6, ,000 4,000 County Population Total Arrests 200,000 2,

11 Key Findings: Jail Release and Length of Stay: The overall LOS is approximately 16 days similar to what is observed in other jails across the nation. The majority of all bookings into the jail are for new arrests/warrants. The majority of jail releases are bond/ror after 2 days. Overall LOS for pretrial releases is 4.4 days. Approximately 17% of all pre-trial bookings stay through at least disposition of sentence. LOS for transfer to TDCJ status is under 4 months low compared to national averages. Just over 50% of all offenders processed are for misdemeanor offenses (DUI 16%, traffic 12%, drug possession 8%, public intoxication 8% and assault 7%). Approximately 50% of all APD bookings are released via bond/ror in 3.5 days with the majority of offenses admitted being DUI, drug possession and traffic offenses.

12 Key Findings: Inmate Profiles On any given day in the Travis county jail; 87% are male, 38% Hispanic and 62% is age 35 and under. Approximately 75% of the jail ADP is pre-trial and 22% sentenced compared with 62% pre-trial and 38% sentenced nationally in Approximately 76% of the jail ADP are for felony offenses, the largest group being felony assault -15% of ADP. Only a relatively small number of jail beds are occupied by ICE holds (2%).

13 Inmate Charge Profiles FIGURE 9: FY 2013 Releases by Most Serious Charge Level 67 0% 41,664 76% 13,493 24% Felony Misdemeanor Other FIGURE 10: Jail Population 5/29/2014 by Most Serious Charge Level % Felony Misdemeanor 1,812 78%

14 Projected Bedspace by Status Year 48-Hour Housing Post Classification Total Beds GRAND TOTALS M F M F M F , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,641 Current Capacity: 2820

Bedspace Requirements: Total System 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 TOTAL 2642 2641 2624 2639 2641 Pre-Class 113 119 122

15 Bedspace Requirements: Total System TOTAL Pre-Class Special Minimum Medium Maximum

16 Capacity Analysis

17 Key Findings: Capacity Capacity is currently adequate in terms of number of beds, but: Type of bed doesn t align with the need for: o o o Medical / Mental Health inmates (esp. acute level) Females Youthful offenders Typical unit size (48 to 64 beds) not conducive to special risk/ need inmates results in TCJ use for special management, elderly, intermediate female psych TCJ capacity is coming off line Some buildings at TCCC are aging out

18 Jail Operations Analysis Health Services

19 Health Services: Key Findings Rise in medical and mental health acuity levels, despite decline in jail population Critical housing deficiencies: mental health, medical, female Insufficient mental health staffing at TCJ. Off-site health services are extensive and costly - but necessary. Nursing shortages result in use of agency personnel. Outmoded equipment cause operational inefficiencies. Aggressive, best practice cost control initiatives are in place.

20 Jail Operations Analysis Inmate Programs

21 Key Findings: Inmate Programs Long waiting lists for inmate programs Vocational programs are highly attended, but make up less than 10% of overall program offerings. Classrooms appeared to be heavily utilized, but 8am-3pm only. Only minimum and medium classifications can access programs at the Health Services Building; maximum inmates receive programs at the housing unit where space is severely limited One classroom has been outfitted for on-line GED system, but not utilized due to security concerns.

22 Jail Operations Analysis Staffing

23 Key Findings: Staffing TCSO has more FTEs than is needed overall, but not a significant number. Some areas are understaffed while others are overstaffed. Departments that deal with the transportation of inmates have the greatest need for additional staff positions. The relief factor for determining proper FTEs needs updating.

24 Key Findings: Staffing County policy contributes to higher relief factors. (No limit on accrued vacation leave for law enforcement.) The process of moving inmates appears safe and an efficient use of staff. The reduced growth in the inmate population provides an opportunity for assessment and improvements.

25 Next Steps

26 Next Steps Phase One 1. Finalize capacity and bedspace projections 2. Develop bedspace gap analysis : have vs need 3. Further refine key Operations recommendations 4. Prepare draft and final report Phase Two 1. Establish space requirements for CBF/jail and TCCC facilities 2. Develop campus development scenarios: re-align, renovate, new construction 3. Select preferred scenario and generate construction and staffing cost estimates

STATEWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECIDIVISM AND REVOCATION RATES

STATEWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECIDIVISM AND REVOCATION RATES LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD JANUARY 2009 COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF SENATE PHOTOGRAPHY Criminal Justice Data Analysis Team Michele Connolly, Manager