The Critical Need for Independent Oversight of Texas’ Prison System

Report: The Case for Independent Oversight of Texas’ Prison System: Pursuing Accountability, Efficiency, and Transparency (Mar 2013)

Fact Sheet: H.B. 877 Fact Sheet [Legislation creating an independent oversight body]

Fact Sheet: H.B. 968 Fact Sheet [Legislation monitoring prison grievance systems]

Fact Sheet: H.B. 1543 Fact Sheet [Legislation allowing oversight of youth in adult corrections facilities]

As the largest prison system in the country, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is faced with the daunting task of effectively and efficiently managing an immense operation. Decades of research and experience have demonstrated that all public institutions, from schools to hospitals, benefit from independent, external oversight.

Strong oversight has several critical functions. It is a proven mechanism for identifying and addressing issues before they lead to expensive litigation, media scandals, or other human and fiscal costs. It can result in significant cost savings through improved operational efficiencies. And it helps to prioritize the concerns of people who are working in corrections facilities or incarcerated there.

TDCJ’s own philosophy is to be “open, ethical, and accountable” to the public. We want this intention to become fully realized. Given that taxpayers spend more than $3 billion per year on corrections, they deserve the accountability and transparency that come with real oversight. If Texas’ county jails are subject to external supervision, why should the state get a free pass?