ALABAMA - For a few months now, Texas' prison system has been under the spotlight as it struggles to keep inmates safe amid scorching hot temperatures and staffing shortages. Some counties have even leaned into teenagers to fill the role of correction officers, while others have opted to send people awaiting for their trial to another county or state. But challenges remain.
According to a 189-page report from the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, a commission that reviews the performance of state agencies, Texas could potentially run out of room to house the projected number of incarcerated people if staffing shortages continue.
According to the report, published by The Texas Tribune, staffing shortages have been so severe that some prisons are operating with up to 70% of prison guard positions unfilled, while the turnover rate among TDCJ staff is 26%. Moreover, Texas could exceed bed capacity by the end of next year as prisons fill up.
One of the solutions recommended by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is for the TDCJ to reallocate its staff, close facilities with persistent staffing challenges and retrofit existing units to add more beds.
The agency also suggests closing facilities that do not count with proper air conditioning systems, an issue has led to a lawsuit being filed against the state due to its lethal consequences.
The suit, filed by Texas Prisons Community Advocates, follows three inmate deaths in the state's prison system in 2023 that officials admitted were partly due to extreme heat. Only about a third of its 100 prison units count with full AC, while the rest either has partial or no air-conditioning at all.
The report also suggested the TDCJ conducts a revamp of its outdated record-keeping practices. Largely relying on paper-based processes and manual entry, its outdated practices have led the prison system to wrongfully release 34 inmates in the past decade, the document says.
Besides not being practical, Texas' record-keeping does not fully record the type of force used in guards' physical altercations with inmates and does not completely track the types of employee grievances.
On top of this, the report found that TDCJ is not fully tracking the use of effectiveness of rehabilitation and reentry programs, as they do not keep a list of active programs. This has led to increased rates of recidivism and longer waits for inmates before being placed in parole programs, limiting their opportunities for rehabilitation and costing taxpayers millions of dollars, the report said.
As of Sept., about 24% of the 24,112 correctional officer positions in Texas prisons remained vacant, according to TDCJ spokesperson Amanda Hernandez. During an August interview with The Texas Tribune, Hernandez said that recruitment was a top priority and that the agency was undergoing a dramatic "culture shift" that centered in the rehabilitation of inmates over punishment.
To address the current staffing shortages, the report recommended TDCJ submits a 10-year plan that identifies facility and capacity needs amid a growing population. It also makes the suggestion of phasing out certain facilities, particularly those with high vacancy rates and high deferred maintenance costs.
Commissioners are scheduled to hear public testimony on the staff report on Nov. 14, while final recommendations are expected to be sent to lawmakers on Dec. 12, ahead of the legislative session that begins in January.
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