NCJ Number
155536
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This projection of jail backlogs in Texas for 1995 through 2000 considers the impact of sentencing reform legislation that incorporates two basic assumptions: (1) repeat State jail felons can be sentenced directly to State jails; and (2) State jail felons with two prior convictions for State jail felonies can be enhanced as third-degree felons and sentenced to prison.
Abstract
The distribution of sentences for State jail felons receiving direct sentences is as follows: 6 months (40 percent), 1 year (40 percent), 1.5 years (15 percent), and 2 years (5 percent). Sentencing reform dynamics indicate that 25 percent of State jail felons with two prior convictions for State jail felonies will be enhanced to third-degree felonies, 93 percent of State jail felons enhanced to third-degree felonies will be sentenced to prison, and the sentence distribution of enhanced State jail felons will be 2 to 10 years. The projected paper ready county jail backlog in August 1998 under the sentencing reform legislation totals 19,553, compared to the impact of the original sentencing reform bill in which the backlog for the same date was projected to be 35,699. The jail backlog under status quo for August 1998 is estimated at 15,363. Projection data on jail backlogs are tabulated by month for fiscal years 1995-2000. 2 tables