LBB Says Fewer Prisons Needed

The Statesman reported today that a forthcoming Legislative Budget Board (LBB) report will state that Texas prison growth has slowed resulting in the need for fewer prison beds.

That's the conclusion of a Legislative Budget Board study to be made public Monday. It attributes the slowdown to a decrease in the number of new felons, a slightly increased parole rate, fewer revocations of probation and parole that send violators to prison, and the projected effects of treatment and rehabilitation programs approved by the Legislature last year.

The report predicts that Texas' incarcerated population will average 156,364 this year and rise to 158,470 in 2012.

That is good news. During the 80th Legislature lawmakers authorized the construction of new prison beds pending the approval of the LBB. We continue to be unsure of how many of these beds may be private. We will continue to monitor these developments and increases in private state capacity in Texas.

Previous coverage on the Legislature:

1. TX Voters Approve Prison Expansion
2. Interim Charges Focus on Corrections Funding
3. More Prison Beds on the Way