Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Board
Two overwhelming problems plague the criminal justice system in Texas:
where to put all those prisoners and how to supervise them when they are on probation.
The Legislature has taken a swing at both those issues with passage
of a bill that would cut the time that low-risk offenders spend on probation. The bill is on the governor's desk, and he should
sign it.
Although the measure cuts the mandatory time on probation, it provides
judges with the flexibility to extend probation for misdemeanor offenders from two years to five and for more serious crimes
from five years to 10. In both cases, annual review is required.
The bill calls for hiring additional probation officers. Caseloads
now can reach 150 per caseworker.
Critics say it will open the prison doors. But if this legislation
works as proposed, it will reduce caseloads, mean closer supervision of those on probation and reserve space in the state's
prisons for those who truly need to be there.
That's worth a try.
