Texas Jail Transfers, Major Cities Violent Crime Report & More

"We have no oversight once a county makes a contract with another state. It’s up to that state to follow the rules."

Since 2022, at least eight Texas counties have struggled to properly house people held in their jails, and have instead spent millions in tax dollars transporting these individuals—many of whom have yet to stand trial and are legally considered innocent—to be housed in jails in other states, a Texas Tribune article highlights this week. The death of one Harris County man who was transferred to a Louisiana jail while he awaited trial is bringing new scrutiny to an expensive and wasteful strategy for dealing with high levels of incarceration. 

"Facts and data about crime are important, but history shows political campaigns can ignore the facts to exploit people's fears about crime to change the narrative." 

Preliminary data released by the Major Cities Chiefs Association show a 6% reduction in violent crime among 69 cities in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. Columbus, Ohio saw the largest drop in violent crime with a 41% reduction, and Boston saw a 78% reduction in homicides. Unfortunately, despite the promising data, misleading campaign rhetoric around crime continues. 

"Ultimately this report finds no statistically significant relationship between bail reform and crime rates. In other words, there is no reason to believe that bail reform has led to increased crime."

Despite widespread claims linking bail reform to rising crime, a comprehensive study analyzing 22 cities that have reformed pretrial practices and 11 that haven’t finds no statistically significant relationship between bail reform and crime rates. The data, which spans from 2015 to 2021, show that bail reform policies did not lead to increased crime, including in New York and New Jersey. 

"So, you work me hard for free in this heat, then you bring me back into my cell where I’m subjected for it to be even hotter."

In Louisiana, extreme heat exceeding 100°F at Angola prison has once again created life-threatening conditions for incarcerated workers, with minimal safety measures in place despite a recent restraining order granted by a federal judge last month that was supposed to force the state Department of Corrections to make changes that improve safety for incarcerated workers. Texas prisons face similar heat-related crises and legal challenges, where extreme temperatures have been linked to multiple deaths.  

"Alabama’s Department of Corrections (ADOC) commissioner confirmed Tuesday the state’s new prison in Elmore County will cost double its original projected price when it opens in the summer of 2026."

Alabama's new prison in Elmore County is set to cost $1.2 billion, nearly double the original estimated cost of $623 million, with completion targeted for 2026. The state has been sued by the Department of Justice in recent years over the inhumane conditions inside its prisons, and this project is a result of action by the state to replace aging facilities. Challenges remain: namely, the state Department of Corrections faces a daunting federal mandate to hire 2,000 more correctional officers by 2025, with only 50 new recruits set to join this September.