We support fiscal and moral reform in our state’s criminal justice system with an emphasis on ending the death penaltyand supporting successful rehabilitation and reintegration for those re-entering society.

HB 221		This bill would allow prisoners to be housed in tents or other facilities other than the county jail for an indefinite amount of time. The TCC opposes this bill because it would allow prisoners to be detained in areas with poor living conditions which is disrespectful to the prisoners' dignity as human beings.
HB 530		This bill would allow open up the option for certain defendants to enter a drug court program and would allow his or her indictments to be dropped if the defendant successfully completed the program. The TCC supports criminal justice reform that emphasizes rehabilitation and reintegration.
HB 745		This bill provides for the abolition of the option of the death penalty for offenses committed after September 1, 2007. The TCC supports this bill because Texas now has the ability to effectively suppress crime by rendering criminals harmless without denying them their lives or the opportunity for reform.See HJR 23 and SJR 21.
HB 854		This bill would give certain unemployed ex-criminal offenders access to the federal food stamp program. The TCC supports this bill because food stamps are federally funded and can be a lifeline to ex-offenders trying to reintegrate into society.
SB 249		This bill would prevent a defendant who, at the time of the offense was mentally retarded, from being sentenced to death. The TCC supports this bill because Texas now has the ability to effectively suppress crime by rendering criminals harmless without denying them their lives or the opportunity for reform.