REDUCING INCARCERATION

In FY 2005, 243 felons successfully completed community supervision while 357 defendants were served in the pre-trial release program, representing a substantial incarceration cost savings. The Electronic Monitoring Program (house arrest) served 92 pre-trial defendants, 80 felony offenders, and 4 misdemeanor offenders in FY ’05. Of the 123 offenders discharged from electronic monitoring, 54% (67) successfully completed the program.

Offenders are being diverted from prison upon violating their conditions of supervision. Programs that are used in this include Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility, State Jail Therapeutic Communities, residential treatment facilities, restitution centers, intermediate sanction facilities, and electronic monitoring. Although there are more programs, these tend to be the most frequently used.

The most significant and successful diversion program in Williamson County is the Central Texas Treatment Center (CTTC), a substance abuse treatment facility primarily for alcohol and drug related offenses. The CTTC served 272 offenders in FY ’05; successfully graduating 155 (87%) residents. There were 6,045 counseling hours provided during the fiscal year.  The residents completed 69,814 community service restitution hours; and a comprehensive educational curriculum was delivered to an average of 24 residents monthly. Residents earned 9 General Education Development (GED) certificates through the Education Acceleration Program (EAP).

In FY '05, 483 misdemeanor and 233 felony offenders were revoked, for a total of 716.  The average number of offenders revoked each month was 66 individuals.  The average number of individuals on probation each month is 4,910.

While the department maintained an average monthly caseload size of 2,342 individuals on felony probation, only an average of 3 per month were convicted of subsequent offenses. This number is low, considering the high risk population and the large number of offenders that are being supervised.

As evidenced by the low number of offenders who were revoked and/or convicted of subsequent offenses, the department has continued to provide effective supervision in the community.