That's a 60 percent drop in the number of eligible prisoners given parole in six years, according to criminal justice officials. And this year's figures could be even lower.
Critics say keeping convicts in prisons longer hurts rehabilitation efforts.
But supporters of tougher penalties for criminals say it is making Texas a safer place to live. Convicted felons in Texas are going to pay their dues. Inmates serving time for almost any crime from burglary to murder can be considered for parole. Only prisoners who committed capital murder and are on death row are ineligible. Some 12,471 inmates out of 61,319 cases reviewed were given parole in 1996.