Judges can even sentence criminals to a stint in a state jail as a condition of probation. In spite of this newfound flexibility, Texas judges are ignoring this option. Although there were 105,000 car thefts in 1995, so few offenders were sentenced to state jail that six new facilities will be opened later than planned. The state jail system is a good idea. Offenders can be incarcerated near the community where they committed the crime.
Judges can order a mix of punishment and rehabilitation tailored toward specific offenders.
Some inmates in the Hutchins State Jail near Dallas, for example, are building low cost housing in poor neighborhoods. State jails can give burglars and thieves the chance to go straight without simply returning them to streets. State jails are open for business and Texans are paying for them. It is criminal not to use the system as intended. Neither these AP Materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use.