Opinion ID: 398038
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Reduction of Population

Text: 42 1. Defendants shall forthwith employ all measures within their power to reduce the total population of prisoners in facilities operated by TDC, as well as the prisoner population at each prison unit. At a minimum this shall include: 43 a. The elimination of any practice or procedure that unreasonably inhibits or delays the award or restoration of good time to prisoners; 44 b. the elimination of any practice or procedure that unreasonably inhibits or delays the granting of parole; 45 c. the expansion of the work furlough program pursuant to Section 6166x-3, V.A.T.S.; and 46 d. the expansion of the prisoner furlough program pursuant to Section 6184n(2), V.A.T.S. 47 2. Defendants shall, by November 1, 1981, review the record of every prisoner not having credit for SAT III good time (thirty days overtime for each month served) for the entire period he has served in TDC, and consider whether such prisoner should be credited with some part or all of such good time. 48 3. Defendants shall, by November 1, 1981, review the record of every prisoner who would be eligible for parole interview except for the absence of sufficient PIP incentive points, and consider whether such prisoner should be credited with sufficient points to be eligible for parole interview. 49 4. In expanding their work furlough program, defendants shall forthwith make maximum use of their authority under Section 6166x-3, V.A.T.S., to house prisoners outside of TDC units. Specifically: by November 1, 1981, defendants shall have at least 300 prisoners on work furlough; by May 1, 1982, defendants shall have at least 1,200 prisoners on work furlough; by November 1, 1982, and thereafter until further order of the court, defendants shall at all times have at least 2,500 prisoners on work furlough. 50 5. In expanding the prisoner furlough program, defendants shall make maximum use of Section 6184n(2)(a), V.A.T.S. Specifically: by November 1, 1981, defendants shall have at least 300 prisoners on furlough; by May 1, 1982, defendants shall have at least 600 prisoners on furlough; by November 1, 1982, and thereafter until further order of the court, defendants shall at all times have at least 1,000 prisoners on furlough. 51 6. Defendants shall expand TDC's role in community corrections and establish minimum security institutions, honor farms or units, halfway houses, urban work or educational release centers, community treatment centers, and the like. These facilities shall be located in areas near population centers of sufficient size to provide services. By November 1, 1981, defendants shall file with the court a plan for the establishment by TDC of such facilities with or without the participation of other state or local agencies.