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After Release, Texas Criminal Offenders Face Reentry Realities

William Cho/Pixabay http://bit.ly/2nGv2zb

What happens to people after they're released from the Texas criminal justice system? Probation is typically the next step, but what does that process look like and how does it work?

Known legally as "community supervision," probation is a period of time when a person released from the prison system remains free on court-ordered conditions with the oversight of a probation officer. 

The process is considered an alternative to incarceration and aims to reduce a previous offender's chances of recidivism, or a return to criminal behavior. 

Texas is one of four states that can sentence 17-year-olds accused of a crime to the adult criminal justice system.

Young people on adult felony probation in Texas are less likely to succeed in meeting the conditional terms of their release, according to the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. A new report suggeststhat prioritizing educational, vocational and community-based opportunities for youth can improve outcomes. 

How are juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system being impacted by the traditional system?

What is being done to successfully reintroduce adult and juvenile offenders back into society?

How do community programs and local partnerships affect recidivism ratesand public safety in Bexar County?  

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Jan Ross Piedad Sakian is TPR’s News Operations Producer. In this role, she develops strategy on collaborative and digital initiatives for the station. Since 2016, Jan Ross has served in a coordinating capacity for TPR’s state and national partners, including The Texas Newsroom.