Texas Considers Cutting 3,100 Corrections Jobs

A proposed budget-cutting plan in Texas would eliminate 3,100 prison guards, parole officers and other state correction employees. It includes the closing of some privately run prisons and cutbacks in treatment and rehabilitation programs, according to the Austin Statesman.

The proposal calls for $293.4 million in cuts, but the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said any cuts of more than $50.4 million would affect operations. It “will likely increase recidivism (and) cause significant growth in prison population,” said Brad Livingston.

Texas legislators are facing a budget shortfall of more than $10 billion. According to the plan, 2,037 correctional-officer jobs would be cut along with another 465 prison jobs in food service, maintenance and farming operations. An additional 198 ‘support employees’ would also be terminated along with 195 parole officers.