Breaking the Cycle: Can Texas reduce recidivism?

Texas 2036

1 month ago

This is a preview of our Texas 2036 newsletter on efforts by legislators to improve Texas’ prison system and reduce recidivism. To receive this weekly look at our work, sign up here.

Recidivism in the spotlight: What TXLege is doing

Photos sourced by: Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice and Windham School District

Texas state prisons release over 45,000 inmates each year, but nearly half are rearrested within three years and up to 20% end up back in prison.

That’s why this session, lawmakers have an opportunity to reduce recidivism with cost-saving measures. Here’s what the numbers reveal and where criminal justice actions could go next.

A closer look at incarcerated Texans

average prison inmate graphic

According to 2025 data from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice:

135,972: The number of inmates in Texas prison facilities in March 2025.
41 years old: The average age of Texas inmates in March 2025.
Men vs. Women: Of those currently incarcerated, over 90% (125,162) are men and less than 10% (10,810) are women.
75,688: The number of individuals placed on parole supervision as of March 2025. About 5,800 were considered for parole and 2,270 were approved in February 2025.
$86.50: The average cost per day to house a Texas inmate in 2024. The cost increased by $9.01 since 2022. In 2024, it cost $4.69 per day to supervise someone on active parole.

Major criminal justice bill: TDCJ Sunset review

Senior Policy Advisor Luis Soberon testified this month in support of SB 2405 and HB 1515.

Every state agency in Texas undergoes a periodic Sunset review, which gives lawmakers an opportunity to look at agencies’ performance so that they can improve their efficiency and operations.

The session’s key criminal justice bill is the Sunset measure to extend the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which oversees the state’s prison system.

Senate Bill 2405 / House Bill 1515 — TDCJ Sunset

Authors: Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) & Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)

Key areas we’re focused on:

Expanding education and job training in prisons through Windham School District, including career and technical education.
Enhancing data tracking on recidivism, education and employment outcomes.

📺 WATCH: Senior Justice Policy Advisor Luis Soberon testified in support earlier this month.
✅ Bill Tracker: Both bills have had committee hearings; SB 2405 has cleared committee.

Judiciary IT and data infrastructure bill on table

Senior Policy Advisor Luis Soberon testified before the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence in support of HB 5354 on April 16, 2025.

This session, Texas 2036 is tracking funding proposals to shore up the judiciary’s IT and data infrastructure and legislation that would require prosecuting attorneys to report critical information on their work and resources.

Senate Bill 2146 / House Bill 5354 – Prosecutor Data

Authors: Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) & Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen)

What it does:

Requires the collection of data on prosecutor caseloads, staffing and key deadlines.
Tasks the Texas Judicial Council with developing reporting rules in collaboration with prosecutors and other stakeholders.

📺 WATCH: Luis Soberon testified in support earlier this week.
✅ Bill Tracker: HB 5354 has been heard in committee.

TDCJ: What you need to know

Photos sourced: Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice

TDCJ runs the state prison system and oversees adults sentenced and convicted in state court.
4 Divisions: Community Justice, Correctional Institutions, Parole and Private Facility Oversight.
~100 Facilities: Includes prisons, private prisons, state jails and other units.
34,000+ Employees: Nearly two-thirds work directly with inmates and parolees.
22.5% Staff Turnover (FY 2024): Down 3.4% from the previous year.

Other Criminal Justice bills to watch 👀

prison inmates Lee College

Photo source: Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice

SB 1649 / HB 5261
Authors: Sen. César Blanco (D-El Paso) & Rep. Charles Cunningham (R-Humble)

What it does:

Allows Windham School District to partner with colleges for postsecondary prison education
✅ Luis testified in support of HB 5261 this week. Watch his testimony.

A Texas inmate tests to earn his Basic Wastewater Class D certification in July 2023. Once released, he has the opportunity to earn his official license through TCEQ. (Photo by Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice)

SB 1080 / HB 3673

Authors: Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) & Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield)

What it does:

Enables provisional occupational licenses for people with criminal records
Aims to lower barriers to employment for those reentering society

✅ Bill Tracker: SB 1080 passed out of the Senate on Wednesday.

prison inmate craftsman recidivism

An inmate at the Stevenson Unit’s Modular Furniture Factory designs and crafts high-quality furniture in November 2024. (Photo by Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice)

SB 1053 / HB 2498
Authors: Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) & Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen)

What it does:

Requires clear notice if a criminal record could disqualify someone from a license
Collects data on license denials linked to convictions or deferred adjudication

🌞 A/C in prisons, an update: The 89th Texas Legislature has already put significant resources in the base budget toward climate control projects in TDCJ facilities.

In addition, Luis recently testified for HB 3006, which provides for the phased installation of climate control in facilities over the next several biennia.

Why prison education matters

Photos sourced by Windham School District

💰 Big Savings: Every $1 spent on prison education saves the state $1.61–$5.
👔 Better Job Chances: College-level credentials make someone 42% more likely to get a job callback after prison.
🏫 Windham School District is in 100 facilities across Texas.
- It offers:
  - GEDs (high school equivalency)
  - Career and technical training
  - Life and decision-making skills
- From 2019–2021, incarcerated students earned:
  - 27,000+ job training certificates
  - 3,100 HSEs
- 40–57% of students earn a credential within 6 years

Texas 2036 dives in on higher ed in prisons

Opening Doors recidivism higher ed report

Texas 2036’s “Opening Doors: The State of Higher Education in Texas Prisons” report outlines key steps to expand college opportunities for inmates:

Identify barriers to earning postsecondary credentials
Let community colleges serve inmates beyond their regions
Improve access to data on rehabilitative programs
Align prison education with state workforce goals

💡 Why it matters: Incarcerated Texans in college programs are 41.5% less likely to return to prison — boosting public safety and offering a path to stable, productive lives.

From data to impact: Research that shapes policy

Texas 2036 criminal justice research photo collage

Since 2022, Texas 2036 has produced key tools and reports that have shaped both current and past legislative sessions, including:

TX 2036 data helps build trust in justice system

police car image

This year, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement is putting new policies into action, building on the progress made with SB 1445 in 2023, which aims at improving accountability and transparency in law enforcement and the courts.

Our impact: Findings from Texas 2036’s report “Texas Law Enforcement Data Landscape” helped inform the policy discussions that shaped SB 1445 as it moved through the legislative process.

⚖️ Court data bills from 2023

Recent legislation strengthened Texas’ use of court data to improve transparency and reduce backlogs:

HB 841: Requires courts to report case-level data.
HB 3474: Mandates public reporting of district court workloads.
HB 1182: Requires courts to publish caseload data online.
HB 1184: Grants research institutions access to criminal history data.

Our impact: During the 2023 session, Texas 2036 testified in support of improving court data and the state’s judicial IT infrastructure.

We want to hear from you.

What do you think of the Sunset review of state agencies?
Let us know your thoughts.