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Is There Life After Texas Prison?
Fred D. West
20 March 2007
(revised May 21, 2007
What happens when someone is released from a Texas Prison or a Texas State Jail? An
inmate released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s (TDCJ) Huntsville Unit is
provided a set of clothing, a bus ticket, and a report time for a parole officer. The situation is
even worse for those pardoned after a lengthy prison stay. Not only do they have nothing, they
have to deal with no assistance from any source (Asquith, 2007). If they have any money it is
from their commissary fund in the form of a check, usually less than fifty dollars. This person
will have no place to live, no employment, and no transportation beyond a one-way bus ticket to
their selected home. If they are fortunate enough to have a commissary fund check it might cost
them half its value to cash it. While incarcerated few have the opportunity to learn a marketable
skill allowing them to find employment of any kind after release. What vocational training is
offered is provided on obsolete equipment and isn’t transferable into the community. TDCJ is
one of the largest employers in the State of Texas. A significant percentage of the prison
population is employed by Texas Correctional Industries (TCI). Prisoners grow the food, raise
the cattle, operate butcher shops, build and maintain most of the equipment used by TDCJ,
operate one of the largest canning facilities in the United States, operate significant garment
manufacturing facilities, and produce a variety of footwear (Texas Correctional Industries,
2007). Prisoners are also used to train and care for all the horses used throughout the TDCJ
system. Inmates are not paid for their labor. Not being paid for their work and inadequate
training are major reasons two out of three people released return to prison is less than two years
for parole violations (CENTER ON JUVENILE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Texas Tough?,
2007). This paper addresses explanations for the high rate of recidivism in the State of Texas and
provides suggestions from academicians, legislators, and former prisoners for reducing the high
recidivism rate.
A survey form with 93 questions was prepared for gathering data. Interviews with individuals
were conducted using the survey form as a model for questioning respondents. 22 former
prisoners were interviewed by the author for this paper. The interviews were conducted from
February 16, 2007 to March 10, 2007. A few of the interviews were conducted over the
telephone and the rest were conducted in person by the author. The interviews conducted in
person were at 5 homeless camps around Austin, Texas. A single interview was conducted in
Ojĩnaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Telephone interviews were prearranged collect calls to me from
payphones around Texas. In-person interviews were conducted at random with ex-prisoners
found in homeless camps. In all cases great care was taken to protect the identity and locations of
the respondents.
The respondents identified these key issues to reduce recidivism: Usable education and
vocational training provided in prison and state jail; Pay inmates for work performed while
incarcerated; Provide pre-release employment interviews and provide employment applications;
Provide free access to public transportation after release from prison; Provide temporary housing
immediately after release from prison or state jail.
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