Texas prison 'staffing crisis' harms public safety, lawmakers say

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's staffing shortages harm the safety of staff, inmates, and the public, state lawmakers found in a new report, as the nation's largest state prison system aims to better handle an inmate population of more than 130,000.

The Sunset Advisory Commission, a committee of lawmakers tasked with reviewing the efficacy and efficiency of government agencies, compiled the report ahead of the next legislative session beginning in January.

The key takeaway: a large inmate population and a changing workforce have created a "staffing crisis" that makes it "almost impossible" to adequately staff some facilities, making them more dangerous for staff and inmates alike.

Forty percent of correctional officers said they feel unsafe in TDCJ facilities, with nearly half reporting they witness "adverse events" like assaults or escape attempts daily or weekly. In 2023, the department had a correctional officer vacancy rate of nearly 30%, slightly down from 2022.

The shortage also harms the quality of life of inmates, with some positions supporting rehabilitation often "entirely unfilled." When there aren't enough guards to supervise time outside of the cell, inmates lose privileges.

"When the units are short-staffed, obviously you're not allowed to leave your cell or your dorm, programming is cut down. Access to even the rec yard or the chapel is very, very limited," Jennifer Toon told Nexstar. Toon spent two decades in TDCJ custody and now leads the Lioness Justice-Impacted Women's Alliance to advocate for inmates. She said her own experience did not improve her life.

"It never healed my life in a journey of almost 20 years," she said. "I don't believe that prisons and carceral settings are the way to heal and restore people. We can have accountability without the extreme punishment and degradation that happens to folks on the inside."

The Sunset report also found that public safety is at risk due to the staffing shortage, as overworked staff are less vigilant and could fail to stop escapes.

In 2022, for example, inmate Gonzalo Lopez escaped from TDCJ custody and later murdered five people. An investigation linked the tragedy directly to staffing shortage -- finding a third of the positions at his unit were vacant on the day of his escape.

On Thursday, TDCJ will speak to lawmakers on recommended changes. The department recently launched its "2030 Vision" initiative, pledging ambitious goals related to staffing, rehabilitation, and recruiting.

"The TDCJ strives to become the best employer in Texas. The agency will focus on transforming the culture and boosting morale to increase recruitment and retention efforts. By 2030, the agency will be voted by employees as the best place to work in Texas," the department said on their website.

Lawmakers recommend that the legislature require the department to develop a long-term staffing plan and close some facilities with inadequate staffing. Toon intends to testify to the committee on Thursday and says, while the recommendations are helpful, there is more to be done to improve conditions for staff and inmates alike.

"It's not the money, dummy," she said. "It really is the culture. People don't stay in a culture where other human beings are oppressed and treated with less dignity. The staff is also treated that way... there have in the past been increased salaries, and it really hasn't changed the culture of prisons."