Today@Sam Article

Panel To Explore Future Of Criminal Justice In Texas

Sept. 29, 2015
SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt

A recent report by the State of Texas Legislative Budget Board projects that incarceration rates for adults and the juvenile population will “remain stable” through the year 2020, with residential populations expected to remain at or below capacity. 

However, those same projections indicate that even at a 1-2 percent increase, by the year 2017, Texas will have more than 150,000 adults and more than 1,200 juveniles incarcerated in the Texas criminal justice system. 

A panel of criminal justice experts will explore what that means for Texas and its residents on Tuesday (Oct. 6), during an event sponsored by the Texas Tribune.

“Criminal Justice: The Next Five Years,” the sixth installment of the Texas Tribune’s statewide Conversation Series, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the conversation beginning around noon, in Lowman Student Center Room 320.

The discussion will include Derek Cohen, deputy director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation; State Rep. Joe Moody, vice chairman of the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee; Douglas Smith, policy analyst at the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; and State Rep. James White, vice chairman of the House Corrections Committee.

“Texas Tribune events play a critical role in engaging and educating folks on the topics that matter,” said Natalie Choate, director of media relations and partnerships for the Texas Tribune. “We're grateful to be back in Huntsville to host a conversation on the future of criminal justice in Texas.”

The Texas Tribune's statewide Conversation Series features in-depth discussions with prominent elected officials and newsmakers moderated by Evan Smith, CEO and editor-in-chief, and other expert journalists from The Texas Tribune.

The series was developed to explore the near future of eight major policy areas through a conversation with leading thinkers and policymakers on that day's particular subject.

The event is free, open to the public and includes a light lunch. It also will be available via livestream.

“Criminal Justice: The Next Five Years” is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice and The Huntsville Item. The series is sponsored by AT&T, Texas A&M University, BP, PepsiCo, Walmart and Southwest Airlines, the official airline of Texas Tribune Events. Tribune events also are supported through contributions from founding investors and members.

Because lunch is being served, participants are asked to RSVP here.

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