PRESS RELEASE

Explosive growth in the number of people on probation or parole has propelled the population of the American corrections system to more than 7.3 million. The Department of Justice reports that one of every 15 people in this country will serve a prison term during their lifetime and one in 31 individuals is currently in prison, on probation or parole. Of those released, 67.5% will be rearrested within three years. Having a meaningful job with a livable wage and reducing the barriers to employment has proven to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. By networking with others throughout the nation, all attendees have the opportunity to learn better practices and implement them in their home communities.

The Defendant/Offender Workforce Development (DOWD) Awards Committee announces the awardees for the 2010 DOWD National Awards for their outstanding chievements in prisoner reentry. The Awards will be presented at the 2010 DOWD Conference in Dallas (TX) at the downtown Hyatt Regency.

This year’s awardees include:

JUSTICE REINVESTMENT-STATE CHAMPION AWARD - Texas Representative Jerry Madden from Plano (TX)

Recognizing a Hero of the DOWD conference’s home state in assisting the reduction of recidivism, enhancing public safety and promoting effective prisoner reentry strategies.

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR (Local) - Solo Cup in Dallas (TX)

Recognizing national, state or local businesses and/or employers who have provided training and/or employment opportunities to persons with criminal backgrounds. These trainings and employment opportunities have increased
prospects for successful reintegration to society.

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR (NATIONAL) - JE Dunn Construction in Kansas City (MO)

Recognizing national businesses and/or employers who have provided training and/or employment opportunities to persons with criminal backgrounds. These trainings and employment opportunities have increased prospects for successful reintegration to society.

OUTSTANDING DOWD COMMITMENT AWARD (LOCAL) - Bill Siedhoff, Director of Human Services (St. Louis, MO)

Recognizing outstanding leaders and/organizations on a STATE or LOCAL basis who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the DOWD initiative and have successfully promoted programs, practices, policies or legislation that
improve the long-term employment prospects of persons with criminal convictions.

OUTSTANDING DOWD COMMITMENT AWARD (NATIONAL) – USPO Chief Jack McDonough, (District of Delaware)

Recognizing outstanding leaders and/organizations on a NATIONAL basis who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the DOWD initiative and have successfully promoted programs, practices, policies or legislation that
improve the long-term employment prospects of persons with criminal convictions.

MIGDALIA “Miggie” BAERGA-BUFFLER AWARD - Prison Outreach Ministry in Montgomery County (MD)

Recognizing a faith-based or community-based organization that have promoted offender workforce development through partnerships with local, state, or federal agency, delivered effective support & other related services; and
advocated for policies and practices that supported successful reentry.

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN WORKFORCE - Mary Moran, Offender Workforce Development Administrator for Travis County (TX)

Recognizing individuals who have demonstrated leadership in creating and promoting innovative offender workforce development partnerships, programs, policies, practices, and/or legislative initiatives.

OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO OFFENDER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION - Texas State Technical College in Abilene (TX)

Recognizing organizations that have developed and initiated correctional industry and/or correctional education programs that assist with successful transition into the community. These may include innovative training and
apprenticeship programming in high demand industries.

DOWD Lifetime Achievement Award - John Moore, Chief (retired), Transition and Offender Workforce Development Division for the National Institute of Corrections (NIC)

This achievement, not given annually, is awarded to outstanding individuals who have given much of their professional lives in assisting defendants/ offenders in returning successfully to their communities.

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Felix Mata

National Offender Workforce Development Partnership

Email: felix_mata@moep.uscourts.gov

 

 

REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MADDEN EARNS STATEWIDE AWARD FOR FIGHTING LAWSUIT ABUSE

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

(Plano, TX) A week ago today, Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC awarded State Rep. Jerry Madden the TLR Civil Justice Leadership Award for his support of a fair and predictable civil justice system in Texas.

Speaking at a Veterans Day luncheon at Collin College in Plano, TLR PAC Chairman Richard Trabulsi said: “Rep. Madden has been steadfast in supporting lawsuit reforms that have strengthened the Texas economy and increased access to health care in our state. As a member of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, he helped stop a number of bills that would have reversed our state’s model lawsuit reforms. Jerry has stood up for the best interests of Texas and opposed the powerful Texas Trial Lawyers Association, who push the plaintiff lawyer agenda.”

Trabulsi noted that trial lawyers advocated for almost 900 bills during the 2009 Legislative Session that would have reversed or undermined recent reforms, created new ways to sue, or interfered with the rights to contract for alternative forms of dispute resolution such as arbitration. Trabulsi said the courage and commitment of lawmakers like Madden is critical to preserving lawsuit reform in Texas.

Rep. Madden and his wife, Barbara, were honored to be joined in the celebration by Senator Florence Shapiro and Rep. Angie Chen Button, various community and civic leaders from the surrounding area, other well wishers, and family members.

TLR PAC’s Civil Justice Leadership Award is presented to lawmakers who take a stand in support of the model lawsuit reforms that are boosting the Texas economy, creating jobs and bringing doctors to every community.

Rep. Madden represents Texas House District 67 which includes parts of Plano, Richardson and Dallas found in Collin County. In addition to serving on the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, he is Vice Chair of the Corrections Committee.

Contact:
Mark Hey

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REP. MADDEN - AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL SETS UP CORRECTIONS AND REENTRY SUB COMMITTEE

For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 10, 2009

Washington D.C.---In an effort to control skyrocketing incarceration costs, the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Public Safety and Elections Task Force has convened a Corrections and Reentry Sub Committee. This group will work to create model legislation that focuses on expanding community supervision, reinvesting in and creating treatment programs that work, and providing cost-effective ways to increase an ex-offender’s successful transition back into society.

Presently approximately 1 out of every 100 Americans are confined in local, state or federal prisons. Throughout the United States, 700,000 offenders will be released from custody this year. That’s more than three times the size of the Marine Corps. Even if the demographics are something we don’t wish to confront, it is a statistical certainty we could find among friends and family, our co-workers, mentors of our children, or members of our church, synagogue or mosque someone who was behind bars at some point in their life. That they no longer are incarcerated demonstrates the potential of any person to overcome the internal and external forces which prompted them to engage in whatever criminal behavior or enterprise caused them to run afoul of the law in the first place.

Reviewing state programs and policies which could be replicated nationwide that would lower the recidivism rate among former lawbreakers has payoffs for everyone---crime victims, homes and local communities, governments, taxpayers, and criminals themselves. Critical to the success of any in-prison rehabilitation or post-release tactics is the need to change the thinking of the individual who opted to engage in crime. Various factors contribute to a person’s decision- making process and path in life, yet it cannot be denied that the consequences of bad choices and re-orienting of one’s perspective through various avenues can provide many the opportunity to exhibit a healthy response.

By offering to those in prison educational programs (GED classes, vocational skills training, basic literacy or math courses), explaining how to prepare for a job interview/developing a resume/offering techniques on how to find a job, and seeking to impart other life skills, we enhance the prospects of a person not returning to old habits which may have sent them to jail in the first place. Developing a good self image and empowering an individual to promote themselves is only a hollow goal, however, if the individual isn’t truly equipped to deliver on their credentials or promise to perform.

For rehabilitation to work, realities outside the prison walls must be faced as well. Simple things like having a safe place to stay upon release or being offered access to reliable support networks that can help a person negotiate the day to day challenges which confront someone with a criminal record are crucial. Daunting barriers to housing (often ex-felons will not be rented to) and employment (such as licensing criteria) due to disqualification owing to a criminal history are notable examples of problems unique to the ex-offender population which need addressing.

As evidence of the realization that providing people the means to help themselves delivers many benefits, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently named an individual as director of a newly formed Reentry and Integration Division. Stopping the revolving door of prison which necessitates productive citizens paying for the housing, clothing, feeding, hygiene, medical care and recreation of the inmate, not counting the larger repercussions when viewing the ripple effects beyond the party most immediately affected, represents a very heavy price society pays for crime. Anything that can help reduce that burden is worth evaluating, promoting, and ultimately doing.

The ALEC sub committee’s Public Sector Chair is Rep. Jerry Madden (Richardson) and the Private Sector Chair is Pat Nolan (Vice President--Prison Fellowship Ministries). Combining the experience and expertise of these two individuals in overseeing this initiative demonstrates that successful strategies which will provide individuals a “second chance” are not exclusively the domain of either the public or private sector, but that in partnership, real opportunities for constructive intervention in the lives of individuals can be achieved.

Mark Hey
512-463-0544

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REP. MADDEN - FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES PARTNER WITH AIRPORT TO ENSURE STRONG ECONOMY

For Immediate Release
Friday, September 4, 2009

Sugar Land, TX – Representative Madden (Richardson) participated in a celebration at Sugar Land Regional Airport on Thursday which was the culmination of a property conversion and funding request process that has resulted in many revenue enhancement and economic development opportunities for state and local governments. “This project represents how a strong partnership between local, state and federal entities can result in high dividends for many communities of interest,” said Rep. Madden, Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Corrections.

Senate Bill 1149 enacted during the 2009 Regular Session of the Legislature permitted the City of Sugar Land to acquire a portion of the 300-plus acre Central Prison Unit’s property known as Smithville, facilitating plans to enable the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to relocate and consolidate it operations while providing room for airport expansion. The primary sponsors of this legislation, Texas Sen. Glenn Hegar and Texas Rep. Charlie Howard, were aided by Texas Sen. Joan Huffman and Texas Rep. Jerry Madden in championing this initiative in the Legislature’s respective chambers.

The Smithville property is being purchased using funds secured by Sugar Land’s federal representative, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division.

A recent Feasibility Study mandated by the Texas Legislature and completed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice last year indicated that the redevelopment of the Central Prison Unit site and Smithville will produce an estimated $4.6 million in additional annual revenue to the State of Texas, $1 million in additional annual revenue to the City, approximately 2,400 new jobs with additional annual wages of $86 million, and enhance the value of nearby land currently under development.

The airport is self-sustaining in that it uses no local taxpayer dollars, relying instead on proceeds generated by its customers which range from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Services to over 100 Fortune 500 companies that annually patronize its operations.

Mark Hey
512-463-0544

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MADDEN TOUTS SUCCESSFUL CORRECTIONS COST CONTAINMENT STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED BY TEXAS AT NCSL

For Immediate Release
Friday, August 7, 2009

Plano, TX –While serving as Chair of the Law and Criminal Justice Committee at the recently concluded National Conference of State Legislatures in Philadelphia, Representative Jerry Madden (Richardson) took the opportunity to showcase the progress Texas has made in advancing a cost-effective corrections system that features diversion, rehabilitation and reentry programs while yet providing the necessary criminal justice infrastructure required to protect public safety. During the last conference year, Rep. Madden officiated as Vice Chair of the same NCSL committee, but owing to his experience and insight in promoting innovative strategies during the ‘07 and ‘09 Regular Legislative Sessions, Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus recommended Rep. Madden be elevated to Chair of this committee.

“Your past work as a member and vice chair of the Committee has been greatly appreciated, and your acquaintance and involvement with state criminal justice and state-federal policy positions will continue to be very beneficial to the Committee,” stated Speaker Straus. “ I know you will continue to provide the same level of thoughtful and engaged representation on this committee as you have in the past.”

The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation's 50 states, its commonwealths and territories. NCSL provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. The leadership of NCSL is composed of legislators and staff from across the country.

The NCSL Standing Committee on Law and Criminal Justice focuses on advocating a proper balance in state-federal operations (federalism) by preserving state sovereignty and setting a high standard for preemption of state laws, while addressing other issues related to constitutional law, civil rights and liability issues. The many state criminal justice issues under the Committee's jurisdiction include capital punishment, corrections, crime victims, drug crime, juvenile justice, law enforcement, probation and parole and criminal sentencing.

As a consequence of increased recognition of Representative Madden’s commitment to implementing criminal justice and corrections reforms in Texas, he has been invited to testify before Congress and spoken to state legislators and other leaders in Spokane Washington, Charleston South Carolina, and Raleigh North Carolina. Endorsement and advocacy of his policy initiatives has been nationally promoted by the State Policy Network, the Public Safety Performance Project headed by the Pew Center on the States, the Council on State Governments Justice Center, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and of course the National Council of State Legislatures during their most recent “Meeting of the Minds” event in Philadelphia.

Jerry Madden was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1992 and serves as Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Corrections. In 2007, Texas Monthly named him as one of their “Ten Best” Legislators, due in large part to his leadership in criminal justice, and his respectful working relationships with members of both parties.

Contact: Mark Hey
512-463-0544

 

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STATE LEGISLATORS URGE CONGRESSMEN TO OPPOSE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S COSTLY PUBLIC-OPTION HEALTH CARE

For Immediate Release
Monday, August 10, 2009

AUSTIN, TEXAS — In a letter to the Texas Congressional delegation, State Representative Jerry Madden (Richardson) joined thirty-five of his colleagues in the Texas Legislature in urging opposition to pending federal health care legislation that would vastly increase government spending, necessitating tax increases.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the insurance coverage provisions of H.R. 3200 would cost more than $1 trillion over ten years (2010-19). The legislation would be funded in part by a “surtax” on households with annual incomes above $350,000. Clearly, given CBO estimates, taxes will have to be raised on other income-earning households in the future.

Rep. Madden stated in the letter: “Legislation being considered by Congress would place the federal government directly in the center of our health care system in competition with providers in the private marketplace, and at the expense of taxpayers and consumer choice.” Continued Rep. Madden, “People are demanding health care reform; not a government takeover of health care. There is a major difference between the two.”

Rep. Madden continued, “I strongly oppose more government spending and even more government intrusion in the name of health care. Anyone who believes that the federal government should run our health care system need only to look at the failure of Fannie Mae to see all the warning signs. ”

“The health and well-being of each Texan is too precious to be entrusted to a massive, government-run, federal health care scheme that will be expensive and untrustworthy. Leaving health care decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. is a disaster waiting to happen,” stated Rep. Madden.

He concluded: “America needs health care reform, but there is a better way. Reducing health insurance mandates, passing sensible tort reforms like those passed by the Texas Legislature in 2003, encouraging innovation, and improving price and quality transparency are four positive health care reforms that could help to lower costs and improve care without massive government intervention.”

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September 4, 2009

The Honorable Jerry Madden
Room GW.11, Capitol Building
Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Rep. Madden

I am impressed at the criminal justice reforms you guided through the Texas legislature. You applied your engineering background to analyze the ineffectiveness of many aspects of prisons, and convinced your colleagues that many offenders are better off being treated in the community.

As a result of your policies, mentally ill inmates will receive appropriate treatment in the community rather than in expensive prison beds. Also, DWI offenders will go to community centers for their punishment, allowing them to remain close to their families and keep their jobs.

Your elimination of the backlog for drug treatment is truly historic. These programs have proven their effectiveness at helping addicts kick their addictions. But until now the long waiting lists discouraged many from getting into treatment. By eliminating the wait time you have significantly increased the chances that the offenders will successfully kick their habit.

Most impressive is that the reforms you piloted through the legislative process will allow Texas to drop plans to build several more prisons. That will save hundreds of millions of tax dollars – and you accomplished all this with bi-partisan cooperation.

Jerry, you are using the considerable skills God has given you to restore communities in Texas. You are building shalom – the right order of the community. The fruits of your faithful service to God’s Kingdom and your hard work for the people of Texas are a joy to behold.

Yours in His service,

Charles W. Colson
Prison Fellowship Ministries

 

 

Prisoners soon won't have to check out through Huntsville
New law allows inmates release from any unit.

By Mike Ward

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Today the countdown begins to the end of one of the Texas prison system's oldest practices: the long ride back to Huntsville for release for most convicts who are finishing their sentences.

It has been a staple of prison life for decades, perhaps well over a century, so that the prison system could verify the identity of all prisoners, in person, before they were given their freedom, a bus ticket home and $50. Texas is the last state in the nation to handle releases that way.

But thanks to cutting-edge recordkeeping and fingerprint technology, and a new law passed by the Legislature last spring, prison officials are working to establish at least six regional centers where convicts will be released. Or, officials can release them from the prison where they finish their sentence.

The new system — designed to save money — has to be in operation by a year from today. Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said Monday the change could happen sooner. Prison officials are evaluating which facilities will serve as release centers, she said.

Last year, a majority of the more than 42,000 prison convicts who were released came through the historic 1849, red-brick-walled Huntsville Unit — although all women were turned out from a prison in Gatesville, as they have been for years. The prison system houses about 12,000 women and 143,000 men.

Lyons and other prison officials said Huntsville and Gatesville would still be used as release centers.

The savings — officials are not sure of a figure — will come from not transporting tens of thousands of convicts to Huntsville or Gatesville for release. Thousands of such trips take place annually in a fleet of buses that the prison system has on the road daily to move white-uniformed convicts between lockups, to medical appointments and to court. On average, more than 2,100 convicts are on the road each day in 80 buses and vans, Lyons said

"There's a lot of reasons to make this change: It will save money; it will help inmates' re-entry; 49 other states do it this way," said state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, who authored the bill changing the tradition.

"Not only can they release them from regional centers, they can also release inmates from other prisons. It will be a good thing," Madden said

Despite that optimism, there has been quiet grousing from local officials who are not eager to have convicts discharging in their communities, even waiting to catch a bus out of town.

In fact, when Texas embarked on a prison-building binge two decades ago that tripled the size of the corrections system, local officials in many cases were assured that no convicts would be released in their area. "I've heard that ... and it will have to be taken into account when they designate the release points," Madden said.

At the same time, Houston officials have complained for years that many released convicts take the bus from Huntsville to Houston, then stay to commit new crimes rather than continuing home. Prison officials said a law requiring that convicts be paroled to their home counties has thwarted such activity in recent years.

State Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat and veteran chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said the change makes sense.

"It's been nuts to take prisoners from 112 units and haul them all the way back to Huntsville from El Paso, then let them out and buy them a bus ticket back to El Paso. This change represents a huge step forward. There's no reason for that long ride back to Huntsville to continue."

mward@statesman.com

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2009
Contact: Denise Laman
denise@jerrymadden.org
214-724-9474