Texas Senate
Standing Committee
Oversees criminal justice legislation, bail reform, protection of children, crime victim services, prison health and safety, juvenile justice, and recidivism reduction programs.
Committee Leadership
Committee Composition
Committee Size
7 Members
Republicans
5
Democrats
2
Committee Partisan Split
5R – 2D
Committee Membership
Most Recent Session Activity
Metrics reflect activity during the most recent legislative session.
Legislation Referred
417
Legislation Voted Out
182
Overall Efficiency
43.65%
Committee Meetings
19
Interim Charges
- Eliminating Contraband in Prisons: Examine the issue of contraband entering Texas prisons. Identify contraband detection systems and make recommendations to leverage technology to combat prison contraband. Evaluate data linking contraband to inmate deaths and overdoses in prison units. Make recommendations to eliminate contraband in Texas prisons.
- Regulating the Role of Reserve Officers: Examine the reserve peace officer practices used in departments across Texas to assist with policing duties in their respective jurisdictions. Consider the number of reserve officers commissioned in jurisdictions across Texas relative to the policing needs of the community. Make recommendations to ensure reserve peace officers maximize their duty to public safety by first prioritizing the departments that issue their commissions.
- Addressing Juvenile Violence: Study the growing violence among juveniles both in communities and state and county secure facilities. Examine the effectiveness of juvenile diversion programs, sentencing laws, and whether determinate sentences for all “3G” violent juvenile offenders would better ensure public safety. Make recommendations to improve juvenile outcomes and protect the public.
- Protecting the Public From Violent Offenders Found Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity: Examine the policies and procedures of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) regarding murderers, robbers, rapists, and other violent offenders found not guilty by reason of insanity and entrusted to HHSC for mental health treatment in lieu of prison. Evaluate the community supervision recommendations made by HHSC to the courts for those found not guilty by reason of insanity, and whether those recommendations prioritize public safety. Make recommendations to emphasize and ensure public safety for victims and the community.
- Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice passed by the 89th Legislature. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:
- Senate Bill 20 (89th Legislature), relating to the creation of the criminal offense of possession, promotion, or production of certain obscene visual material appearing to depict a child;
- Senate Bill 441 (89th Legislature), relating to criminal and civil liability related to sexually explicit media and artificial intimate visual material; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty;
- Senate Bill 1621 (89th Legislature), relating to prosecution and punishment of certain criminal offenses prohibiting sexually explicit visual material involving depictions of children, computer-generated children, or other persons; creating criminal offenses; increasing criminal penalties; and
- House Bill 1443 (89th Legislature), relating to creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll.
Committee Jurisdiction
The Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee oversees a variety of issues related to the criminal justice system in the state. Key areas of jurisdiction include:
- Legislation and Policy Oversight: Monitoring the implementation of criminal justice legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, reviewing how laws are being enforced, and recommending necessary changes.
- Bail Reform: Examining the operations and funding sources of “charitable bail organizations” that pay bail for defendants, ensuring accountability and transparency.
- Protecting Children: Studying how predators use deepfake technology and artificial intelligence to exploit children, and recommending additional protective measures.
- Support for Crime Victims: Evaluating programs and services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
- Public Health and Safety in Prisons: Assessing TDCJ protocols for preventing the spread of infectious diseases and maintaining health and safety of inmates and staff.
- Juvenile and Gang Violence: Studying current methods to reduce juvenile gang involvement and violence in schools and communities.
- Criminal Justice System Review: Evaluating probation, parole, state jail confinement, and reentry programs to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.
- Fair Defense Act: Reviewing public defense systems and funding to ensure effective legal representation as the state approaches the 20th anniversary of the Fair Defense Act.
Committee Contact Information
Capitol Location
Sam Houston Building, 470
Phone Number
(512) 463-0345
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