Texas House budget writers urge prisons to release more enfeebled inmates

AUSTIN — Texas’ corrections chiefs should consider freeing more enfeebled inmates, and quit holding them until they die, some House budget writers said Thursday. Legislative budget staff members have criticized current practices, saying they sock taxpayers with huge costs for gravely disabled and geriatric prison inmates’ medical care. In 2009, only 59 of 337 inmates recommended for medical release won discharge by the parole board, according to the Legislative Budget Board. That year, 74 inmates died of natural causes behind bars, said a recent board report. It criticized current practices as too cautious and called for changes.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/gDqTtB