- Fiscal Size-Up.
What is Criminal Justice and Public Safety Policy?
Public safety and criminal justice agencies are funded in Article V of the General Appropriations Act and provide various
services to ensure the safety and security of Texans. Those services include the adult and juvenile corrections systems
(community supervision, incarceration, and parole services), law enforcement and highway patrol, the Texas military forces,
and driver license processing. Additional services provided include county jail regulation, law enforcement officer training
and licensing, alcoholic beverage industry oversight, and firefighter certification. Border security is coordinated among
several Article V agencies and agencies in other articles of government. Public safety and criminal justice agencies are funded
primarily with General Revenue Funds.
Executive Agencies
- Alcoholic Beverage Commission: To deter violations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code
by inspecting licensed establishments within the alcoholic beverage
industry, investigating complaints, regulating the personal
importation of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes through the
state’s ports-of-entry locations with Mexico and the seaport at
Galveston, and enforcing state law.
- Department of Criminal Justice: To incarcerate off enders in state prisons, state jails, and
private correctional facilities; to provide funding and certain
oversight of community supervision; and to be responsible for
the supervision of off enders released from prison on parole. Th e
mission of the department is to provide public safety, promote
positive change in off ender behavior, reintegrate off enders into
society, and assist victims of crime.
- Commission on Fire Protection: To develop professional standards and enforce statewide
fi re laws to assist local governments in ensuring that the lives and
property of the public and fi re service providers are protected
adequately from fi res and related hazards.
- Commission on Jail Standards: To establish and enforce minimum standards for the
provision and operation of jails, and to provide consultation,
training, and technical assistance to help local governments comply
with those standards.
- Juvenile Justice Department: To provide financial and professional assistance to local
juvenile probation departments, to provide regulatory oversight
of local probation departments, and to ensure public safety and
the provision of effective programming and rehabilitative services
to juveniles committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
state services and facilities.
- Commission on Law Enforcement: To screen, develop, and monitor resources for continuing
education for law enforcement officers, and set standards
for behavior; and to develop, maintain, and enforce minimum
qualifications for the selection, training, and certification of law
enforcement personnel, county correctional officers,
and telecommunicators.
- Military Department: To provide administrative and financial resources for state
activities conducted by the three branches of the Texas military
forces: the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National
Guard, and the Texas State Guard.
- Department of Public Safety: To enforce laws protecting and promoting public safety
by the prevention and detection of crime; improve highway safety
and public safety communications; and provide regulatory and
licensing services.