Texas House Bill HB4129

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Caption

Relating to the computation of the portion of a person's sentence remaining after the revocation of the person's parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon.

Impact

If enacted, HB4129 would modify the legal framework surrounding the management of individuals on parole or subject to mandatory supervision in Texas. By establishing a clearer computation process for remaining sentences, it could lead to longer times served for specific individuals, particularly for administrative violations, as it removes credit for certain periods. This change could impact the population of inmates and the state’s corrections system, potentially straining resources if more individuals are required to serve additional time.

Summary

House Bill 4129 aims to amend the Government Code regarding the computation of the remaining portion of a person's sentence after the revocation of parole, mandatory supervision, or conditional pardon. Specifically, the bill addresses situations where a person is charged only with an administrative violation and clarifies how time served is calculated during parole violations. The bill stipulates that for individuals charged with such violations, the calculation of remaining sentences will not provide credit for the time between the issuance of the warrant or citation and the actual revocation of the parole or supervision.

Contention

The discussion surrounding HB4129 may include points of contention regarding the fairness and implications of altering sentence computations following administrative violations. Opponents of similar measures might argue that such changes disproportionately affect individuals who may be engaging in minor infractions, thus reinforcing a cycle of incarceration without addressing underlying factors contributing to parole violations. Advocates for criminal justice reform might express concerns over the possible increase in prison populations and the associated social and economic costs.