For the past year more than 100 stakeholders from the criminal justice community have worked through the Bexar County Re-Entry Council to develop strategies that would improve public safety by reducing recidivism among inmates being released from jail or prison. The deliberations of the Council have resulted in the “Smart Justice” agenda, which Commissioner Tommy Adkisson and members of the Council released on Thursday. 

The goals of the “Smart Justice” agenda are to result in the transformation of the formerly incarcerated person into a productive citizen who will not re-offend. This is accomplished by creating a system where former inmates can easily identify and have access to employment, housing, continued substance abuse and/or mental health treatment and other mentoring services.  

“The intent of the Re-Entry Council is to improve public safety by reducing recidivism and to improve the County’s bottom line by reducing jail costs,” Commissioner Adkisson said. “When these ‘Smart Justice’ strategies are implemented, they will revolutionize the criminal justice system by making it more cost-effective, proactive and accountable.” 

The “Smart Justice” strategies are:

1. Create a One-Stop Shop/Day Reporting Center for Offender Services.
2. Develop and implement a Re-Entry Court.
3. Develop and implement a Veterans Court.
4. Develop and implement a Restorative Justice Pilot Program.
5. Partner with the state-level Re-Entry Council.
6. Implement an evidence based discharge plan for persons leaving the Bexar County Jail, to include a link between jail staff and external agencies.
7. Encourage Bexar County Commissioners to consider preference points in awarding contracts to companies that hire ex-offenders. 
8. Create a resource directory for offenders.
9. Promote affordable housing and support transitional living options.
10. Partner with post-release programs that support job readiness, talent assessment and employment for the formerly incarcerated.

Commissioner Adkisson formed the Bexar County Re-Entry Council — one of four of its kind in Texas — to create a local think tank and working group devoted to the successful re-entry of offenders back into the community. In that time, the Council has reviewed statistics from the Bexar County Jail as well as the state and federal prison systems in an effort to determine the needs of the populations they serve. The Council also has enlisted the help of ex-offenders in discussions about best practices that would support their success.  

These ten strategies of the “Smart Justice” agenda form the crux of the Re-Entry Council’s “to do list” for the upcoming calendar year.  The success of these strategies will be measured by intensive data collection and analysis. Performance measures will focus on recidivism, treatment compliance and successful job and housing placement. 

Rogelio Lopez Jr. Appointed Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 Tommy Adkisson, County Commissioner for Precinct Four, today recommended and the Bexar County Commissioner’s Court affirmed Rogelio Lopez Jr. for the appointment to the office of Justice of the Peace Precinct 4.

Newly appointed County Court at Law #5 Judge Linda Penn participated in the interviews leading to Mr. Lopez’s appointment by the Court. Mr. Lopez received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in College Station.

He then attended St. Mary’s University School of Law. Mr. Lopez is determined to bring professionalism from his education and training as a practicing attorney to this bench.

He and his wife, Maria, along with their two school-age sons live in the East Central School District. The new Justice of the Peace wants to work closely with students, parents, and school officials to expand the Attendance Improvement Management program initiated by Judge Linda Penn and enforce curfew rules. He also intends to work in partnership with community leaders to obtain federal and state grant monies to support drug education and other support for at risk students.

Additionally, Mr. Lopez plans on taking advantage of technology to increase efficiency and expedite matters before the Court, ultimately saving the County money.

Bexar County Commissioner, Precinct 4 TOMMY ADKISSON 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX (210) 335-2614

For Release: Thursday August 13, 2009
Contact: Monica Martinez 210-335-2614
MEDIA ADVISORY Commissioner Tommy Adkisson and the Bexar County Re-Entry Council Host Luncheon featuring Guest Speaker Dr. Angel Ilarraza

WHO: Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, Precinct 4
Dr. Angel Ilarraza, Tarrant County Re-Entry Program Director

WHAT: With the Bexar County Jail operating at peak capacity and several hundred of our Bexar County inmates being sent to outlying counties for housing, the only bigger threat to this year’s budget than any effects of the economy will be the bloated jail numbers. Commissioner Adkisson stated, “Several months ago, the jail population blasted past the usual 4,200-4,300 inmates and presently rests at an intransigent 4,650-4,700 inmates. Every 400 annual inmate count costs $8 million. Business as usual must go!”

With this in mind, Commissioner Tommy Adkisson requested his fellow members of Commissioner’s Court to host a luncheon with Dr. Angel Ilarraza, Tarrant County Re-Entry Coordinator to educate Bexar County Commissioners Court along with its allied partners that have an interest in re-entry or are strategic partners in the process of right-sizing our jail. Dr. Ilarraza will speak about the various programs and successes Tarrant County has had with its own initiative to help former inmates return to productive lives in society. The Tarrant County Re-entry Initiative is a program aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a countywide re-entry model for the formerly incarcerated returning to the Tarrant County community. He has a degree in criminology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a master’s degree in social science from Kansas State University.

Commissioner Adkisson formed the Bexar County Re-entry Council — a group of government, nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups and private citizens on June 6, 2007 to initiate a dialogue on issues and approaches related to the re-entry of offenders from jail and prison into the local community. Commissioner Adkisson knows the council is a necessity because more than 80 percent of Bexar County Jail inmates have already been in jail before. The goal of the council is to establish programs and policies that will help former inmates transition into law-abiding, productive citizens, thereby decreasing the cost of incarceration paid for by taxpayers and increasing the level of public safety.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 18, 2009; 12 Noon
WHERE: International Center, 203 S. St. Mary’s St.