State Reform Profile
Texas
Texas pioneered bipartisan justice reinvestment, closing 8 prisons while crime fell. The state has saved $3 billion through reform.
Key Statistics
Incarceration by Race
Incarceration rate per 100,000 residents. Racial estimates based on BJS/Sentencing Project methodology.
Recidivism Rate
Percent of people reincarcerated within 3 years of release. Source: BJS recidivism data series.
Cost vs. Alternatives
Active & Passed Reforms
5 initiativesHB 218 – Drug Policy ReformView full details →
Expanded treatment options over incarceration for drug offenses.
SB 70 – Mental Health DiversionView full details →
Statewide mental health diversion program for law enforcement.
Justice Reinvestment InitiativeView full details →
Avoided 17,000+ prison beds, saving $2B+ by expanding diversion.
Data Sources & Methodology
Reform data sourced from state legislative records, BJS Criminal Justice Statistics, the Vera Institute Incarceration Trends dataset, and The Sentencing Project. AltReform prediction scores (0,100) are generated by our ML model trained on 20+ years of state-level reform outcomes, weighting recidivism reduction, racial equity impact, cost-effectiveness, and political feasibility. Statistics are the most recent available (2021,2024).
Want to analyze a specific reform proposal for Texas?
Open The Policy Studio™ →