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Inmate families viewed as revenue source instead of anti-recidivism partners

Inmate families offer the best and most frequently cited source of assistance for offenders who want to turn their lives around, but too often the state treats them as criminals, too, instead of as partners in promoting their loved ones' rehabilitation.That trend was exacerbated by a Texas Supreme Court ruling last month allowing the state to deduct money from inmate commissary accounts to pay for court fees and victim restitution. According to the Austin Statesman ("Ruling gives courts access to inmate trust funds," June 30):Texas state prison convicts could soon see their trust funds ? more than $33 million overseen by the state ? getting tapped to pay overdue court costs and related expenses.A recent Texas Supreme Court decision allows prison officials to withdraw funds from the inmate trust accounts without first notifying a convict...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on July 02, 2009 (boomark / email).