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RESOLUTION OF DALLAS AND TARRANT COUNTIES
AND THE CITIES OF ARLINGTON, FORT WORTH AND DALLAS IN
SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE
TASK FORCE REPORT AND NEEDED LEGISLATION
AND APPROPRIATIONS
WHEREAS, the Cities of Dallas, Texas, Arlington, Texas and Fort Worth,
Texas. and the counties of Dallas .and Tarrant believe that the first function
of government at all levels is to protect and safeguard the lives and property
of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the combined population of the two largest counties in North-Texas
is approximately 2,963,550 Texas citizens, and .projected to be 3,445,520 by the
year 2000; and
WHEREAS, both metropolitan areas, our citizens, local elected officials and
civic leadership, consider the alarming crime rate and violence in our cities and
counties to be wholly unacceptable to the point that the citizens we represent
are becoming fearful and frustrated and are demanding immediate changes in the
ever-increasing dysfunctional justice system; and
WHEREAS, we unanimously feel that in spite of the dedication and best efforts
of the criminal justice community and the Texas Legislature, the rate of crime and
related drug activity has steadily increased; and
WHEREAS, the pain and economic loss inflicted on our citizens resulting from
Crime require priority attention from private citizens and all levels of govern-
ment, officials alike;
NOW THEREFORE, we the undersigned officials representing local and county
government, the Greater Dallas Crime Commission, and the Governor's Task Farce,
do hereby request consideration by the current 71st session of the Texas
Legislature of the recommendations included in the report of the Criminal
Justice Task Force to the Governor of Texas.
Governor Clements has endorsed the task force report and legislation is
being filed to support its recommendations.
<:Beginring on page 26 of the report are 31 specific recommendations that
require legislation and/or appropriations. The recommendations cover the broad
subjects of increased emphasis on Victims Rights, Juveniles,-Law Enforcement,
Prosecution, Punishment, Probation, Corrections, and Parole.
The recommendations include heavy emphasis on the root causes of crime,
primarily illiteracy and illegal drugs. It specifies alternatives to incarcera-
tion and increased emphasis on drug/alcohol rehabilitation. It increases the
,penalty for drug traffickers and repeat offenders, as well as assaults on
police officers.
C1TY OF FORT ~11ORTH
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It recommends 11,000 additional prison beds to be funded by construction
bonds rather than the general revenue fund. Increased capacity is a critical
issue that is now being addressed by the House Appropriations Committee, and
the Senate Finance Committee, and we, the undersigned, understand the diffi-
culties of those deliberations, but we also are voicing the concerns of our
constituents and citizens throughout the State of Texas, and we urge our
elected state officials. to hear our plea for the changes recommended in the
task force report. The'lack of prison capacity is also causing a serious
overcrowding condition in our county fails and we see no relief in sight
unless the requested additional prison capacity is approved.
This resolution is hereby approved by the undersigned on this day,
January 26, 1989. ~
ayor of Da as
Chte of Po ice, Da as
Da as ounty S ert
Da as County District ttorney
airman, Legts attve
Committee, Texas Criminal
Justice Task Force
reater a as rime
Commission
Mayor o r tngton
ayor of ort Jort
Tarrant County u ge
to o o ice, ort ort
arrant County S ert
arrant ounty tstrtct
Attorney
arrant ounty ommtsstoner
APPROVED BY
CITY COItMCIL
JAN 31 1989
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CITY OP >E'ORT NOATB