Texas. Criminal Justice Division

The Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor is responsible for preparing an annual state criminal justice plan that details goals, priorities, and standards for improving the criminal justice system. The division administers state and federal grant funds and awards funds to criminal justice, juvenile justice, and victim service projects. Eligible applicants for these funds include state agencies, regional councils of governments, cities, counties, colleges and universities, private nonprofit corporations, independent school districts, and regional education service centers. Once the grants have been awarded, they are monitored, evaluated, and audited by the division. It also hosts town hall meetings statewide, which are designed to identify areas of public concern and to help develop more aggressive funding initiatives. In addition, the office provides interactive video conference training for existing and potential grantees. The Criminal Justice Division is the statewide headquarters for Texas Crime Stoppers and the Texas Narcotics Control Program.

The Criminal Justice Division (formerly called the Office of Criminal Justice Planning) within the Texas Governor's Office administers federal and state funding to local, regional and statewide criminal justice-related projects. The goals of the Criminal Justice Division are to support programs that protect people from crime; reduce the number of crimes committed; and promote accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness for the criminal justice system. Duties of the Criminal Justice Division include or have included: assisting the Governor in developing policies, plans, programs, and proposed legislation for improving the criminal justice system; preparing the comprehensive state criminal justice plan; administing the Criminal Justice Planning Fund; administering federal funds (grants) to state agencies, units of local government, and other eligible applicants for programs and projects recommended by the Texas Criminal Justice Council (later known as the Texas Criminal Justice Division Advisory Board); and providing assistance, through a federal grant, to parolees seeking employment.

The Criminal Justice Division is administered by an Executive Director, appointed by the Governor for an indefinite term. In addition to his administrative duties, the Executive Director provides interpretations of statutes, both for state agencies and the general public involved in law enforcement and criminal justice. In October 1973, the Executive Director appointed an individual as General Counsel, to assist in providing statute interpretations and in other matters relating to policies and procedures.

Passage of the federal Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 made necessary the creation of a body to administer that Act's provisions, and so the Texas Criminal Justice Council was created by an Executive Order of Governor John Connally on October 18, 1968, and later reorganized by Governor Preston Smith, on October 8, 1971, Executive Order 71-5. The Council was composed of the Governor, who served as chair, several ex-officio members (state administrators in criminal justice-related agencies), and several representatives of local governments. These latter members were appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. An Executive Director was also appointed by the Governor.

The Criminal Justice Council was provided staff from the Office of Criminal Justice Planning (which later became the Criminal Justice Division) of the Governor's Office. The Texas Criminal Justice Council was renamed the Texas Criminal Justice Division Advisory Board in 1974. Duties of the Council were to develop a comprehensive plan for the improvement of criminal justice throughout the state; to assist the Governor in criminal justice related matters; to develop, review, and recommend criminal justice programs and projects for the state, regional, and local government units; to oversee the administration of all programs enacted under the provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; and to assist staff in preparation and passage of criminal justice legislation. A principal component of the Council was its Executive Committee. This committee was composed of ten members from the Council, appointed by the Governor. Duties of the committee were to recommend the funding of planning and action grant applications, recommend the annual criminal justice plan of the Council, appoint subcommittees, and provide support and assistance to the Executive Director and staff of the Council. This staff was administered by the Council's Executive Director, who later became the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Division.

The Texas Criminal Justice Council was created by an Executive Order of Governor John Connally on October 18, 1968, and later reorganized by Governor Preston Smith, on October 8, 1971, Executive Order 71-5. It was established as a result of the federal Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. The state needed a planning agency to administer the provisions of this Act in Texas, including state-wide planning and coordination of law enforcement activities, and development of a comprehensive law enforcement or criminal justice plan for the state. The Council was composed of the Governor, who served as chair, several ex-officio members--state administrators in criminal justice related agencies, and several representatives of local governments. These latter members were appointed by the Governor for three-year terms. An Executive Director was also appointed by the Governor. In the mid 1970s, the name of the Council was changed to the Criminal Justice Division Advisory Board.

Duties of the Council were: develop a comprehensive plan for the improvement of criminal justice throughout the state; assist the Governor in criminal justice related matters; develop, review, and recommend criminal justice programs and projects for the state, regional, and local government units; oversee the administration of all programs enacted under the provisions of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968; and assist staff in preparation and passage of criminal justice legislation. A principle component of the Council was its Executive Committee. This committee was composed of ten members from the Council, appointed by the Governor. Duties of the committee were to recommend the funding of planning and action grant applications, recommend the annual criminal justice plan of the Council, appoint subcommittees, and provide support and assistance to the Executive Director and staff of the Council. This staff was administered by the Council's Executive Director, who later became the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Division.

The Criminal Justice Council/Advisory Board was provided staff from the Office of Criminal Justice Planning, now the Criminal Justice Division, of the Governor's Office. This Office/Division was administered by an Executive Director, appointed by the Governor for an indefinite term. In addition to his administrative duties, the Executive Director provided interpretations of statutes, both for state agencies and the general public involved in law enforcement and criminal justice. In October 1973, the Executive Director appointed an individual as General Counsel, to assist him in providing statute interpretations and in other matters relating to policies and procedures.

Duties of the Criminal Justice Division include or have included: assist the Governor in developing policies, plans, programs, and proposed legislation for improving the criminal justice system; prepare the comprehensive state criminal justice plan; administer the Criminal Justice Planning Fund; administer federal funds (grants) to state agencies, units of local government, and other eligible applicants for programs and projects recommended by the Criminal Justice Council/Advisory Board; and provide assistance, through a federal grant, to parolees seeking employment.