[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6486320,"mediaKeyId","5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481","parentId",5603735,"title","Public commenters press TDCJ board on death-row conditions, medical transport, commissary and water at Hobby; advocates call for accountability","audioSeconds",175,"startMs",13445000,"endMs",13620000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481&start=13445&end=13620","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481/thumbnail_13445000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6486320/Texas/Public-commenters-press-TDCJ-board-on-death-row-conditions-medical-transport-commissary-and-water-at-Hobby-advocates-call-for-accountability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486320-d8ca33ac8eeec2a761dadf22bfcd5f50/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496076&Signature=EejAECeh1s5PAVId2atlDcBipIwpDlTuh4B0GJ8rfBdDj8Wji7yrejCRugLce7Csv04KEd8Teb46Zidp~gjS6dFN5W1rAATJ6JEa8FqO4dIJFSgKzbU~mTdiut~pC4vBzdk3id-BivhdSrkrIRLV-0EcC~~2riAOs0hfHja8fJZYe5pyoBT7nP5SqaAlUNaGA0rgpfa59VU1szisEnGy-DDaV5uywLVgF7GuQxM7VcL4uzBeNto3V5Z2-oCUAVmUy4K9eFoBoYAPfbZ6i65fNXcqKJRuSC~jDg5YkF7-YCFfBd-V21qclAvm4BwL5o0X6u0XDpdTTZoWbexnAOr2KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Department of Criminal Justice","date","2025-08-19T22:08:30.673Z","article","About two dozen members of the public spoke during the Texas Board of Criminal Justice meeting, raising repeated concerns about conditions of confinement, medical care and family communications at TDCJ facilities.

Speakers described alleged problems on death row including long stretches without showers, limited out-of-cell time, and delays in medical care. Multiple family members and advocates urged the board to investigate deaths and denied medical transports, and they provided personal accounts of what they described as preventable fatalities.

Several speakers described ongoing problems with food quality and commissary options, reporting identical poor meals at multiple units and vending machines that are often broken. Advocates asked the board to hold vendors accountable and urged improved vending choices and quality for both residents and visiting family members.

Medical transport and Plains State Jail
Advocates with Lincoln Justice Impacted Women\u000027s Alliance and others described repeated problems at Plains State Jail used for post-hospital stays and medical transports, saying people returning from surgery sometimes are left to sleep on metal bunks, do not receive meals on time, and remain there for days or weeks due to paperwork and classification delays. Family members and inside contacts told board members they had seen cases in which a person was stuck at Plains State for days, lost vocational enrollment, and had limited or no tablet access during the stay.

Tablets, mail and correspondence
Speakers urged better continuity of communication during transfers and a more transparent process for denied incoming mail or messages. Several advocates said Securus message denials do not generate clear notifications to senders or recipients and that confiscated tablets or interrupted mail leave families without notice.

Blue warrants and electronic-monitor issues
A public defense volunteer described a case in which a parolee spent four months in county jail across three separate \"blue warrant\" actions tied to alleged tampering with an electronic monitor. The speaker asked the board and parole division to examine whether technical issues and insufficient notice are triggering warrants that cause housing and employment disruption for people on supervision.

Contraband and emerging drug threats
A speaker who follows narcotics intelligence warned about a newly identified class of synthetic opioids known as nitazenes (analog report) that have caused recent deaths in Harris County and are potentially more potent than fentanyl. The speaker urged the agency to track the threat and warn staff and facilities.

Hobby unit water and infrastructure
Several speakers raised longstanding concerns about water quality at the Hobby and Marlin units, noting repeated boil-water notices in the surrounding municipality of Marlin. Advocates urged TDCJ to establish back-up water supplies, independent testing, and clear contingency plans during boil notices. Facilities staff said the agency requested design funding and partial appropriations in the 2025 session and is moving the project into design for a dedicated Hobby Unit water system.

Grievances, step twos and restricted-housing complaints
Members of advocacy organizations and family members said internal grievance \"step two\" responses are disappearing at some units and that mail denials and grievance forms are inconsistently applied, particularly for women. Speakers asked the board to standardize rules, train mailroom staff, and ensure that correspondents receive notice when mail is denied.

Ending
Board members thanked public commenters and said staff would collect written materials and follow up with relevant divisions. Several board members suggested sending comments and evidence to Board Services or to the Office of the Independent Ombudsman for review. The board did not take formal action in response to specific complaints during the meeting but recorded the concerns for follow up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","349th Windham School District Board of Trustees Meeting, and 242nd TBCJ Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Twenty-four registered speakers raised concerns about death-row conditions, medical transport, commissary and vending reliability, grievance processing, alleged retaliatory denials of tablets, hobby-unit water quality, and staffing shortages that limit recreation and showers.","taxTitle","Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Departments and Agencies, Executive, Texas","taxId",17246,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6486325,"Windham reports updated performance measures and plans to separate literacy completion definitions; district highlights CTE expansion",495,1844000,2339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481&start=1844&end=2339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481/thumbnail_1844000.jpg","/articles/6486325/Texas/Windham-reports-updated-performance-measures-and-plans-to-separate-literacy-completion-definitions-district-highlights-CTE-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486325-e66d9ba3f97f043b165911be933dc546/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496076&Signature=RsLjd2wJEmHLmDEwi8CEHPikSxT4Shi3FWRo6n5p5HJTjbhFilHX-FAuufb7kBwWFgDFQvm4oCDCzxOPX7uSo8Rm4V7NNgifpr2~5AqswHTCZTY-U6ftv8KJkUgGDwMm3NthndLjfhoS-t4JiGCSpXG6t9mJ~w1zOw2IAEJA~0bHZDh-wNdiU7PsY6YB1q9POa0bCf~AWX7dUfWiot02vaAiano-WEH9iE6a1MpCm3JyV1ZVnCpkiEo6UQymwfswTakNMN67Voqt8BXaXA-1gBt8uCPU~SfjxncMHGWuVSuPF6KyABSg4rpotIiEMhFH2S97Qvda5ayBtIPeCLYnIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Windham School District administrators on Aug. 2025 reported to trustees on performance measures that the district submits to the Texas Education Agency and the Legislative Budget Board, and announced an upcoming change to how the district will count academic \"completers.\"

Jamie Sanders, director of data and outcomes, and Superintendent Christina Hartman described how Windham calculates student contact hours and measures outcomes for academic and career and technical education (CTE) programs. Sanders said contact-hour estimates use full-time teaching positions at an 85% fill rate and historical averages of enrollment and completion to project FY2026 outcomes.

The district said it expects approximately 1.35 industry-based certifications per CTE student, using the prior average, and reported it will monitor average cost per contact hour by dividing FY2026 appropriations by projected contact hours. District leaders described a recent redefinition of CTE completers to ensure students demonstrate required skills and repetition standards, and said they will now separate \"diploma completers\" from \"literacy-level completers\" for clearer outcome reporting.

Superintendent Hartman told trustees the change followed internal review and new instructional software and smaller class sizes; leaders said the split will better reflect differences between students who earn diplomas or equivalencies and those who complete literacy program levels. Trustees asked for further detail about the span of industry certs; Hartman and other staff said Windham offers roughly 40 trades across the TDCJ system, including plumbing, carpentry and CDL training, and that program choices are aligned with Texas workforce demand.

Ending
District leaders said they will return with more granular employment-tracking and biennial evaluation results in future board meetings and will continue monthly data reviews to guide program adjustments.","Windham School District leaders provided trustees an updated review of performance measures reported to the Texas Education Agency and legislative budget board and said the district will change how it defines academic and career and technical education completers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6486329,"Windham School District board approves 2025-26 budget and salary schedule; legislature funds teacher raises and technology",1001,755000,1756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481&start=755&end=1756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481/thumbnail_755000.jpg","/articles/6486329/Texas/Windham-School-District-board-approves-2025-26-budget-and-salary-schedule-legislature-funds-teacher-raises-and-technology","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486329-48dd50aa879bc6cb8b82ec86d6d01ac2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496076&Signature=fRM0PEGzcCXSVwqbTHZX52QVduMZ1RsIenlymqWHUA45jibWMvkOScta8bdZ2T6I2Cx9CxaFjA77fpSoh3~zqmeHWDXisbFaoZ~VuEg0cktkZY98~nUiQm-yIoHgUxW11AA9Cc4ekkJnhOP-8gVTXNpGue4lWrqNrfT3058WYJ1Fyip9Ia8NcWVyZxmIRa~PaBxMz9FjrpiHwH6EgwrCNhMYvHxLHTPvpNSgQrf-jICnmWeo9KUMl-JvtDj~sCZqR8aCdSPteFypVOvjHs5aCS3x~hWNUflFc6Y8xtFO~4--qKq5Tz6zqyjlpGwjKadBhEfuJ-VXo3tzye2lYLcbAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Windham School District Board of Trustees approved the district\u000027s 2025-26 budget and the accompanying salary schedule during the board\u000027s meeting in Austin.

Chief Financial Officer Robert O'Banion told trustees the 2026 plan reflects an estimated $12.2 million revenue increase driven chiefly by legislative action and increases in TDCJ memoranda of understanding. Key legislative funding includes roughly $2.1 million identified for staff salaries and raises directed by House Bill 2 and one-time supplemental funding for classroom Internet connectivity.

Under the schedule presented, teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a $5,000 increase, teachers with three to four years of experience will receive $2,500, and teachers with zero to two years of experience and support staff will receive a 2% raise. The budget also includes one-time investments: $1.5 million for digital devices and equipment, $250,000 for career and technical education expansion (including heavy equipment and truck driving), $100,000 for tuition and certification reimbursement, and about $1.2 million for campus and administrative improvements, O'Banion said.

Board members thanked state leaders and agency staff for securing funding and discussed how Windham will partner with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice\u000027s information-technology division to design campus connectivity and avoid duplication. Trustees asked how TDCJ and Windham would coordinate on infrastructure, engineering and unique campus needs; district leaders said they are conducting site-by-site design reviews with TDCJ IT partners.

The board approved the budget and salary schedule on a motion from Sydney Ziker, seconded by Dr. Rodney Burrow. The vote was recorded as passed by voice; individual tallies were not read into the public record.

Ending
Windham administrators said they will begin implementing the salary schedule and the technology investments and will return with updates. The board noted its appreciation for the legislature\u000027s recognition of Windham in the 2025 session.","The Windham School District Board of Trustees approved the district\u000027s fiscal 2026 budget and salary schedule after trustees discussed legislative funding for teacher raises and classroom connectivity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6486334,"TDCJ board approves FY 2026 operating budget, names Bobby Lumpkin next executive director and greenlights dorm, facility and contract actions",6530,22570000,29100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481&start=22570&end=29100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5603735-73f7773c1fbe579c9ad608bab9a99481/thumbnail_22570000.jpg","/articles/6486334/Texas/TDCJ-board-approves-FY-2026-operating-budget-names-Bobby-Lumpkin-next-executive-director-and-greenlights-dorm-facility-and-contract-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6486334-b17edc54dafefa9f9a44b837bda8e04f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496076&Signature=SV6iduHFM6MY7pPrrrjB77~wtQqcMDKqkYR6vANebDIBJr3v-EYlfBgId1E0WrSN5wiBN6bmZvBgFE6dztT6o6Qsbxa~W8L-27EvApK~G~MtGKIk8rsAFbBEPVhS8Y3~oIc6FhL-qWvCAg-auHT1VdJoDPzCAuPeSXWEtwoJpBu-AB6CIyuKCHGS64fX705sTA7KGwN~WEsRXiY38ASIcXnFWNwqCOLu~-9vsbQ~jwIe19WlOHd0Ka2Qgo-Rm-p7xwPHhFhT~Zi37yPzqrIkCGY7iFJfv894ioNn2dDV2VzeRvkceLHEFH8FH2AqKf5ekKt2f0wlyQI0DzYHLtRiqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Aug. 2025 approved the Texas Department of Criminal Justice\u000027s proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a set of construction, purchase and contract items, and it appointed Bobby Lumpkin as the agency\u000027s next executive director effective Sept. 1, 2025.

Board members said the budget and the projects address long-standing needs including staff pay, medical and mental-health capacity, facility repairs and new air-conditioned housing. The board approved the operating budget after an extensive line-by-line review with agency finance staff and follow-up discussion by members.

The approved operating plan incorporates major items the Legislature funded this session: targeted pay increases for correctional staff and parole officers; $118 million for air conditioning of beds; roughly $214.8 million for major repair and renovation projects; $301 million to construct 14 expansion dorms (5,600 beds); funding to reopen idled units; and $304.6 million to maintain inmate health care, officials said.

Ron Steffa, TDCJ chief financial officer, summarized the package to the board, calling the session\u000027s appropriations \"unprecedented\" and listing capital, staffing and program items included in the LBB and appropriations language. Steffa\u000027s presentation noted funding for new inmate dorms, increased probation and diversion funding, expanded IT and training investments, and a $319,813 executive director salary included in the General Appropriations Act.

The board also voted to:
- Approve a $110 million legislative appropriation to buy the Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post (the Legislature provided funding for the purchase),
- Approve construction of 14 new 400-bed, air-conditioned expansion dormitories at 13 units (5,600 beds total) to address population projections, and
- Approve a series of high-dollar purchases and contract renewals (including an inmate tablet contract and a $30 million deferred-maintenance contract with UTMB for Hospital Galveston).

In voting actions, the board moved and approved the fiscal year 2026 operating budget (motion by Gen. Bill Welch, second by Dr. Rodney Burrow) and later confirmed Bobby Lumpkin as executive director (motion by Dr. Burrow, second by Judge Molly Francis). The purchases-and-contracts package was moved by Tom Fordyce and seconded by Judge Francis; Chairman Eric Nichols recorded an abstention on that item because of a potential conflict and did not participate in that vote.

Board chair Eric Nichols said the package of appropriations and projects positions the department to address urgent infrastructure and staffing shortfalls and build on work begun under outgoing Executive Director Brian Collier.

Votes at a glance
- FY 2026 Operating Budget: approved (motion: Gen. Bill Welch; second: Dr. Rodney Burrow). Vote tally: not specified in transcript. Outcome: approved.
- Purchases & contracts over $1,000,000 (11 items including tablet, telephone, UTMB deferred maintenance): approved (motion: Tom Fordyce; second: Judge Molly Francis). Chairman Nichols abstained. Outcome: approved.
- Purchase of Giles Dalby Correctional Facility (Post): approved (motion: Sydney Ziker; second: Dr. Rodney Burrow). Outcome: approved.
- Construction: 14 expansion dorms (5,600 AC dorm beds across 13 units): approved (motion: Judge Molly Francis; second: Vice Chair Faith Johnson). Outcome: approved.
- Hobby Unit multipurpose building (Marlin): approved (motion: Pastor Nate Sprinkle; second: Gen. Bill Welch). Outcome: approved.
- Selection/appointment of Bobby Lumpkin as executive director, effective Sept. 1, 2025: approved (motion: Dr. Rodney Burrow; second: Judge Molly Francis). Outcome: approved.

What the board and agency said matters
Steffa and other agency staff told trustees that the budget follows legislative direction to focus on safe operations, staff pay and retention, increased mental-health capacity, and planned capital investments including air-conditioning and water projects. Facilities director Ron Hudson reported on active construction and the pace of procurement and design work; he noted lead times for HVAC equipment and progress on specific roofing and water projects.

The board\u000027s appointments and spending approvals come as TDCJ finishes a multi-year rebuilding of training and technology systems initiated under outgoing Executive Director Brian Collier. Nichols and other members thanked Collier at the meeting and announced that the agency\u000027s new training center will be named the Brian Collier Leadership and Training Center.

Ending
The board scheduled its next meeting for October 2025 in El Paso and adjourned following the roll call on agenda items. Agency staff will bring implementation details and procurement schedules back to the board and to standing committees as projects move from design to construction.","The Texas Board of Criminal Justice approved the Department\u000027s fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a package of capital and contracting actions, and appointed Bobby Lumpkin as the next executive director effective Sept. 1, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press TDCJ board on death-row conditions, medical transport, commissary and water at Hobby; advocates call for accountability

Windham reports updated performance measures and plans to separate literacy completion definitions; district highlights CTE expansion

Windham School District board approves 2025-26 budget and salary schedule; legislature funds teacher raises and technology

TDCJ board approves FY 2026 operating budget, names Bobby Lumpkin next executive director and greenlights dorm, facility and contract actions