Jail & Incarceration

Jail or Prison Visits

Jails

Texas Governor's Executive Order No. GA-25 (5/22/2020) [PDF]
Effective May 22nd until amended or rescinded. — Prohibits in-person visitation at all county and municipal jails in Texas. The restriction does not apply to visits by legal council or religious leaders.

State Prisons

Statement from TDCJ on Prison Visits
Effective 3/13/2020 the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has temporarily suspended visitation at all facilities until further notice.
Texas Prisons, Youth Lockups Cancel Visitation After Coronavirus Disaster Declaration
This article from the Texas Tribune explains decisions by TDCJ and TJJD to halt prison visits due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Federal Prisons

BOP Implementing Modified Operations (Federal Bureau of Prisons)
This page outlines steps being taken in federal prisons to slow the spread of COVID-19. These include limits on visits, certain restrictions on inmate transfers, and other operational modifications.
Bureau of Prisons COVID-19 Action Plan: Phase Five [PDF]
On March 31, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced that inmates would be restricted to their cells with limited group gatherings for certain purposes. This will be in effect for a 14-day period beginning April 1.

Release Without Bail, "Cite and Release," or Early Commutation of Sentence

Some jails and prisons may be seeking to reduce their inmate populations in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Executive Order No. GA-13

On March 29th, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott placed limits on which types of inmates can be released without bail or have their sentence commuted during the COVID-19 outbreak. The order was challenged in the courts.

Texas Governor's Executive Order No. GA-13 (3/29/2020) [PDF]
Effective: March 29th until amended or rescinded. — This executive order placed limits on the types of inmates who can be released without bail in county and municipal jails and who can have their sentence commuted.
Texas Supreme Court Sides with Abbott After Judge Halted His Order Restricting Jail Release (4/23/2020)
This news article describes the court case over Governor Greg Abbot's Executive Order No. GA-13 regarding the release of prisoners without bail.
As Local Officials Shrink Jail Populations Due to Coronavirus, Abbott Blocks Release of Some Inmates Who Can’t Pay Bail (3/29/2020)
This news article describes Governor Abbot's executive order which banned release without bail for inmates who are accused of or have been convicted in the past of violent offenses. According to the order, these types of inmates could still be released if they paid bail.

Guidance for Jails and Prisons

Texas Prisons Will Accept County Jail Inmates Again, Three Months After the Coronavirus Halted Intake (6/16/2020)
This news article describes the end of a policy that had stopped the transfer of inmates from county jails to TDCJ custody in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. The policy had been set out in a letter from TDCJ's executive director to sheriffs.
Court Procedures for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Texas Office of Court Administration has provided these guidelines for the operation of courts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance includes information on setting and reviewing bail.
Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Technical Assistance Memorandum (3/17/2020) [PDF]
This memorandum recommends that, among other things, sheriffs and jail administrators: "Explore options for releasing non-violent misdemeanor offenders with local county/district attorney", and "Explore options with local arresting agencies regarding 'cite and release' for those who commit non-violent crimes in order to reduce number of individuals booked into the facility."

Health & Safety Measures Taken by Jails and Prisons

News

As Texas Inmates' Lawsuit Over Coronavirus Response Winds Through Courts, Infections Among Prisoners Surge (5/28/2020)
This news article describes a lawsuit brought by several elderly inmates against TDCJ over its policies and practices for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 at their prison.

Recommendations & Updates

Information for Handling COVID-19 in the Jails Setting (National Sheriffs' Association)
This page contains a collection of .recommendations and best practices for jails in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19 Updates (TDCJ)
This page provides information on Texas Department of Criminal Justice's ongoing responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19/Coronavirus (U.S. BOP)
This page from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons provides updates on their response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Texas State
Law Library

COVID-19 & Texas Law