rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/texas-needs-an-independent-ombudsman-to-its-prison-system?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-texas-needs-an-independent-ombudsman-to-its-prison-system' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Prison Ecology https://actionnetwork.org/groups/prison-ecology https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg The TX House of Representatives' Calendars Committee has less than a week to get HB 363, a bill that would create an independent ombudsman to TDCJ, on to the floor for discussion, spurring the TX Senate to also bring its companion bill up, SB 188. The Campaign to Fight Toxic Prisons, a national grassroots organizing group focused on addressing environmental justice issues in the country's vast prison system, is supporting a prisoner-led effort to pass this bill. HB 363/SB 188 would increase effective oversight of the agency and addressing the health and safety of prisoners. This bill would be a big help in addressing multiple problems that we have seen in TDCJ facilities and its affiliate Texas Corrections Industries, ranging from toxic water, mold contamination and occupational health hazards. Last year a media investigation uncovered disciplinary case quotas for correctional officers that lead to more than 600 disciplinary cases being thrown out. Further, in the past five years there have been more than 75 arrests or charges filed against TDCJ officers for tampering with evidence or records. A Texas Criminal Justice Coalition survey from 2011/2012 found: 56% of responding Correctional officers believed their overall work environment to be unsafe; 91% of responding incarcerated individuals identified a need for an independent oversight; 95% of responding families agreed upon a need for independent oversight. After sending this email, follow up by calling the Calendar Committee and asking them to support getting this on the Legislative Calendar next week. Calls to their offices today, tomorrow and Monday would be a huge help with making that happen. I know it would mean a lot to Malik to have our support on this. There 11 people on the committee, which can all be found here: https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C050 Simple script for calls and emails: "I'm calling you as a member of the Calendars Committee to ask that you support HB 363, a bill that would create an independent ombudsman to TDCJ. To make it easier, I have compiled several of the primary targets for getting this to the floor: State Representative Four Price, Chair of the committee (512) 463-0470 Rep. John M. Frullo (512) 463-0676 Rep. Craig Goldman (512) 463-0608 Rep. Oscar Longoria (512) 463-0645 Rep. Will Metcalf (512) 463-0726 Rep. Tom Oliverson (512) 463-0661 Rep. John Wray (512) 463-0516 If you contact all of these and have more time/energy, the rest of the list is in the link above. Note: IF YOU ARE IN AUSTIN AND CAN GO VISIT IN PERSON, that is by far the most effective way to get the message across. All of their office locations are also in the link above. Thanks folks! -Panagioti FightToxicPrisons.org https://actionnetwork.org/letters/texas-needs-an-independent-ombudsman-to-its-prison-system