Texas Incarceration Rates Among Nation’s Highest

Texas is one of the toughest states to battle in court. According to recent data, Texas has the dubious title of 7th highest rate of incarceration per 100,000 people. For anyone arrested and charged in Texas, this is a sobering statistic to keep in mind as you prepare to go to court. It certainly makes you think twice about getting a fair trial. Why does Texas have so many people serving time?

First, Texas has a long history of aggressive law enforcement stemming all the way back to the early days of the famous Texas Rangers.

Compared to other states, Texas still has some of the most stringent drug laws in the country.

Finally, overworked judges, public defenders, and prosecutors have limited time to hear the thousands of cases clogging up the dockets. As a former prosecutor myself, I know firsthand the tremendous pressure to just get the job done. All of this adds up to a scary scenario for anyone facing charges in the Lone Star state.

So, it’s no wonder Texas prisons are filled with people who thought they could “beat the system”. Is there anything you can do?

Until drastic changes are made to the state’s severe drug sentencing laws (not any time soon) and the court system catches up (not likely), the state’s incarceration rate isn’t likely to change. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney can navigate the system and fight for your rights even in a state as tough as Texas. In the meantime, know the law and don’t become another statistic.