Texas prison 'staffing crisis' harms public safety, lawmakers say

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's staffing shortages harm the safety of staff, inmates, and the public, state lawmakers found in a new report, as the nation's largest state prison system aims to better handle an inmate population of more than 130,000.

The Sunset Advisory Commission, a committee of lawmakers tasked with reviewing the efficacy and efficiency of government agencies, compiled the report ahead of the next legislative session beginning in January.