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Bob Libal, an adviser on criminal justice and immigration reform organizations, announced Monday that he is “considering a rush” in next spring’s Democratic primary, Brigid Shea, against Travis County’s District 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea. The main problem for Libal is Shea’s support for a $ 4.2 million design deal to build a new women’s prison.
Last week, the commissioners voted to postpone the examination of the contract, which is on the agenda of the commission court today. Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Precinct 3 Commissioner Ann Howard are pushing for further investigation into the matter instead.
Libal, former executive director of Grassroots Leadership, said in a press release: “Travis County needs progressive leadership ready to face the biggest challenges facing our community – rising inequality, housing affordability, homelessness, food insecurity, mental health and substance use disorders , Mass incarceration and the legacy of racism that underlies so many of these problems. “
At last week’s meeting, Shea rejected the idea of Travis County engaging in “mass incarceration” – a position that Libal found particularly troubling.
Criminal justice reform advocates point out that women’s prisons are less than half what it was in 2017. Four years ago, the number of women incarcerated was around 383. The number was 160 as of Monday, according to Travis County’s sheriff’s office spokeswoman Kristen Dark. Proponents of a remodeled prison argue that Travis County still needs to replace aging infrastructure despite fewer incarcerates. Libal told the Austin Monitor that conditions in the women’s prison could be improved by giving the incarcerated women free phone calls and possibly adding a psychiatrist.
Last week, Shea said there was significant misinformation about the prison construction project. “People have to understand that we are not rushing anything. We postponed measures in 2018 so that we can have a well thought-out process on how best to design a facility where we are legally required to provide appropriate prison facilities. “
Libal said he expected more people than last week to appear at today’s Commissioners Court meeting to argue against the passage of the draft prison contract.
Editor’s Note: Andy Brown serves on the board of directors of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, the parent company of the Austin Monitor.
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