"By providing objective reports on statewide criminal justice trends, the Statistical Analysis Center will help policymakers develop effective and efficient criminal justice programs that will keep Texans safe," Perry said. "This center will help us manage our prison population better and attract more federal funds for crime prevention and criminal justice initiatives."
Under the governor's order, the SAC will collect, analyze and report statewide criminal justice statistics; evaluate the effectiveness of state-funded initiatives; and disseminate analysis results to practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, and the public in order to enhance the quality of criminal justice and crime prevention at all levels of government.
Gov. Perry's directive also designates the SAC as the state's liaison to the U.S. Department of Justice on criminal justice data reporting and research. This designation will make Texas eligible for additional federal criminal justice funding.
The SAC will be housed within the Office of the Governor and will have access to data maintained by the Department of Public Safety, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, the Texas Youth Commission, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and other relevant agencies as needed.
Gov. Perry designated Janna Burleson as director of the Center. Previously, Burleson served as the governor's policy advisor for criminal justice issues. Prior to that she was a top policy advisor to Senator Royce West (D-Dallas).
