For the past year it seems getting prison records (pen packets) from TDCJ is taking forever. I have always faxed my request, and usually within 2 weeks I have the documents. Now it is taking 3 to 6 months or even longer. I have sent request 2 and 3 times for the same documents. Just wondering if anyone else is having this same problem and how it should be addressed. Appreciate any input!!!

Yes. They are no longer sending if sent on fsjs- only Id time. Every Tdc number goes to a specific facility and that facility is supposed to send it. So make sure your Tdc numbers match up on all received bc they will arrive at different times.

We are having trouble, too. We ordered some over 2 months ago that never came in. Result? No enhancements and difficulty proving guilt for a failure to register case. Ridiculous.

I prepare the indictments and not having the pen packets is causing me to have to write each county of commitment for the judgments to add the enhancements. Time consuming!!!! Or we go ahead and indict without enhancements and file the Notice of Enhancement when the pen packet is received.

And that assumes that the county of conviction has useable records, which is often not the case, sadly.

We got at least one pen packet that used a Rule 902 business records affidavit instead of being under seal. With the R 902 Affidavit, you have to give notice to the def. before the packet is admissible, while public records under seal do not have any notice requirement with a waiting period. Our request letter now specifies we want the pen packs certified under seal and they have complied, but it makes you wonder: why are they trying to re-invent the wheel?

What if you started issuing subpoenas instead of request letters?

It is true that a lot of counties no longer have the judgments we need if they are older. I did get a call yesterday from the Vice Chairman of Classification and Records in response to my post. He is aware of the problem and advised they are working on getting things running smoothly and getting the records to us quickly. Keeping my fingers crossed!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Vivian Sturdivant:
I did get a call yesterday from the Vice Chairman of Classification and Records in response to my post.

All hail the power of TDCAA's user forums!