Texas Board of Criminal Justice

Overview

The nine member Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) is appointed by the governor to oversee the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), which provides confinement, supervision, rehabilitation, and reintegration of the state’s convicted felons. The board members, who are appointed for staggered, six-year terms, are responsible for hiring the executive director of the department and setting rules and policies which guide the agency. TBCJ members also serve as the Board of Trustees for the Windham School District within the Department of Criminal Justice. In this capacity, they are responsible for providing general oversight and the hiring of the school system's superintendent.

There are TDCJ divisions which report directly to the Board. They are Office of Inspector General with oversight of the Investigations Department, the Internal Audit Division, and the office of State Counsel for Offenders. In addition, the PREA Ombudsman is appointed by and reports directly to the board.

Oliver J. Bell, Chairman

(term expires 2/2015), was appointed to the TBCJ in February 2004 and reappointed in 2009. He was elected as vice-chairman in January 2008 and was appointed as the TBCJ chairman in April 2008. Mr. Bell chairs the Health Care Committee and is a member of the Audit and Review and Victim Services committees. He is the CEO and founder of Oliver J. Bell, Inc. - a leadership development, communications, and labor relations strategy consultancy. He is also the founder of the Texas Labor & Employee Relations Consortium and a guest faculty member of LGL (Long Gray Line) Leadership, LLC. Mr. Bell is an Airborne Ranger qualified former Army officer and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the West Point Association of Houston, the 11th Armored Cavalry Association, and the Association of the United States Army.

Tom Mechler, Vice-Chairman

(term expires 2/2017), was appointed in November 2005, elected secretary in May 2008, and elected vice-chairman in June 2009. Mr. Mechler chairs the Rehabilitation and Reentry Programs Committee and is a member of the Audit and Review, Community Corrections, Correctional Institutions, Management Information Systems and Business and Financial Operations Committees. Mr. Mechler graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A & M University, then received his MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is the president of Covenant Contract Services/Makar Production Company; responsible for locating, acquiring and operating oil and gas properties. Mr. Mechler is a registered Mechanical Engineer as well as a Volunteer Prison Chaplain.

Leopoldo "Leo" Vasquez III, Secretary

(term expires 2/2017), was appointed to the TBCJ in November 2005, and was reappointed in 2011. He was elected and has served as secretary since June 2009. Mr. Vasquez chairs the Audit and Review Committee and is a member of the Community Corrections, Correctional Institutions, Health Care, and Business and Financial Operations committees. Mr. Vasquez received his BA in Economics from Yale University, his MBA in Finance from Columbia University, and holds a Governance Fellow designation from the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Vasquez currently he serves as executive vice president of Maximus Coffee Group, LP. He has an extensive background involving corporate finance, implementing solutions relating to capital issues, mergers and acquisitions, strategic business planning, operations analysis and organizational structures, human resources and international issues.

"Eric" Gambrell, Member

(term expires 2/2019), was appointed to the Board December 2007, and reappointed in April 2013. Mr. Gambrell chairs the Correctional Institutions Committee and the Legal Committee. He is a member of the Health Care, Human Resources, and Business and Financial Operations Committees. Mr. Gambrell received his B.A. from Texas A&M University before earning his law degree at the University of Texas School of Law. He is a trial partner with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. (pending Senate confirmation)

Judge Lawrence "Larry" Gist, Member

(Term expires 2/2017) was appointed to the Board March 2011. Judge Gist chairs the Community Corrections Committee and is a member of the Management Information Systems, Legal, and Victim Services Committees. Judge Gist is a Senior Criminal District Judge, and a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Law by the State Bar of Texas Criminal Justice Section. He also is a member of the American Probation and Parole Association, Texas Probation Association, and Texas Corrections Association. Judge Gist received a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame before earning a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

Carmen Villanueva-Hiles, Member

(term expires 2/2015), was appointed in April 2009. Ms. Hiles chairs the Human Resources Committee and is a member of the Correctional Institutions, Rehabilitation and Reentry Programs, and Victim Services Committees. Ms. Hiles received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in communication disorders from the University of Texas Pan-American. She is the owner and chief operating officer A+ Therapy LLC. She is a member of the American and Texas Speech-Language Hearing associations and President of the Valley Network of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Janice Harris Lord, Member

(term expires 2/2015), was appointed to the TBCJ in December 2007. Ms. Lord chairs the Victim Services Committee and is a member of the Health Care, Human Resources and Rehabilitation and Reentry Programs committees. Ms. Lord received her Masters degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a licensed therapist and a National Consultant on Crime Victim Issues.

R. Terrell McCombs, Member

(term expires 2/2019), was appointed to the TBCJ in December 2007 and reappointed to the board in April 2013. Mr. McCombs chairs the Business and Financial Operations Committee and is a member of the Audit and Review, Human Resources, Management Information Systems and Legal committees. Mr. McCombs received his BS from the University of Houston, followed by an MBA in Marketing from the George Washington University, in Washington D.C. He is a regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club, and a partner in GC Barnes Group, a consulting and business development firm specializing in obtaining federal monies for companies involved in health care, real estate development, and the development and productive use of “green” sustainable products and resources. (pending Senate confirmation)

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Thomas P. Wingate

(term expires 2/2019), was appointed to the TBCJ in April 2013. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, and is a Career Prosecutor Graduate from the National College of District Attorneys. In 2007, Governor Perry appointed him Judge, 430th District Court, Hidalgo County. Mr. Wingate is an attorney specializing in Commercial and Residential Real Estate Law.

Upcoming Meetings of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice

Public Comment Period
2nd and 4th meetings of every year

January 11, 2013	Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin 111 Cesar Chavez Austin, Texas 78701

April 5, 2013	Crowne Plaza Austin 6121 North IH-35 Austin, Texas 78752

June 21, 2013 (updated 5/13/2013)	Crowne Plaza Austin 6121 North IH-35 Austin, Texas 78752

August 23, 2013	Wyndham Garden Hotel 3401 South IH-35 Austin, Texas 78741

Contact:

Texas Board of Criminal Justice
P.O. Box 13084
Austin, Texas 78711
tbcj@tdcj.state.tx.us