Category Archive

Miguel Moll went before the House Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues yesterday to tell the story of his introduction to the Harris County Jail. He was 17, he told lawmakers, when he was caught joyriding in a stolen car and brought to the Harris County Jail. He heard the threats from other inmates as soon as he walked in: “I got him, I have this one, I got this one.” Much younger, and much smaller than many of the men he was locked up with, he said he simply wasn’t prepared for what he faced. “So now I have a decision to make,” he said. “Am I going to bow down, am I going to submit? Or am I going to be a beast just like them?” Moll’s story was one of a few powerful testimonials lawmakers heard yesterday as they considered bills to move 17-year-olds from the adult criminal justice system to … Read More

Austin, TX — Today Grassroots Leadership testified in favor of Texas Senate Bill 589, to streamline the process to grant diligent participation credit to people incarcerated in Texas’ State Jails. Grassroots Leadership works to address over-reliance on criminalization, incarceration, and detention. As such, are working in coalition with statewide partners to find responsible and fair pathways for individuals to exit the criminal justice system. “In our estimation, Texas’ state jail system in particular provides many opportunities for reform that could both improve the lives of those who are sentenced to it, as well as save taxpayers valuable resources.” said Kymberlie Quong Charles, Criminal Justice Programs Director for Grassroots Leadership. Read the rest of this press release at Grassroots Leadership’s website.

When it comes to criminal justice, we certainly respect the wisdom and experience of Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who has spent much of his 30 years in the Texas Senate working on those issues. His leadership on criminal justice matters is recognized on both sides of the aisle. As chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Whitmire is rare, being one of two Democrats tapped by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to chair a Senate committee. So when Whitmire voices concern about criminal justice reforms, it must be taken seriously. Read the rest of this article at the Austin American-Statesman [behind a paywall].

Download .pdf version here. Written Testimony Regarding Senate Bill 2, Article IV – Judiciary Specifically Relating to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission Submitted By Ana Yáñez-Correa, Ph.D. Executive Director Texas Criminal Justice Coalition to The Senate Committee on Finance February 2, 2015 Dear Members of the Committee, My name is Ana Yáñez-Correa. I am the Executive Director of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC). Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to present testimony on SB 2, Article IV, specifically as it relates to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (the Commission). TCJC ardently supports the Commission’s efforts and mission; since its inception, it has been instrumental in improving indigent defense delivery throughout the state while promoting compliance with Texas law. Continued investments by the State are not only critical to ensuring that the Commission can accomplish its goals, but crucial to facilitating the right to counsel, which is required under … Read More