Jails, prisons still trying to meet federal anti-rape rules
Miguel Moll knew the risk of rape when he was thrown into a Texas jail in 1989 after joyriding in a stolen car.
TCJC In the News
Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at [email protected] or (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.
The Harris County Jail Got So Crowded the Sheriff Delayed Inmate Transfers
County officials have known for some time that the Harris County jail is overcrowded with inmates who haven’t yet been convicted of a crime, who are there in many instances just because they can’t afford to pay bail before trial.
City budget: Austinites say their piece
In just about a week, City Council will approve its Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget. After hours of public testimony, it is clear that there are a lot of tough decisions left to make.
Facing tighter budgets, Texas officials ready to consider prison cuts
The Texas prison system, grappling like most other state departments with a request from state leadership to cut its budget, has signaled that it is prepared to entertain ideas about saving money by closing prisons.
Read the rest of this article at myStatesman.
The Houston Man Who Refused to Plead Guilty Does Not Want an Apology
His attorney told him he could be out of jail in ten days if he took the plea deal — but 58-year-old Gilbert Cruz refused, saying he wasn’t going to plead guilty to something he didn’t do.
TCJC Op-Ed: Texas Puts Money in Taxpayer Pockets, Needs to Spend Better
Texans will save an estimated $92 million when shopping for school supplies during this weekend’s “tax free” days. The state faces a big budget shortfall in 2017, and state leaders will be looking for more efficient, less costly ways to fix roads, fund schools, and secure our communities while still giving money like this back to taxpayers.
Prison System Ponders $250 Million in Budget Cuts
Told to prepare a budget that cuts spending by 4 percent, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is drawing up a legislative request for the 2018-2019 biennium that would slash its operating budget by about $250 million.
Police body camera policies scrutinized in new national analysis
With a new police body camera program set to begin at the end of September, an updated side-by-side comparison of police body cam policies in American cities now includes the capital of Texas.
Read the rest of this article at kxan.
Coalition fighting to make crime laws smarter
A coalition of agencies from the right and left have gathered to push for smarter approaches to handling crime and punishment.
Read the rest of this article at Amarillo Globe-News.
Study finds no racial disparities in Houston police shootings
Police departments are notoriously reluctant to make data about officer behavior available for scrutiny by outsiders.
A Year Later, Sandra Bland’s Death Propels Calls for Reform
In the year since her arrest and death in Waller County, Sandra Bland has powered the push for criminal justice reforms in Texas.
Does Sheriff Ron Hickman Have a Defensiveness Problem?
After deputies were indicted last week for ordering the search of a woman’s vagina for marijuana in public, it’s safe to say Sheriff Ron Hickman’s response was rather jarring.
This July 4th Holiday, Remember Our Founding Principles: New report reveals continued problems with civil asset forfeiture
Today the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition releases the first in a series of new studies that attempt to shed light on the use of civil asset forfeiture in Texas.
Nearly half of Dallas inmates return to jail within 3 years. Can officials change that?
Jail is often called a revolving door, but now there’s more hard evidence: Nearly half of Dallas County inmates are arrested again within three years of getting out, a new study says.
TCJC Op-Ed: Our Constitution Matters, and Not Just on the 4th of July
The 4th of July is a good time to remember what our Founders were fighting for. They inscribed our Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. Yet, in June 2016, the Texas Supreme Court said the government can take your possessions under Texas’ civil “asset forfeiture” law, even if government officials have no constitutional basis to search your home or car.
COMMENTARY: Building stronger American families
More than 90,000 fathers will be living in a Texas prison on Father’s Day this year.
This Father’s Day, Simple Steps to Stronger Families
More than 90,000 fathers will be living in a Texas prison on Father’s Day this year. Some of them will soon be coming home. The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition calls for changes that will give those families a fighting chance at success.
ACLU, MALDEF part of coalition pushing Dallas ISD to ban some elementary school suspensions
A coalition of 21 advocacy groups wants Dallas trustees to ban suspension of students in pre-K through second grade, according to a letter sent to the board Wednesday.
Cameras for Cops: Key details remain unresolved as proposal heads to City Council
Next Thursday, June 9, City Council will once again take up the topic of body-worn cameras (BWCs) for the Austin Police Department. The topic was originally scheduled for May 19, but Council punted it in order for the city to have time to consider what was missing from APD’s primary operating policy.
Body camera questions continue at Austin City Hall
A new series of proposals from a state-wide public policy watchdog aims to clear up what appears to be ongoing confusion over when the public will be able to access Austin police body worn camera (BWC) videos and when people’s privacy will be protected.
Read the rest of this article at kxan.