TCJE in the News

Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at mkaigh@TexasCJE.orgor (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.

 

Harris County jail launches suicide hotline for inmates

Harris County jail launches suicide hotline for inmates

Still reeling from two recent inmate suicides, the Harris County jail on Monday launched a crisis hotline for prisoners, a novel approach to mental health that’s believed to be one of the first such efforts in the country.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle. 

Texas Lawmakers Are Rethinking Criminal Justice In Light Of Swollen Prison Population

Texas Lawmakers Are Rethinking Criminal Justice In Light Of Swollen Prison Population

Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly in favor of overhauling the criminal justice system. That’s partly because incarceration is expensive.

Read the rest of this article - and listen to an interivew with TCJC's Doug Smith - at the Texas Standard. 

Revenue from juvenile detention center shows growing trend for Victoria County

Revenue from juvenile detention center shows growing trend for Victoria County

Victoria County is projected to almost double the revenue it brings in by housing youths from outside the county in its juvenile detention center, showing a shift in the economics behind the facility.

Read the rest of this article at the Victoria Advocate. 

A New Jail for Travis County?

A New Jail for Travis County?

Travis County moves forward with new women's building despite vote to delay and community outcry.

Read the rest of this article at the Austin Chronicle. 

New law protects Texans from being jailed for minor traffic tickets

New law protects Texans from being jailed for minor traffic tickets

New law designed to protect Texans from being jailed for minor traffic tickets has resulted in 300,000 fewer arrest warrants, announces Rep. Canales.

Read the rest of this article at FOX News South Texas. 

Federal judge rules Houston destroyed evidence in jail lawsuit

Federal judge rules Houston destroyed evidence in jail lawsuit

Houston city officials intentionally destroyed evidence, wiping crucial data from the computer drives of top police commanders that is potentially relevant to a lawsuit about the detention of suspects beyond the 48-hour deadline for a magistrate hearing, a federal judge has ruled.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle. 

Reformers Hopeful the 2019 Legislature will Expand Texas’ Medical Marijuana Law

Reformers Hopeful the 2019 Legislature will Expand Texas’ Medical Marijuana Law

Activists are mapping a path to end arrests for possession and broaden the state's medical marijuana program ahead of the next legislative session.

Read the rest of this article at the Texas Observer.

Drill bit-planting claim sparks another investigation at Texas prison

Drill bit-planting claim sparks another investigation at Texas prison

An allegation that Texas corrections officers planted drill bits in an inmate's cell at a southeast Texas prison has sparked another investigation at the same Brazoria County lock-up where earlier this year four officers were indicted.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

Editorial: Is a felon fit for office? Austin voters deserve to decide

Editorial: Is a felon fit for office? Austin voters deserve to decide

Two years ago, the Austin City Council decided that local employers should get to know job applicants first before deciding whether a criminal record puts them out of the running.

Read the rest of this article at the Austin American-Statesman.

Texas prison system slashes price of inmate phone calls by 77 percent

Texas prison system slashes price of inmate phone calls by 77 percent

The Texas prison system on Friday voted to drastically slash the cost of inmate calls home by more than 75 percent with a new phone contract more favorable to inmates and their families.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.