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.


 

Austin Says New Contract With Police Will Bring Accountability

Interim Police Monitor Deven Desai opened negotiations between the city and police last week with a nod to a crowd of activists gathered in one corner of the room. “I’ve sat in these negotiations since '08 and I can’t remember a time we had even one person from the community come in and actually observe the negotiations," he said.

Read the rest of this article at KUT.

Should Texas change law to keep 17-year-olds out of adult jails?

The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition wants lawmakers to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18 in the 2019 legislative session.

Read the rest of this article at KXAN.

Texas Advocates and Legislators Show Support for Juvenile Justice

A group of juvenile justice reform advocates hosted a press conference at the Texas Capitol today as part of Youth Justice Action Month calling for a new commitment to juvenile justice reform in Texas.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Social justice groups take a knee at Austin City Council meeting

Members of the Austin Justice Coalition and Grassroots Leadership took a knee as Austin City Council members listened to the invocation before the meeting.

Read the rest of this article here.

More pre-trial diversion, smarter technology part of Harris County DA's plans

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Tuesday promised more pre-trial diversion programs for suspects in drug possession cases and those with mental health issues.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

Texas Goes Big on Youth Justice Reform

NJJN’s Texas members, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC), Texas Appleseed and Texans Care for Children were successful in their collaborative efforts to pass legislation focused on dual-status youth, confidentiality of juvenile records, 10 and 11 year olds in the juvenile justice system and the suspension and expulsion of kids in early grades.

Read the rest of this post at the National Juvenile Justice Network.

It’s Time to End Austin’s Failed Experiment in Police Oversight, Activists Say

APD’s refusal to act on recommendations given by a citizen review panel suggests that the city's 16-year experiment in police oversight has failed.

Read the rest of this article at the Texas Observer.

New Report Finds Important Policing Reforms Recommended by Citizen Review Panel, Largely Ignored by APD and City Manager

Austin’s Citizen Review Panel (CRP) has special access to certain internal investigations of police officer-involved shootings and other incidents. The Panel reviews the incident and may issue a letter of recommendation calling for policy or procedural changes at the Austin Police Department (APD), even if the officer is found to have violated no rules.

Read the rest of this press release here.

How Harris County's federal bail lawsuit spreads beyond Houston

Texas counties are watching to see how Harris County's fight against court-ordered bail practices will affect them.

Read the rest of this article at The Texas Tribune.

 

Texas' murder rate went up again last year, remains relatively low

Violent crimes — including murder — jumped up again last year in Texas and across the nation, according to new FBI data. It's the second year violent crime has increased from record low levels in 2014.

Read the rest of this article at Texas Tribune.