Texas Prison System Sheds Men, Swallows Even More Women
Report says rise in incarcerated women hints at disparities in the male-dominated criminal justice system.
TCJC In the News
Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at mkaigh@TexasCJC.org or (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.
Study: Texas Needs Alternatives to Sending Women to Prison
AUSTIN, Texas – Prison reform advocates say too many of the 12,000 women in Texas prisons don't need to be behind bars.
Women ‘Disregarded’ in Justice Reform, Says Texas Group
Women have been left out of the national focus on justice reform, even as the number of incarcerated females has increased, according to a Texas advocacy group.
New Report Shows Growing Number of Women in Texas Prisons and Jails
Today, TCJC released part one of a two-part report series on women in Texas prisons and jails. A Growing Population: The Surge of Women into Texas’ Criminal Justice System examines the staggering rise in the number of women in Texas’ justice system and makes recommendations for programs and policies that can reverse this trend and effectively redirect women away from incarceration.
Read the rest of this press release here.
Reform group calls for action to lower growing number of women in prison
More women are finding themselves in Texas prisons and jails, and one criminal justice reform group is urging lawmakers and local officials to enact policies to stop that trend.
Report: Female incarceration rising in Texas prisons
AUSTIN, Texas — Fifty-three-year-old Annette Price visits prisoners every week in hopes that sharing their stories gives them hope.
Travis County Commissioners Vote To Delay Jail Expansion Funding
AUSTIN, TX — Travis County commissioners approved a year-long delay in allotting funding for the first phase of a $97 million women's jail expansion — a move hailed as a victory among criminal justice reform advocates who have long opposed increasing the facility's size.
As Houston weighs housing ordinances, criminal justice reform advocates decry buffer rule
With the Houston City Council set to vote on proposed ordinances to overhaul regulations for boarding homes and other multi-resident housing, criminal justice reform advocates objected to a proposed 1,000 foot buffer zone for “alternative housing facilities,” saying it would make it harder to provide re-entry services.
Travis County wants to spend $97M on new women's facility at jail
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to ultimately postpone consideration to spend $97 million to build a new women's facility at the Travis County Correctional Complex (TCCC) and is expected to revisit the proposal in a year.
ACLU, 7 more community groups file complaint against Harris County judge
The ACLU of Texas and seven other groups filed a complaint today (Monday, March 5) with the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct against 209th District Court Judge Michael McSpadden in Harris County, asking that McSpadden be immediately suspended and removed from the bench.
Advocacy groups seek sanctions against Harris County judge who disparaged Black Lives Matter
Eight state and local civil rights groups filed a formal complaint Friday with a judicial commission, seeking sanctions against a Harris County felony court judge because of comments he made to the Houston Chronicle about black defendants.
San Antonio, Dallas Primaries Could Usher in Prosecutors Who Promise a More Equal Criminal Justice System
Reformers have targeted Texas primary races where candidates promise bail reform and jail diversion.
Texas prisons consider transfer of youth to former death row unit on heels of rape investigation
The Texas prison system is considering moving youthful offenders from a Brazoria prison to the former death row unit in Huntsville on the heels of a rape investigation, according to one lawmaker and multiple sources within the agency.
Commissioners, criminal justice advocates quarrel about funding of Travis Co. women's jail
A majority of facilities at the Travis County Correction Complex need major infrastructure upgrades. Nineteen of 27 buildings fail functional, mechanical, and architectural ratings, according to the Planning and Budget Office. A two-year analysis resulted in the 2016 master plan with recommendations on renovation and expansion.
Travis County commissioners delay vote on women’s jail expansion
When Travis County commissioners approved the 2018 budget in September that included about $6.6 million to design a new women’s facility in the Del Valle jail, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt insisted, over the cries of criminal justice reform advocates, that it would not mean more beds overall but that more would be allocated to women.
Read the rest of this article at the Austin American-Statesman.
Residents, advocates, council members debate alternative homes for parolees at Houston public safety meeting
A recent report shows there are 99 of what the city of Houston considers as ‘alternative homes’ dotted around Harris County, all intended for the purpose of housing parolees.
In Houston, outrage over a school arrest that landed a student in immigration detention
The Houston school district is under fire after a student without legal status ended up in immigration detention following his arrest by a school police officer for an altercation with a female student.
Austin High School students protest arrest of immigrant student booked into jail for assault
More than 300 Stephen F. Austin High School students walked out during their lunch break Wednesday to protest the arrest of a Honduran teen who landed in immigrant detention after a fight at school.
After fatal fires, Houston officials propose stronger lodging house safety rules
After residential facility fires last year claimed the lives of three people and displaced dozens of others, Houston city officials on Tuesday unveiled several proposed changes to city ordinances aimed at improving oversight of the buildings.
Reformers Seek to Establish Nonprofit in Charge of Police Oversight
As the Austin Police Association (APA) continues negotiating a new union contract with the city of Austin, police reform advocates are asking that the city fund an independent nonprofit to review complaints against the police department.