Latest Contributions

• Texas’ larger cities would face financial penalties for cutting police budgets under bill approved by House

  by Jolie McCullough and Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: May 7, 2021

  Previously, the Senate approved a bill that would ask for an election if cities decide to reduce law enforcement budgets. Full Story 

• Protesters who obstruct emergency vehicles could face felony charges under bill passed by Texas House

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: May 6, 2021

  The bill is in response to nationwide protests against police brutality last year. Full Story 

• Bail in Texas could see key changes under House bill, but some lawmakers still see an unequal system

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: May 4, 2021

  The Texas House on Tuesday approved House Bill 20, one of Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency items this year, and sent it to the Senate. Full Story 

• Texas House passes package of police reform bills, including measure requiring more substantive disciplinary action for police misconduct

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: April 30, 2021

  The chamber approved three police reform measures that are part of a sweeping set of legislation following the in-custody murder of George Floyd last year. Full Story 

• Allegation of sexual misconduct by lobbyist leads to another round of calls for reform in Texas Capitol

  by Cassandra Pollock, Jolie McCullough and Shawn Mulcahy Updated: April 26, 2021

  The speaker said Monday he was directing a House committee to establish an email hotline for staffers to submit reports or complaints of harassment in the workplace. Full Story 

• Relatives of Texans killed by police hope Derek Chauvin’s conviction will advance the state’s George Floyd Act

  by Jolie McCullough April 23, 2021

  “If this doesn’t push it, we don’t know what will,” says Debbie Bush. She has been fighting for greater accountability for police violence since her nephew was shot in the back by a San Antonio officer seven years ago. Full Story 

• Texas prisons reverse course, will allow religious advisers in execution chamber

  by Jolie McCullough April 22, 2021

  The U.S. Supreme Court has twice stopped Texas executions over claims that previous prison policies were discriminatory and violated religious freedoms. Full Story 

• Texas Senate approves bail bill that would keep more people in jail if they can’t post cash bonds

  by Jolie McCullough April 14, 2021

  Senate Bill 21 would require cash bail for people who have ever been convicted of a violent crime. Full Story 

• Texas’ highest criminal court tosses death sentence of Raymond Riles, state’s longest-serving death row inmate

  by Jolie McCullough April 14, 2021

  Riles has been deemed mentally incompetent for execution repeatedly in his decades on death row. Full Story 

• Voters would have to approve police budget cuts under bill approved by Texas Senate

  by Jolie McCullough and Juan Pablo Garnham Updated: April 13, 2021

  Despite loud opposition from Democrats who said the legislation overstepped local governments, Senate Bill 23 passed with broad bipartisan support. Full Story 

• Texas investigating allegations that unaccompanied migrant children are being abused, sexually assaulted in San Antonio

  by Jolie McCullough Updated: April 7, 2021

  The governor did not know the identities of those who alleged assault, nor did he provide many details. He said he was concerned more than one child may have been assaulted. Full Story 

• Texas lawmakers advancing bail bills that opponents say do little for people stuck in jail because they're poor

  by Jolie McCullough April 6, 2021

  Texas courts have long been criticized for keeping people in jail pending trial who can't afford to post bond. Two priority bills this session would change the bail system, but they're primarily aimed at keeping potentially dangerous defendants behind bars. Full Story 

• Texas prisons stopped in-person visits and limited mail. Drugs got in anyway.

  by Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune, and Keri Blakinger, The Marshall Project March 29, 2021

  Agency data shows officers are finding just as many drugs — and writing up even more prisoners for having them — despite the restrictions. Contraband is most often brought in by staff, according to prisoners and employees. Full Story 

• Texas' George Floyd Act seeks to reform violent police behavior. But a sticking point centers on protecting officers from lawsuits.

  by Jolie McCullough March 25, 2021

  A provision that would remove police officers' legal shield against civil lawsuits has been pegged by multiple lawmakers as a sticking point in the Republican-led Legislature. Full Story 

• Austin officer charged with murder in Michael Ramos' death as lawmakers file bills making it harder to withhold body camera footage

  by Reese Oxner and Jolie McCullough Updated: March 11, 2021

  Almost a year after Michael Ramos, a Black and Hispanic man, was killed in Austin, Christopher Taylor, the officer who shot him, has been charged with murder. Full Story 

• Texas lifts yearlong ban on prison visitation beginning March 15

  by Jolie McCullough March 9, 2021

  State prisons shut down visitation last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story 

• Texas courts cleared for in-person trials, and local officials will decide whether to require face masks

  by Jolie McCullough March 5, 2021

  The Texas Supreme Court’s new order follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that he will lift a statewide mask mandate and many other coronavirus restrictions next week. Full Story 

• Harris County got rid of cash bail for many people accused of minor crimes. GOP lawmakers want to walk that back.

  by Jolie McCullough March 3, 2021

  Recent reforms that let more people accused of minor offenses be released without posting cash bonds appear to be working, new research shows. But Houston area lawmakers want to roll them back. Full Story 

• Texas jails and prisons see brutal cold and overfilled toilets in winter storm

  by Jolie McCullough Feb. 18, 2021

  Power and water outages have also hit many Texas lockups. Inmates have feared for their safety and officers were kept at their job for days. Full Story 

• Texas’ power grid is stabilizing, but more than 300,000 remain without electricity

  by Jolie McCullough, Cassandra Pollock and Neelam Bohra Updated: Feb. 18, 2021

  Many people in the state still do not have power, and millions have had their water service disrupted. Full Story