Courts have called Texas bail practices unconstitutional. Will that push this year's reform efforts to success?
Two years after a bail reform bill died in the Legislature, new bail legislation has other factors working in its favor. Full Story
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Jolie McCullough
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Jolie McCullough was a reporter at The Texas Tribune from 2015 to 2023. She began as a data visualization journalist and then reported on criminal justice policy, ranging from policing and courts to prisons and the death penalty. She joined the Tribune from the Albuquerque Journal, her hometown newspaper. She previously worked at the Arizona Republic and is a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Past Contributions
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![Senator John Whitmire, D-Houston; Rep. Andrew. Murr, R-Junction; Chief Justice Nathan Hecht; and Justice Sharon Keller speak at a press confrence to announce legislation aimed at reforming the state’s bail system.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas still doesn't have a law on intellectual disability and the death penalty. Will that change this year?
Nearly two decades after the U.S. Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional to execute those with intellectual disabilities, Texas still has no process on determining the condition — leaving life-and-death decisions in the hands of courts with very different methods. Full Story
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![Interior of Death Chamber by Texas Department of Criminal Justice.]()
Credit: Photo Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Thirty years after the killing of a Houston police officer, Texas executes Robert Jennings
Jennings was put to death Wednesday for the 1988 murder of Elston Howard. The long sentence was complicated by constantly evolving death penalty laws. Full Story
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![Robert Jennings mug shot.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Supreme Court weighs whether state should reveal execution drug supplier
Justices questioned whether revealing the name would risk physical harm to the supplier — or only hurt its business. Full Story
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![The Justices of the Texas Supreme Court hear the Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Maurie Levin, et al. case on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate budget plans tens of millions apart on prisoner health care
The Texas House wants to give the state prison system $160 million more to help care for inmates. The Senate wants to cut funding. Full Story
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![Inmates walk down a hallway at Brazoria County's Darrington prison in July 2017.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribune -
Eight years on Texas' highest criminal court turned Elsa Alcala into a death penalty skeptic. How will the court change without her?
Judge Elsa Alcala ended her tenure critical of the death penalty and often pleading for policy changes from the state Legislature. Full Story
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![Judge Elsa Alcala at the swearing-in ceremony for incoming Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./ The Texas Tribune -
Texas court stops first execution of 2019, citing changes in intellectual disability law and bite-mark science
Blaine Milam was convicted in the 2008 East Texas death of his girlfriend's 13-month-old baby. Full Story
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![Blaine Milam was sentenced to death for the 2008 murder of 13-month-old Amora Carson during an alleged exorcism.]()
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Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
How law enforcement can seize Texans' cash and property — without filing criminal charges
Police use asset forfeiture to seize cash, cars and other property that they suspect is part of criminal activity. As our December story explains, they don't have to get a conviction, but property owners have to prove they're not a criminal. Full Story
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Texas sees uptick in executions, death sentences in 2018
The state put to death 13 men this year. That's more than half the total number of people executed in the entire country: 25. Still, the death row population — both here and nationwide — is at a historic low. Full Story
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![The clock nears 6 p.m. at the "Walls" unit in Huntsville, where Texas executes its prisoners, on Jan. 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough