Instead of continuing to spend millions on problem-plagued secure facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile justice reform advocates say legislators should invest more in local probation departments.
Brandi Grissom
Brandi Grissom worked at the Tribune from its launch in 2009 until 2014, rising to the rank of managing editor. In addition to editing duties, Grissom led the Tribune's coverage of criminal justice issues. During her tenure at the Tribune, she was chosen as a 2012 City University of New York Center on Media, Crime and Justice/H.F. Guggenheim Journalism Fellow and was a fellow at the 2012 Journalist Law School at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Grissom, along with Tribune multimedia producer Justin Dehn, received a 2012 regional Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting for work on the case of Megan Winfrey, who was acquitted of murder in February 2013 after the Trib’s coverage brought statewide attention the case. Grissom joined the Tribune after four years at the El Paso Times, where she acted as a one-woman Capitol bureau. Grissom won the Associated Press Managing Editors First-Place Award in 2007 for using the Freedom of Information Act to report stories on a variety of government programs and entities, and the ACLU of Texas named her legislative reporter of the year in 2007 for her immigration reporting. She previously served as managing editor at The Daily Texan and has worked for the Alliance Times-Herald, the Taylor Daily Press, the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung and The Associated Press. A native of Alliance, Neb., she has a degree in history from the University of Texas.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Judge Signals Intent to Side With State, Against Condemned Inmate
A judge in Montgomery County plans to recommend that the state move forward with the execution of Larry Swearingen, who argues that science proves he is innocent of the 1998 murder for which he was condemned to die.
Posted inState Government
SBOE Member’s New Client Reveals Small World of Texas Politics
Thomas Ratliff, a lobbyist and State Board of Education member, has taken on exoneree Michael Morton as a client for the 2013 session. It’s a decision that is sure not to warm the frosty relations between Ratliff and fellow SBOE member David Bradley.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Supreme Court Denies Stay of Execution for Marvin Wilson
The U.S. Supreme Court declined a request to stay the execution of Marvin Wilson scheduled for this evening. Wilson’s lawyers argue that he is mentally disabled and should be exempted from the death penalty.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Surprise Inspections of Juvenile Facilities Reveal Areas for Improvement
Last month, inspectors conducted surprise safety and security reviews at the state’s secure juvenile facilities. Among the findings: lax security procedures and problems with documentation.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Death Row Inmate’s Sentence Reduced to Life
Delma Banks Jr., one of Texas death row’s longest residents, on Wednesday agreed to a life sentence for the 1980 murder of Richard Whitehead. He will be eligible for parole in 12 years.
Posted in
State Government
Appeals Court Rules Extreme Heat Can Violate Prisoner Rights
In the case of a 64-year-old former Texas inmate with high blood pressure and other health conditions, a federal appeals court ruled that extreme temperatures can violate prisoners’ constitutional rights.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
A Tragic Accident and a Continuing Legal Battle
Michelle Gaines is unlikely to ever live on her own after an auto accident. A jury awarded her $8 million in damages, but the decision was overturned. Her lawyers argue that if her appeal isn’t heard, it would set a troubling precedent.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Williamson County Makes Arrest in 1980 Murder Case
Williamson County officials have arrested a 53-year-old former Garland resident in the 1980 murder of Mildred McKinney. The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office says it identified the DNA and a fingerprint of Steven Alan Thomas at the crime scene.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Will Change Its Lethal Injection Protocol
For Yokamon Hearn’s scheduled execution on July 18, officials plan to administer a lethal dose of pentobarbital instead of the three-drug cocktail that has been used since Texas reinstated the death penalty in 1982.
