Lawmakers this year approved a bill requiring DNA testing in death penalty cases. Some prosecutors worry more testing could simply delay a guilty defendant’s inevitable conviction. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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
Complaint: Legislator Illegally Released Inmate’s Disciplinary Record
The Travis County district attorney’s office’s Public Integrity Unit is reviewing evidence that suggests a state lawmaker illegally released an inmate’s disciplinary file to a victims’ rights advocate in an effort to prevent a high-profile convicted murderer’s release from prison.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In Two Cities, Opposite Reactions to Jail Closure
The decision by legislators this year to close two privately run jails operated by the Corrections Corporation of America is being met with very different reactions in the communities where the jails are situated.
Posted inState Government
31 Days, 31 Ways: How the 83rd Legislature Will Affect Texans’ Lives
Every day this month, the Tribune will reveal a new way that the laws and budget lawmakers passed in the 83rd legislative session will affect Texans’ lives come Sept. 1. See the latest stories published or use our interactive calendar for an overview.
Posted in
T-Squared
T-Squared: Why We Unpublished Our Prisoner Database
You may have noticed that one of our more popular databases, the Texas Prison Inmates database, was disabled last week. We want to explain why we did it and when we expect to relaunch the database.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Garden-Fresh Produce for Needy, Thanks to Inmates
On a four-acre garden in Smith County, inmates from the local jail tend crops that provide thousands of pounds of fresh food for the poor in 26 counties. It’s one of several programs that put inmates to work for the community.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House OKs Life With Parole for Juvenile Murderers
UPDATED: Seventeen-year-olds convicted of capital murder could soon be subject to a mandatory sentence of life with parole eligiblity after 40 years under a bill lawmakers approved on Thursday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
From the Tea Party, a Softer Line in Criminal Justice Discussions
Michael Morton’s ubiquitous presence and lobbying spurred lawmakers to tackle criminal justice reforms. But the increased presence of Tea Party Republicans also changed the Legislature’s attitude toward law and order.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Young Murderers Await Legislature’s Decision
Scottie Forcey is one of 23 convicted Texas murderers who could get the chance to be parole eligible after serving 40 years in prison as legislators work to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Law Could Set Stage for Juvenile Justice Reforms
A new law allowing Travis County to commit juvenile offenders to local detention facilities instead of large state institutions could set the stage for the next steps in reforming Texas’ juvenile justice system.
