Gov. Greg Abbott’s proposal comes after weeks of targeted killings of police officers and growing tension over disproportionate encounters between black Americans and law enforcement.
Johnathan Silver
Johnathan Silver reported on the state’s criminal justice system for the Tribune from 2015 to 2017. Previously, Johnathan was a Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Buster Haas intern and staff reporter at the Victoria Advocate. A Fort Worth native, Johnathan graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with bachelor’s degrees in political science and criminal justice – and a graduation mug from The Shorthorn, the campus student newspaper.
Posted inState Government
TDCJ Officer Dead, Possibly Murdered, Agency Says
The death of a correctional officer at the French Robertson Unit near Abilene who was found unresponsive near the kitchen area of the prison early Saturday is being investigated as a homicide.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
John Cornyn Would Make Killing Police Officer a Federal Crime
Days after five police officers were killed by a lone gunman in downtown Dallas, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced legislation Wednesday that would make killing a police officer a federal crime.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Obama, Bush Call for Unity at Dallas Memorial
President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said the best way to honor the lives of the officers is for Americans to put aside their differences and unite.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dallas Attack Tests City’s Progress in Police Relations
A fragile peace settled over Dallas one day after a sniper caused the worst loss of police officer lives since September 11, but beneath calls for unity tension simmered.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dallas Shootings: Sorrow, Disbelief Among State Officials
When civilians and police officers came under fire late Thursday night in Dallas, state officials live-tweeted the latest news, offered prayers and lamented a peaceful protest warping into a shootout between snipers and law enforcement.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
A Year Later, Sandra Bland’s Death Propels Calls for Reform
Sandra Bland’s 2015 arrest, and death three days later in the Waller County Jail, remain catalysts for lawmakers, activists and policy experts seeking reforms in various facets of Texas criminal justice.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Board of Criminal Justice Selects New Prisons Chief
Second-in-command Bryan Collier will be the next executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the agency’s governing board announced Friday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Wrongful Convictions Have Cost Texans More Than $93 Million
Texas has paid 101 men and women who were wrongfully sent to prison $93.6 million over the past 25 years, state data shows. The tab stands to grow as those wrongfully imprisoned individuals age and more people join the list.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Appeals Court Halts Texas Man’s Execution in Shaken Baby Syndrome Case
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday halted the upcoming execution of Robert Roberson. Roberson’s legal team argues that Roberson’s conviction in the death of his daughter was based on junk science.
