The Senate Committee on Criminal Justice met today to talk about ways to stop Texans from getting behind the wheel after imbibing. Judges, police and even a third-time DWI offender told lawmakers some Texas drunken driving laws could use some stiffening, while other measures take punishment too far.
John Whitmire
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Fewer Sex Offenders in the DPS Database?
There are more than 61,000 registered sex offenders in the Texas Department of Public Safety’s database. Some think the list includes people who aren’t a threat to society and that the stigma of being on it hurts them more than it helps the greater community. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune has this report.
Posted in
Public Education
Tickets for 10-Year-Olds
With the rise of get-tough juvenile crime policies across Texas, the municipal courthouse has become the new principal’s office for students who fight, curse their teachers or are generally “disorderly” — even in elementary schools. Campus police in the Austin, Houston and Dallas ISDs, among others, write thousands of citations per year, with young students tickted egularly and minority students targeted disproportionately. Fines of $250 or $500 are not uncommon, court officials say.
Posted in
Demographics
Department of Public Stimulus
The Department of Public Safety, which is struggling financially, is planning to use $16 million of the federal stimulus dollars that Gov. Rick Perry begrudgingly accepted to plug a hole in the border security budget. The decision follows a mandate by Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Joe Straus that state agencies cut 5 percent out of their budgets to meet an anticipated shortfall.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
On the Records: Spending Search
We have 10 years and more than $350 million in Texas campaign expenditures available for search and download. Find your own stories.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Fair Game
State Sen. John Whitmire didn’t break the law by spending $90,000 in campaign funds on sports tickets, the Texas Ethics Commission finds.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Whitmire Wants “Top-to-Bottom” Changes at TDCJ
“If the prison administrators cannot get the job done, we need to find some who can.”
Posted inState Government
Audio: John Whitmire Questions John Bradley
The chairman of the Senate’s Criminal Justice Committees asked whether Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney, can be fair to defendants whose cases come before the commission.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Bradley Makes His Case
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley expected some verbal jousting today at the Senate Criminal Justice Committee about his plans for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He was right.
