A Waller County judge who helped choose grand jurors to consider the evidence in the death of Sandra Bland is not happy about the state’s new grand jury selection process, saying it unfairly puts too much of the selection process on judges.
John Whitmire
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Scrutiny Follows Bland, Deputy Deaths
In the coming days, the deaths of Sandra Bland and Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth will continue to jolt statewide conversations about how the Texas criminal justice system deals with — or fails to deal with — mental health issues.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Roundup: Paxton Re-Indicted, Jail Safety, Sid Miller
In the Roundup: Attorney General Ken Paxton is re-indicted on securities fraud charges, an interim legislative committee will look at jail safety and a post from the agriculture commissioner’s campaign Facebook page blows up social media.
Posted inState Government
Interim Committee to Take a Closer Look at Jail Safety
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. John Whitmire on Tuesday announced the creation of an interim jail safety study committee following concerns in the wake of the hanging death of Sandra Bland and the deaths of other jail inmates.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Inmate Beard Policy Will Not Cost Taxpayers Extra
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said last week that its new beard policy for inmates would cost taxpayers $500,000. Now, the agency says there will actually be no cost to taxpayers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TDCJ Correctional Officer Beaten With “Pry Tool”
A Texas correctional officer killed while escorting a prisoner to his cell was beaten to death with a two-foot pry bar, a tool guards carry to unlock the small meal tray openings in a cell door, the Tribune has confirmed.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: June 8, 2015
A McKinney police officer is on administrative leave after video of his actions to subdue a 15-year-old girl at a pool party Friday night received more than 1 million views online over the weekend.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Grand Jury Reform Legislation Headed to Abbott’s Desk
Legislation that reforms the state’s grand jury system now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature after the House on Sunday approved a compromise between the two chambers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Truancy Reform Heads Down to the Wire
With one Texas county facing a federal investigation into how it punishes chronic school-skippers — and Texas one of only two states that prosecute truants in adult courts — lawmakers are weighing two House measures that would decriminalize truancy.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House OKs Raising Age of Juvenile Offenders to 18
A final effort to raise from 17 to 18 the age at which offenders automatically enter the adult legal system made it through the Texas House on Tuesday, tacked onto a bill reorganizing the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
