Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Bryan Collier was questioned in court for about two hours for not complying with a court order to keep some Texas prisoners in air conditioned housing.
Texas Department Of Criminal Justice
Posted in
Criminal Justice
“The stakes could not be higher”: Judge threatens to lock up Texas prison officials over air conditioning violation
A federal judge was visibly frustrated Friday as he suggested that putting state officials in uncooled cells might be the only way to get their attention after they broke a settlement agreement to keep some inmates in air conditioning.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
A judge told Texas to put some inmates in air conditioning. Lawyers say prison officials are violating that order.
In a motion Thursday, the prisoners’ lawyers asked the judge to hold prison officials in contempt and issue fines. They also accused the agency of hiding multiple instances of noncompliance with the court order.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas prison guards to get a small raise, but some doubt it will help with chronic understaffing
The state’s two-year budget provided $84 million to increase salaries for correctional officers and other prison employees as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces nearly 4,000 empty guard positions.
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Criminal Justice
In a nod to Texas, U.S. Department of Justice says FDA can’t regulate execution drugs
Texas has been fighting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on the state’s attempted import of lethal injection drugs. But the Justice Department says federal law doesn’t give the FDA oversight.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Senate passes bill to end the shackling of pregnant women in prison
The bill addresses many of the conditions of the state’s incarcerated women. It would also require the department to offer up to 10 free feminine hygiene products to women each day.
Posted inCriminal Justice
After state Supreme Court ruled execution drug supplier can stay secret, Texas obtains more lethal doses
The prison system’s existing doses were all set to expire before the state’s five currently scheduled executions. See our updated lethal drug tracker for the latest movement in the state’s supply.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Solitary confinement worsens mental illness. A Texas prison program meant to help can feel just as isolating.
Prisoners who volunteered for a mental health diversion program say promises of therapy and time out of their cells weren’t fulfilled. And Texas prison officials aren’t regularly tracking success rates — even as they ask lawmakers to fund an expansion of the program.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Supreme Court rules Texas can hide the identity of execution drug supplier
Citing security concerns, the state has fought for years to keep the supplier’s name secret.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas officials say it would cost $1 billion to cool prisons – but they’ve grossly overestimated AC costs before
An estimate to put air conditioning into one prison changed from more than $20 million to $4 million last year.
