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.
Texas Department Of Criminal Justice
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Jailhouse Snitch Claims Secret Deal in Death Case
A second jailhouse informant claims he was offered a secret deal to testify in a death penalty case by former Navarro County prosecutor John Jackson, who has been accused of similar misconduct in the conviction and execution of Cameron Todd Willingham.
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
Chin Scratcher: Prison Beard Policy Will Cost Taxpayers $500,000
Thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Texas prison inmates will be able to grow beards under a new policy expected to cost state taxpayers $500,000 a year in paperwork, beard nets and barber tools.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In Texas Jails, Hanging Most Common Method of Inmate Suicide
Of the 501 inmate deaths that have occurred in county jails since 2009, nearly a third of them were by suicide. Most of those suicides were by hanging, with inmates using objects jailers provided for them as ligatures.
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 in
Criminal Justice
Rookie Prison Guard is Killed Escorting Violent Inmate
A rookie Texas Department of Criminal Justice guard was beaten to death Wednesday at a northeast Texas prison as he was escorting an inmate, one with an extensive history of attempted escapes and previous beatings of prison personnel, from a day room to a cell.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TDCJ Official: Supreme Court’s Ruling Won’t Impact Texas Executions
A U.S. Supreme Court decision Monday that upheld the use of an execution drug used in Oklahoma will not change how death row inmates in Texas are executed, according to a Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
When Home is a Post Office Box
The home address listed on a Texas driver’s license used to be one of the best tools police had to track people down, serve warrants or notify next-of-kin when someone died. But no more in this job-hopping, mobile culture.
