The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a death sentence for Manuel Velez, citing inaccurate testimony during Velez’s sentencing.
Texas Department Of Criminal Justice
Posted in
State Government
Sunset Commission: TDCJ Can Improve in Efficiency, Communication
The Sunset Advisory Commission found that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has room for improvement. The commission on Tuesday discussed accountability, budgetary efficiency, response to inmate grievances and communication.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House Departures Take a Bite Out of Criminal Justice
For years they’ve been the Butch and Sundance of Texas criminal justice policy. Republican state Rep. Jerry Madden and Democrat state Sen. John Whitmire have helped lead a sea change in the adult and juvenile prison systems. But the team is breaking up.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Among Top 3 States in Total Exonerations
Researchers at two law schools Monday released an unprecedented listing of all the exoneration cases from the last 23 years. Only two states had more exonerations than Texas, according to the report.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Judge Again Denies Motion to Move 30-Year-Old Murder Case
An administrative judge has again denied Kerry Max Cook’s request to move his case out of Smith County, a decision the former death row inmate worries will doom his fight to legally prove his innocence.
Posted inEconomy, Health care, State Government
Updated Interactive: Texas Budget Cuts Shrink State Government
With the state government tightening its belt, there are now 10,200 fewer state government employees, according to our latest analysis of data collected by the state auditor’s office.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Top Criminal Court to Hear Skinner’s DNA Plea
The latest installment in death row inmate Hank Skinner’s quest for DNA testing comes today as his lawyers argue to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that a change in state law should allow for testing in his case.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Filing by Cook’s Lawyers Says DA Kept Murder Weapon as “Souvenir”
UPDATED: Former Smith County District Attorney A.D. Clark III denies allegations by Kerry Max Cook’s lawyers that Clark had kept the knife linked to Linda Jo Edwards’ fatal stabbing at his home.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Court Orders Review of Death Row Case Involving Reprimanded Psychologist
The state’s highest criminal court on Wednesday ordered a lower court to review a death penalty case that involved a psychologist reprimanded last year for using unscientific methods.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Off Death Row, But Still Seeking True Freedom
Kerry Max Cook was released from death row in 1997 but has never officially been declared an exoneree. Michael Hall of Texas Monthly reports on Cook’s complex case and his challenging fight to move on with his life.
