Senate Bill 30 would require the groups to learn about the duties of law enforcement officers, civilians’ rights and proper behavior during interactions.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas House sends Sandra Bland Act to governor
The bill would mandate that county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment, make it easier for defendants with a mental illness or intellectual disability to receive a personal bond and require that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths.
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Criminal Justice
Bill to ban texting while driving clears Senate
The bill’s author, state Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said he will concur with the Senate’s changes.
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Criminal Justice
Rick Perry throws support behind bills to reform criminal justice in Texas
In a Houston Chronicle op-ed, Perry endorsed two measures moving through the Texas Legislature: one that would seal certain offenders’ records and another that seeks to make the grand jury process more fair.
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Criminal Justice
After waiting 3 days to see dead son, grieving mom hopes to change Texas law
Currently, parents need permission from a justice of the peace or medical examiner to see their deceased child if his or her death occurs outside a hospital or health care institution.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Senate advances bill to crowdfund rape kit testing
Legislation that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits has moved closer to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti indicted on fraud, bribery charges
A federal grand jury handed state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, two indictments Tuesday: one for his involvement in a now-bankrupt company accused of misleading investors and another for alleged bribery surrounding a government contract.
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Criminal Justice
Texas House passes court security bill
The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek. Her assailant shot at her several times outside her home, and she suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel.
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Criminal Justice
Despite Bland family’s complaints, House unlikely to beef up Sandra Bland Act
The House sponsor of the Senate’s Sandra Bland Act won’t try to change the bill’s language, after key provisions were taken out in the upper chamber.
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Criminal Justice
Appeals court puts Paxton case on hold as lawyers push for new judge
A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge.
