Some Mexican and American officials hope that the gun control debate might spur laws that curb the flow of illegal weapons over the United States’ southern border. But others say that changing gun laws in the U.S. would not change gun behavior in Mexico.
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
Texans Rally Against More Gun Control
Roughly a thousand Texans flooded the Capitol grounds on Saturday to rally against a renewed national push for gun control legislation and to criticize President Obama for signing gun-related executive orders.
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Criminal Justice
Bill Looks to Adjust Medical Parole to Help Alleviate Prison Budget
As lawmakers try to trim the budget for health care for prison inmates, one bill aims to cut costs by re-examining a program that releases inmates deemed the oldest, sickest and most expensive.
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Criminal Justice
Variety of Gun-Related Bills on Table for Session
At least 20 bills have been filed or proposed by Texas lawmakers on the subject of guns, with most of the legislation aiming to widen access to guns. Here’s a roundup of the proposals.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Video: Stockman Blasts Obama on Guns
On last night’s edition of On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren, U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, repeated his calls for the possible impeachment of Barack Obama if the president pushes for gun control legislation.
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Criminal Justice
Kerry Max Cook’s 30-Year Exoneration Fight Takes Another Nasty Turn
Kerry Max Cook, who spent two decades on death row for a 1977 murder, says the prosecutor in Smith County is fighting dirty in his mission to stymie the ex-inmate’s efforts to prove his innocence.
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Criminal Justice
State of Mind: Mental Health Focus for Harris County
Law enforcement is working to make sure lawmakers know an investment in mental health services is an investment in public safety.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Report: Investing in Drug Treatment Could Save State Millions of Dollars
A new report by the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition says that rather than throwing drug addicts in jail, the state should invest more money in substance abuse treatment, which it says could save millions of dollars and improve public safety.
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Criminal Justice
Death Row Inmate’s Case Adds to Debate on Recorded Interrogations
Death row inmate Max Soffar says his 1980 murder confession was coerced. As his lawyers say his case highlights a broader debate about false confessions, police and prosecutors say he told them details only the killer would know.
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Criminal Justice
Year in Review: Criminal Justice, Immigration and the Texas-Mexico Border
Prosecutorial misconduct, the politics of immigration and continuing bloodshed in the Mexican drug war dominated Tribune headlines in 2012. Here’s a look back at the crime, immigration and border stories of the year.