Civil rights, human rights and criminal justice groups on Thursday sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to close a privately run state jail in downtown Dallas.
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.
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Criminal Justice
Bill Would Count Prisoners Differently in Redistricting
Resuscitating the 2011 redistricting battle, two lawmakers have filed bills requiring the state to count prisoners at their last home address rather than where they are incarcerated. They say it cheats urban districts out of representatives.
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Criminal Justice
In Gun Control Debate, Potential Impact on Mexico is Addressed
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
