Inmates say the policy unfairly punishes them — and note that prison staff also bring in contraband.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
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Public Education
Texas’ discipline push sends kids to ‘jail-like’ campuses
Lawmakers increasingly view disciplinary alternative programs as a solution to behavior problems. Critics say they harm students.
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2026 Texas Elections
Inside the child sex abuse case that resulted in Ken Paxton’s office offering a plea deal of just one day in jail
Critics are pointing to two other serious felony cases that the attorney general’s prosecutors took to trial that ended in mistrials and, eventually, plea deals.
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Criminal Justice
Texas executes 600th inmate since death penalty was reinstated in 1976
Edward Busby was executed by lethal injection Thursday, reinforcing Texas’ position as the nation’s leader in capital punishment.
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Criminal Justice
Texas can execute death row inmate Edward Busby, U.S. Supreme Court says
Busby’s execution, set for Thursday evening, had been halted by a federal appeals court less than a week ago.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott’s public safety wish list includes statewide prosecutor, more bail restrictions
Some items on Abbott’s agenda would require amending the Texas Constitution, meaning they would need supermajority support in the Legislature.
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Criminal Justice
Former Texas lottery director reindicted for abuse of office by grand jury
Gary Grief, former executive director of the now-dissolved Texas Lottery Commission, is alleged to have used his position to defraud the state during a 2023 Lotto Texas drawing.
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Criminal Justice
Greg Abbott expands task force targeting repeat offenders from Houston to other large cities
The effort, which combines federal, state and local law enforcement, will expand to the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas.
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Criminal Justice
Federal appeals court temporarily halts execution of Texas death row inmate Edward Busby
Thursday’s execution was blocked by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “pending further order” from the court.
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Politics
Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar faces removal attempt following federal fraud indictment
Cuellar has denied that he defrauded the sheriff’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic. His brother is Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar.