The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
Federal authorities would have needed to meet an extraordinarily high threshold for probable cause to sign off on such a high-profile, politically explosive operation, legal experts say. Full Story
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A first-of-its-kind analysis reveals that soldiers in the Army are more likely to be locked up ahead of trial for drug offenses than for sexual assault under a system that gives commanders control. Full Story
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Soldiers are more likely to be held before trial for drug charges than for sexual assault, an analysis of court data shows. Here’s how reporters from The Texas Tribune and ProPublica figured it out. Full Story
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We’re looking into how the military investigates service members accused of crimes, intersects with the civilian justice system and treats cases that do not make it to courts-martial. Guide us to important stories. Full Story
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State Rep. Joe Moody rushed to the site of a mass shooting in his city in 2019, then warned House colleagues that it would happen again as they passed a permitless carry bill. Now he’s at the center of the investigation into the Uvalde massacre. Full Story
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Justin Berry was among 19 Austin police officers indicted earlier this year, accused of using excessive force against people protesting the murder of George Floyd. Full Story
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Griner’s allies remain hopeful President Joe Biden will secure a prisoner swap, much like he did earlier this year with another Texan, ex-Marine Trevor Reed. Full Story
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Speaking out for the first time, an El Paso mom recounts the moments from a bank inside the Walmart where 23 people were fatally shot and dozens more were injured in 2019. Full Story
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The state of Texas has essentially controlled her son’s life since he was 11. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department was supposed to keep him safe and help him get better. It has failed at every turn. Full Story
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Visits to Texas’ severely understaffed youth prisons show suicide attempts without intervention, water bottles being used as makeshift toilets, and a rash of possibly gang-related fights. Full Story
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The agency is so understaffed that teens have reported spending up to 23 hours locked in their cells, using water bottles to go to the bathroom. A staggering number have hurt themselves or been placed on suicide watch. Full Story
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Guy Reffitt, a 49-year-old Wylie resident, never entered the Capitol but helped ignite the crowd “into an unstoppable force,” a prosecutor at his trial said. His sentence is the longest given out so far from the Jan. 6 riot. Full Story
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The chamber’s attempt to ban semi-automatic weapons after a series of mass shootings appears destined to fail in the Senate. Full Story
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Mandy Gutierrez was put on paid leave Monday and responded Wednesday to a Texas House committee’s investigative report about the massacre. On Thursday, her attorney released a letter from the Uvalde superintendent saying she’s no longer on administrative leave. Full Story
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Two civil rights groups have expanded their request for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into Operation Lone Star, citing evidence of risky pursuits and more frequent traffic stops of Hispanic drivers. Full Story
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We examine decades of data on gun ownership and gun violence to show trends across the state. Some of them might surprise you. Full Story
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In a letter to the Texas House committee investigating the state’s deadliest school shooting, Robb Elementary principal Mandy Gutierrez says school leaders weren’t complacent about security. Full Story
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CNN reported Wednesday that the U.S. has offered a prisoner exchange in order to bring the WNBA player and Paul Whelan home. Biden reportedly backs such a deal. Full Story
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The gunman who killed 19 elementary students and two teachers bought the assault rifle he used after turning 18 just days before the massacre. Full Story
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The school district canceled the meeting at the request of Arredondo’s lawyer. A new date has not been set. Full Story
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