The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
The high court did not weigh in on the arguments that Gov. Greg Abbott's order went beyond his executive powers in a disaster. Instead, it ruled that the Harris County judges were the wrong plaintiffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5167de8622d257bd49f6c3d6e7ceb28/Harris%20County%20Jail%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
The ruling temporarily halted a lower court's order that was handed down after inmates at a geriatric prison sued the Texas prison system over its handling of the coronavirus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b42c11f7bb14acad8e2c469d036cd8c/Beeville%20Prison%20JW%20TT%2002.jpg)
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb089878d5cb093eaf6291a88e156290/ATX%20Night%20Coronavirus%20MG%20TT%2005.jpg)
Relatives of Texas prisoners approved for parole question why their loved ones have to stay in disease-prone facilities while completing programs they say could be done virtually and from home. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f44494e4d432dabf2f54ec8b8ca50e2/Women%20Prison%20Johnson%20TDC.jpg)
On Friday, a state district judge blocked enforcement of Abbott's order, which prohibits jail release for some inmates without paying bail during the coronavirus pandemic. She cited unconstitutional provisions and executive overreach as reasons for her order. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32d2332ad37f1bec45ce077d81a16588/Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20MG%20TT%2002.jpg)
The governor's order prohibited judges from releasing some inmates without paying bail. The lawsuit filed Wednesday argued it violated the constitutional separation of powers and discriminated against poor defendants. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/14/PregPrison-2.jpg)
The death of the 72-year-old man came one day after a 49-year-old correctional officer who worked at a different prison died. The state is locking down 15 prisons where inmates or guards have tested positive for the disease. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/98a942c2c99b678c8528cf1acf4c83d4/Telford_TT.jpg)
Misdemeanor judges and criminal defense organizations argue the governor's order unconstitutionally oversteps his authority over judges and creates a wealth-based detention system. It's the second court challenge to the order. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1bb3c4d94fc5e76366c4529e093c87a5/Harris%20Co.%20Jail%20MS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Plaintiffs in an ongoing Harris County lawsuit over felony bail practices are asking a federal judge to temporarily block Abbott's order. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e18d2a13f3544223aee81be8354e10a/TxTrib_HarrisJail_CalebBryantMiller_24.jpg)
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Gov. Greg Abbott's response to the coronavirus outbreak, the newest front in the state's fight against abortion and the state vs. local battle over bail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5f4a3e410e2dd25dfef68e4cb3666ba2/TribCast%20April%201.jpg)
The judges are under a federal court order to release low-level defendants without collecting bail payment after the county's cash bail practices were found unconstitutional. The governor's Sunday order does not allow those accused of low-level crimes to leave jail without access to cash if they have a past violent conviction. Full Story
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's measures to combat the new coronavirus are insufficient at a geriatric prison, the complaint said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/99aca156e6bf021c048e3d43414a6e42/TDCJ_GURNEY_UNIT_MDN_TT)
Abbott's order bans release without paying bail for inmates who are accused of or have been convicted in the past of violent offenses. Defendants with cash could still walk free. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8300182b8b800cd4631a9f9e2a561ca3/.HIDE%20jail%20photo)
On this week's TribCast — a different format in the time of the new coronavirus — Alexa talks to Mitchell, Julián and Jolie about rising unemployment in Texas, the outbreak's effect on immigrants and delayed justice in the court system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/467533ba7863f13f8ef4e67f878a7b49/TribCast%20March%2025.jpg)
In a rare voting fraud case, Crystal Mason was sentenced to five years in prison for casting a provisional ballot in 2016 while on supervised release for a federal felony. She says she did it on the advice of a poll worker. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13e32fdfeb4c5c034a71f797bdf05a5d/03%20Crystal%20Mason%20LBS%20TT.jpg)
Courts have slowed across the state, and jury trials are on hold. Defense attorneys worry the outbreak could leave their clients sitting in jail waiting for justice — and vulnerable to catching the virus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b7285f4bb0d3780566562d217f3d5784/Travis_Co_poor_defense_CR_TT.jpg)
Tracy Beatty requested the court stay his execution, set for next week, after the court halted this week's execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c7909d9ee76c62f9ff230f269e7e3ed3/Tracy%20Beatty%20Recent%20TDCJ%20TT.jpg)
It was business as usual Monday on the Migrant Protection Protocols docket in federal immigration courts, and groups that work in them are raising concerns about the risk to migrants and court staff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/234504797649022d11de17a1f210c757/Migrants%20Oct%202019%20Juarez%20IPA%20TT%2024.jpg)
John Hummel’s lawyer requested a stay of execution in a unique court filing Friday, but Tarrant County officials opposed it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/19c155f790d0f03b87cd36824fd5398f/John%20Hummel%20Execution%20Stay%20TT.jpg)
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said no visitation would be allowed until further instruction Friday. Some county jails, like Harris and Dallas, have also halted visits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/084b170258e0e5ef9a3320933109f57f/Prison%20razor%20wire%20AP%20TT.jpg)