The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn’t involve tax cuts.
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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Criminal Justice
Texas Lawmakers Consider E-Verify Mandate for Agencies
A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature.
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Criminal Justice
Lawmaker “Encouraged” After Meeting With DPS Director
The state’s public safety director says if lawmakers let him, he’ll provide Rep. César Blanco with data on security operations on the border. The move follows weeks of tense exchanges over how border security dollars are being spent.
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Criminal Justice
House Gives Early OK to Expanding DNA Testing
The Texas House on Monday gave early approval to expanding DNA testing in criminal cases, an effort to prevent the incarceration of innocent Texans like Michael Morton, who spent nearly 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
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Criminal Justice
Slideshow: In Darrington, Prisoners Become Preachers, Seek Redemption
Brazoria County’s 33 newest Christian ministers aren’t your typical men of God. Some have been convicted of murder, and those who aren’t murderers are locked away for other serious crimes – most of them violent.
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Criminal Justice
Texas a Flashpoint in National Debate Over Right to Film Police
As videos play an ever larger role in cases of alleged police brutality, “cop watching” is attracting organized activists in communities across the country. Clashes with police are inevitable, and now both sides are asking lawmakers to help clarify the ground rules.
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Criminal Justice
Wendy Davis Fined for Ethics Violation
The Texas Ethics Commission has fined former state Sen. Wendy Davis $5,000 after finding “credible evidence” she failed to disclose her relationship with two lobbyists on financial disclosure forms filed during her 2012 re-election campaign.
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Criminal Justice
Hate Crimes, Sodomy Law Before House Panel
Texas lawmakers Wednesday considered extending hate crime protections to transgender people and repealing the state’s anti-sodomy law, which remains on the books even though it’s been found unconstitutional.
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Criminal Justice
Pot Legalization Bill Clears House Panel
State Rep. David Simpson’s proposal to legalize marijuana in Texas moved closer to a full House after it was approved by a House committee Wednesday evening.
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Criminal Justice
A Smorgasbord of Disclosure, Online for the First Time
A state lawmaker is pushing to make all financial disclosure statements filed with the Texas Ethics Commission available online so the public can easily find them. In that spirit, the Tribune presents the disclosures filed by scores of state agency heads, regents and others that you can’t get online now.
