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.
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
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.
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Criminal Justice
Senate OKs Sealing More Criminal Records
The criminal records of one-time offenders who stay out of trouble would be sealed and hidden from the public under a bill that cleared the Senate Tuesday. Supporters call it a second chance, but critics fear unknowing employers will pay the price.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott Defends Decision to Have State Guard Monitor Jade Helm 15
Gov. Greg Abbott defended his decision to have the Texas State Guard monitor a military training exercise known as Jade Helm 15. He said his office is simply looking to serve as a “communication facilitator” between the military and concerned citizens.
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Criminal Justice
Will He or Won’t He? Judge in Perry Case Faces Recusal Questions
More than a week after a judge who once worked for Rick Perry was tapped to hear an appeal in the former governor’s indictment, it’s still unclear whether he’ll see the case through.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott: Shooting in Garland Strikes at Heart of First Amendment
Texas’ top elected officials on Monday offered an absolute defense of free speech in the wake of a Garland shooting that left two gunmen dead outside a contest featuring cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.
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Criminal Justice
The Complicated Politics of Red Light Cameras
State Rep. Jonathan Stickland’s ejection from a House Transportation Committee hearing aside, activists devoted to purging Texas of red light cameras say they aren’t thrilled with the bills under consideration this session.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Castro on Baltimore
At our 5/1 conversation, Julián Castro, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, talked about the lessons of Baltimore — and how to prevent the next Baltimore.
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Criminal Justice
Amid Truancy Debate, Whitmire Questions Program’s Referrals
State Sen. John Whitmire is asking questions about a program for at-risk youths run by the Texas Military Department where more than half of the applicants are truant students referred by justice of the peace courts or from the schools themselves.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Turner on Baltimore
At our 4/30 conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor, talked about the events this week in Baltimore — and the takeaways for other big cities.
