Parties in a disciplinary case against the prosecutor who pursued Michael Morton’s since-overturned murder conviction will have to wait another week for a decision on whether they will go to trial.
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
Skinner’s Lawyer, AG Disagree Over DNA Results
Lawyers for Hank Skinner say new DNA tests show someone else likely committed the crime for which he was convicted and sentenced to death. But state prosecutors argue the tests show even more links between Skinner and the three victims.
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Criminal Justice
TribuneFest: Mental Health and Criminal Justice
At the Trib’s August 19 symposium on mental health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Brandi Grissom talked about the intersection of mental health and criminal justice with a distinguished panel.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2013)
School Officers Can No Longer Issue On-Campus Misdemeanor Citations
Offenses like using profanity and fighting have led some Texas public school students to the courtroom. Under a new law, school police officers will not be allowed to charge students for such offenses. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2013)
Law Enforcement Can Sell Confiscated Guns
For decades, weapons confiscated by Texas police were supposed to be repurposed for law enforcement use or destroyed. Starting next month, some will be available for purchase. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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Criminal Justice
U.S. DOJ Again Seeks to Stop Texas Voter ID, Redistricting Maps
The U.S. Department of Justice will once again seek to stop Texas’ voter ID law, this time in a lawsuit alleging the measure violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. It will also challenge state redistricting maps.
Posted inCourts, Criminal Justice
News App: Prisoner Database Updated
The Texas Tribune’s prison inmates database, containing more than 147,000 offenders who have committed roughly 440,000 combined crimes, is now updated with the latest data available from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
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Criminal Justice
The Polling Center: Ambivalence Structures Gridlock on Surveillance
It’s not surprising that the political class hasn’t rallied to one side or the other on the debate over NSA surveillance; the public is sending oblique messages to its elected officials.
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Criminal Justice
Will Federal Moves Spur Criminal Justice Change?
Texas has led the way in criminal justice reforms, but advocates say there’s more to do. They’re hoping that federal action to reform sentencing laws will provide momentum for further changes here.
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2013)
Some Worry New DNA Law Will Create Delays
Lawmakers this year approved a bill requiring DNA testing in death penalty cases. Some prosecutors worry more testing could simply delay a guilty defendant’s inevitable conviction. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
