City leaders last week announced Acevedo would take on a new role overseeing policing, sparking controversy among some local officials and social justice advocates.
Criminal Justice
Get the latest Texas Tribune coverage on criminal justice, including crime, courts, law enforcement, and reforms shaping the state’s justice system.
Former police Chief Art Acevedo returning to Austin for City Hall job overseeing the department he once led
Acevedo is expected to create new recruiting strategies, review patrolling operations and improve police academy training.
Grand jury called to investigate flawed police response to Uvalde shooting
Twelve jurors selected Friday will review law enforcement’s delayed response during Texas’ deadliest school shooting and recommend possible criminal charges.
Uvalde victims’ families get an official acknowledgement of botched shooting response — but some want criminal charges
Some relatives of the 21 people killed in Texas’ deadliest school shooting are demanding criminal charges after federal officials say delayed police response cost lives.
“Cascading failures”: Justice Department blasts law enforcement’s botched response to Uvalde school shooting
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that had responding officers followed general procedures, some victims would have survived.
Twenty months after deadly Uvalde school shooting, multiple investigations have yet to be released
The U.S. Department of Justice just released its investigation into law enforcement’s response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School. But at least three other investigations have not yet been released to the public.
San Antonio plans to tackle violence with a public health approach. Here’s what that looks like.
Houston and Austin already use similar methods. San Antonio will aim to reduce gun-related violence, sexual assaults and other crimes against people.
Legal challenge to Dallas County’s cash bail system ends after U.S. Supreme Court declines to step in
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously held that federal courts can’t weigh in on the constitutionality of the county’s pre-trial processes.
Vouchers, border security, abortion: The issues you heard about in 2023 will continue to be hotly debated in 2024
After nearly a year’s worth of legislative sessions, several issues are poised to dominate Texas politics this year. Here’s a look at how things ended on several fronts last year — and where they’re headed next.
Diversity offices on college campuses will soon be illegal in Texas, as 30 new laws go into effect
Other new laws make changes to the tax code, criminal justice and health care systems.

