In some places, the governor’s border security efforts have led to a reduction in crime — in rural counties, for instance, where there aren’t many people and there wasn’t much crime to begin with. But in large urban counties like El Paso and Webb, it’s a different story.
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
TribBlog: The Inside of Hasan’s Apartment
All-star Dallas Morning News journalists Lee Hancock and Courtney Perry somehow finagled their way into the apartment of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the army psychiatrist who murdered more than a dozen people at Fort Hood last week.
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Criminal Justice
The Brief: November 11, 2009
There was a bittersweet note of unity preceding what will undoubtedly prove a poignant Veteran’s Day.
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Criminal Justice
Off The Books, Part One: High-Price High-Tech
State agencies are spending tens of millions of dollars every year on information technology contract workers, employees who aren’t on the state payroll – but whose pay often dwarfs those who are.
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Criminal Justice
Forensic Science Chairmen Face Off
John Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney and the newly-appointed chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, spent his morning answering a steady stream of questions from Texas lawmakers. At issue, if and when his panel will re-open the investigation into whether faulty science led to the arson conviction of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by the state in 2004.
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Criminal Justice
Shifting Away from the Death Penalty
Texas lawmakers got their chance Tuesday to ask questions about the recent changes on the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Governor Rick Perry replaced several members of the commission – including its chair just days before it was to hear a report that questioned the science used to convict and execute Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson deaths of his three children.
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Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Bradley Makes His Case
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley expected some verbal jousting today at the Senate Criminal Justice Committee about his plans for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He was right.
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Criminal Justice
Broken Border, Part Three: Decriminalize?
Experts from around the U.S. and Mexico are debating the War on Drugs and its affect on violence south of the border. Some of them wonder whether decriminalization is the answer.
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Criminal Justice
On the Records: Ethics Fines Now Searchable
In keeping with our goal of making government data more accessible, we’ve created a simple application for searching fines issued by the Texas Ethics Commission.
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Criminal Justice
TribBlog: A Timely Announcement
Gov. Perry made a timely announcement today: He’s proposing initiatives to improve mental health programs for veterans.