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.
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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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.
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Criminal Justice
Case Open
If you’re waiting for closure on questions of Cameron Todd Willingham’s guilt or innocence, get comfortable. The Texas Forensic Science Commission’s new chair tells the Tribune that he doesn’t yet have the rules or resources to investigate whether faulty science led to the Corsicana man’s conviction and execution.
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The Brief: November 6, 2009
A clearer picture of Thursday afternoon’s events is beginning to shape.
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Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Fort Hood Shootings
As news of the Fort Hood shootings unfolds, we’ll be adding links, maps, audio, photographs, and other information from around the web to this post.
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Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Tarrant County College sued for banning empty holster protest
“It’s both an ideological concern and a safety concern,” one of the student plaintiffs said. “Obviously college campuses aren’t some magical zone where no violence occurs, and so I feel particularly strongly that every student that feels the need to carry handgun anywhere in their lives should also be able to do so on a college campus.”