A new study commissioned by the Council of State Governments Justice Center has revealed startling numbers when it comes to Texas children and suspension from school. The study, called Breaking Schools’ Rules, found that of 1 million students tracked over a period of six years, 60% were suspended or expelled at least one time. [Read more…]
SWIFT Program Designed Brings Quick Penalties to Errant Probationers
A new program is being kicked off in one Tarrant County courtroom. District Court Judge Mollee Westfall is hoping she can steer probationers towards success rather than prison through quick and intensive penalties for even “minor” violations. The program began in Hawaii where it had positive effects, effects Westfall is hoping to recreate. [Read more…]
Lawmakers Change Police Photo Lineup Procedures
Early last month we blogged about pending legislation regarding the photo lineup procedures practiced by law enforcement departments across the state. That legislation passed and now Texas police departments have to revamp the way they’ve done lineups for years, all in an effort to reduce the number of innocent people being identified by witnesses. [Read more…]
In Austin, Public Intoxication Charges Often Filed, Often Dismissed
It’s one of those discretionary charges, one that police are empowered to enforce when they see fit, and one that’s “ripe for abuse” according to the Austin Chronicle. There are thousands of public intoxication (PI) arrests in Austin every single year, most of them originate in the Downtown Entertainment District. But many of those thousands of charges are ultimately dropped and many result in complaints against the officer who brought them. [Read more…]
Texas Legislation to Ban TSA Pat-Downs Dies
Governor Rick Perry gained some support from citizens and some ire from the federal government when he introduced legislation that would have made it a crime for airport officials to conduct invasive pat downs in Texas airports. Unfortunately for him and all those who were hoping to see the law come to fruition, it died before legislators had the chance to approve it this week. [Read more…]
Woman on Death Row to Get Life Sentence
Chelsea Richardson was sentenced to die six years ago. She’s been on a Texas death row ever since, working on appeals. Now she may have a chance to live out here life and even potentially walk free again one day. [Read more…]
Compensation Doesn’t Come Easy for Texas’ Wrongfully Convicted
A bill sits on Governor Rick Perry’s desk that would make it a little easier for those who were wrongfully convicted to collect compensation for the years they spent behind bars, serving time for something they didn’t do. Until then, there are a few different cases that have made headlines in the past month because of the struggles such freed men now face when trying to regain their life on the outside. [Read more…]
Texas Juvenile Justice Reforms Promote Treatment Over Incarceration
A bill that changes how the state approaches juvenile justice matters was signed last week by Governor Rick Perry. The bill looks not only to save money but to save children from a life of crime, something more likely to happen if they are locked up in an institution. And perhaps surprisingly, it was a bill that received overwhelming support from both major political parties. [Read more…]
Prosecutorial Misconduct Brings Texas Death Row Inmate New Sentence
The United States Supreme Court overturned the sentence of Delma Banks Jr. in 2004. He had previously been found guilty and sentenced to die in the murder of 16 year old Richard Whitehead over 30 years ago. Now, as his case gets a new sentencing hearing, his attorneys argue the court should bar prosecutor James Elliot from the case, since he was the initial prosecutor, now rebuked by the High Court of the land. [Read more…]
Houston Police Pull Over Blacks At Higher Rate
Data released this week from the Houston Police Department shows that they are pulling over blacks at a higher rate than any other racial group. But the department, and others, caution that this isn’t necessarily evidence of profiling. [Read more…]