Past Contributions

• Texas executes Billy Wardlow, who was 18 when he killed a man. Experts argued that's too young for a death sentence.

  By Jolie McCullough Updated: July 8, 2020

  Wardlow had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that he was too young to get the Texas death penalty. His execution was the first in Texas to proceed during the pandemic as the coronavirus rages across the state. Full Story 

• He was supposed to be in prison less than a year. Instead, he died after catching the coronavirus.

  By Jolie McCullough July 7, 2020

  At least 84 Texas state prisoners have died after contracting the coronavirus, including men who were serving short sentences or set to soon go home. As the death count rose, advocates unsuccessfully called on the governor and parole board for early release. Full Story 

• Texans across the state march to demand justice for Fort Hood soldier Vanessa Guillén

  By Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and Jolie McCullough July 6, 2020

  Guillén, a 20-year-old Army specialist, went missing in April from the Central Texas Army post. Remains found last week were confirmed to be hers, her family said. Her disappearance sparked protests against the military for its handling of sexual harassment allegations. Full Story 

• Austin police will no longer cite or arrest people for possessing small amounts of marijuana

  By Jolie McCullough July 2, 2020

  The police chief announced the policy change Thursday, more than a year after the Texas Legislature legalized hemp and complicated marijuana prosecution throughout the state. Full Story 

• Watch: Texas' police use-of-force tactics scrutinized after George Floyd protests

  By Todd Wiseman, Jeremiah O. Rhodes and Jolie McCullough July 2, 2020

  The Texas Tribune spoke to criminologists, policy makers and advocates to hear their perspectives on what the current moment means for Texas and what happens next. Full Story 

• After 17 youths test positive for the coronavirus, Texas juvenile lockups to begin mass testing

  By Jolie McCullough July 1, 2020

  The agency will use the same self-administered, oral tests used to conduct mass testing in Texas' adult prison facilities. Full Story 

• Texas cities took quick actions after George Floyd's death. Advocates doubt they'll have a big impact.

  By Stacy Fernández and Jolie McCullough June 18, 2020

  As protests erupted in major Texas cities, local officials announced policy changes to reform policing. Advocates doubt the quickly cast votes and signed orders will have a real effect. Full Story 

• Texas prisons will accept county jail inmates again, three months after the coronavirus halted intake

  By Jolie McCullough June 16, 2020

  The Texas Department of Criminal Justice halted intake from county jails in April as the coronavirus began rapidly spreading in state and local lockups. The virus is still pervasive within the prison system. Full Story 

• U.S. Supreme Court halts Texas execution of Ruben Gutierrez during legal fight over religious advisers' access to death chamber

  By Jolie McCullough Updated: June 16, 2020

  Gutierrez has long fought for DNA testing he says could prove his innocence in a 1998 Brownsville murder and home robbery. But the high court's ruling centered on Texas prison officials' recent decision to keep religious advisers out of the execution room. Full Story 

• U.S. Supreme Court rules Texas death row inmate had an ineffective lawyer, orders new review

  By Jolie McCullough June 15, 2020

  In a 6-3 opinion, the justices said Terence Andrus had ineffective assistance from his lawyer and that it was unclear if the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals properly considered whether that could have affected his sentence. Full Story