Coronavirus in Texas: Hard-line conservatives want stay-at-home order relaxed; Paxton issues opinion on temporary tax exemption
Our staff is closely tracking developments on the new coronavirus in Texas. Check here for live updates. Full Story
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![A coronavirus related message on the Fairmont Hotel in downtown Austin on April 12, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas prisons won't accept new county jail inmates as coronavirus spreads in lockups
The Texas Department of Justice sent a letter to county sheriffs announcing the new policy Saturday. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Older inmates sue Texas prison system over coronavirus policies and practices
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's measures to combat the new coronavirus are insufficient at a geriatric prison, the complaint said. Full Story
Credit: Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus is officially in Texas prisons and jails. Now what?
The Texas prison system and Dallas County both reported the first Texas cases of inmates testing positive for the new coronavirus this week. Self-quarantines and social distancing aren't always possible for those who've been exposed. Full Story
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![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus hits Texas prisons with first inmate case confirmed
The 37-year-old man has been isolated and is being treated at the prison system's Galveston hospital, where he's been for three days. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
In two Texas prisoner deaths, one former officer is indicted after another's case is cleared
A former correctional officer was charged with aggravated assault by a public servant Thursday in Walker County, a week after another man was cleared of criminal charges in another inmate homicide. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville on Nov. 1, 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
As the Texas prison population shrinks, the state is closing two more lockups
The closures are expected in the coming months, as the state faces dangerous understaffing in its prisons. Full Story
![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas inmates have died at the hands of prison officers as use of force continues to rise
The increase in altercations with inmates comes as Texas' prison population dwindles. In three years, three officers have faced criminal charges in prisoners' deaths. Full Story
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![Birds fly overhead at the Hilltop prison unit in Gatesville, Texas, Nov. 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune -
Texas prison officials violated a judge's order to provide inmates with air conditioning. Now prisoners' lawyers get to investigate.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison said the lawyers can further probe the Texas prison agency's violations of a court order to provide air conditioning for some inmates — and agency officials’ false claims that they were in compliance. Full Story
![Telford prison in New Boston.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Prison health care costs are higher than ever in Texas. Many point to an aging prison population.
Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker. Full Story
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![The exterior of Huntsville Unit, a prison in Huntsville, Texas on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge delays execution of “Texas Seven” prisoner over claims of religious discrimination
For the second time, a court has stopped Murphy's execution over concerns that the Texas prison system's execution procedures discriminate against non-Christian inmates. Full Story
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![Patrick Murphy.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
New Texas prison program aims to help women leave the system with jobs waiting for them
A trauma-informed reentry program was unveiled after the Texas Department of Criminal Justice received criticism for a lack of growth opportunities for women. Full Story
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![Patricia Ryan teaches a classroom of female inmates inside the Mountain View prison in Gatesville as part of the STRIVE (Strength Through Restorations, Independence, Vision and Empowerment) reentry program on Sept. 19, 2019.]()
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"We failed as an agency": Texas prison officials admit violating court order on air conditioned units for inmates
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Executive Director Bryan Collier was questioned in court for about two hours for not complying with a court order to keep some Texas prisoners in air conditioned housing. Full Story
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![Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.]()
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“The stakes could not be higher”: Judge threatens to lock up Texas prison officials over air conditioning violation
A federal judge was visibly frustrated Friday as he suggested that putting state officials in uncooled cells might be the only way to get their attention after they broke a settlement agreement to keep some inmates in air conditioning. Full Story
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![Inmates shuffle past fans in the Darrington prison's main hallway on a hot July day.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribune -
A judge told Texas to put some inmates in air conditioning. Lawyers say prison officials are violating that order.
In a motion Thursday, the prisoners' lawyers asked the judge to hold prison officials in contempt and issue fines. They also accused the agency of hiding multiple instances of noncompliance with the court order. Full Story
![Prison staff and inmates move through the Darrington Unit's main hallway on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune -
Texas prison guards to get a small raise, but some doubt it will help with chronic understaffing
The state's two-year budget provided $84 million to increase salaries for correctional officers and other prison employees as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces nearly 4,000 empty guard positions. Full Story
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![A correctional officer training class led by Major Robert Lopez at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville on Nov. 1, 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
In a nod to Texas, U.S. Department of Justice says FDA can't regulate execution drugs
Texas has been fighting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ban on the state's attempted import of lethal injection drugs. But the Justice Department says federal law doesn't give the FDA oversight. Full Story
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![Hypodermic needles.]()
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Texas Senate passes bill to end the shackling of pregnant women in prison
The bill addresses many of the conditions of the state's incarcerated women. It would also require the department to offer up to 10 free feminine hygiene products to women each day. Full Story
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![Prisoners work outdoors at the Dr. Lane Murray Unit, a women's prison that's part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
After state Supreme Court ruled execution drug supplier can stay secret, Texas obtains more lethal doses
The prison system's existing doses were all set to expire before the state's five currently scheduled executions. See our updated lethal drug tracker for the latest movement in the state's supply. Full Story
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Solitary confinement worsens mental illness. A Texas prison program meant to help can feel just as isolating.
Prisoners who volunteered for a mental health diversion program say promises of therapy and time out of their cells weren't fulfilled. And Texas prison officials aren't regularly tracking success rates — even as they ask lawmakers to fund an expansion of the program. Full Story
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Credit: Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribune
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