The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
UPDATED: The House on Tuesday endorsed a bill that would create a state panel to investigate wrongful convictions. Similar legislation has been defeated in the past, but this time it has drawn supporters many consider unlikely. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b7519411ce2b36e3b1342db4cb3e8b6/BD%20INC%20Anderson%20420%202013)
Aaronson tracks the latest on Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on lawmakers’ openness to driving permits for non-citizens, Batheja on surprising support for higher state spending, Root and Galbraith on the state’s search for answers after the West explosion, M. Smith covers the debate over high school standards, Grissom finds a shadow payroll at the Capitol, Hamilton on the man with a plan at UT, Rocha spots a special deal for lawmakers accused of crimes, KUT’s Philpott on obstacles to road funding and Ramshaw on the privileges of legislative membership: The best of our best for the week of April 15-19, 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/19/Tribweek-04152013.jpg)
Officials of a prison workers' union say that understaffing had a role in the 1999 murder of a correctional officer, who was fatally stabbed by an inmate. They say such issues continue to exist and put officers in danger today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/18/TxTrib-Pruett-012.JPG)
Attorneys presented oral arguments Wednesday at the Court of Criminal Appeals over whether Mark Fleming's rights were violated because prosecutors didn't have to prove he knew he was having sexual relations with a minor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/021210-gavel.jpg)
The senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations on immigration reform, security in Mexico, the country’s budding prosperity amid an escalating drug war, and what the United States needs to understand. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/16/SHANNON-ONEIL.jpg)
Lawmakers on Tuesday debated a bill that would allow death row inmates to appeal their sentences if they believe that race played a role in their punishment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Duane_Buck.png)
A bill by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, would restore dedicated funds to a state agency that has helped recover 1.6 million stolen vehicles in Texas. In recent years, lawmakers diverted the funds to help balance the state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AutoTheftRate.011.png)
A new report out Tuesday urges lawmakers to reduce penalties for prostitution and send more defendants to diversion and intervention programs. Advocates argue it will save the state money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/JuveJustice-6.jpg)
Senators passed Senate Bill 1611, also known as the "Michael Morton Act," which would require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense lawyers in criminal cases. The chamber erupted in applause following the vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0ee7eeb58cd8f863459efe1f6e208623/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Duncan%20Morton%20Ellis%202013)
Attitudes about gun control proposals among Texas Republicans provide a foundation for understanding Sen. Ted Cruz’s resistance to the apparent compromise taking shape in the U.S. Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/28/txtrib-Guns-CCR002.jpg)
"It looks as if we have a deal," Michael Morton said after Wednesday afternoon negotiations with senators and lawyers on a measure that would require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defendants in criminal cases. Full Story
Despite previous threats from the federal government to shut down Texas airports if state lawmakers limit the TSA's ability to conduct security screenings, Rep. David Simpson is pushing lawmakers to approve a so-called anti-groping bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TSA-airportsecurity.png)
A panel of House lawmakers on Tuesday heard prosecutors and defense attorneys debate a bill that would allow prosecutors in child sex crime cases to bring in evidence of prior offenses, including accusations by other children. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf897914b2de843070a0569f911186f5/BD%20INC%20Riddle%2024%202011)
UPDATED: As a bipartisan group of senators purportedly moves closer to introducing a bill to overhaul the country’s immigration system, two Texas Republicans said they would file legislation to first ensure the border is secure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/08/Cornyn-McCall_1.jpg)
Private mental health care providers would be allowed into select jails to attempt to restore inmates to competency under a proposed pilot program. The restored inmates would then be able to stand for trial. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MentalPrisonCuts_3.jpg)
A fight over what defense lawyers could do with information about their clients in criminal cases after prosecutors turn it over to them is threatening to stymie the “Michael Morton Act.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d724c56fe775b80e01d80176a244c012/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Morton%20Huffman%2002%202013)
A jury in March found Mark Alan Norwood guilty of the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, and he was sentenced to life in prison. This photo slideshow provides an overview of the timeline and characters in the tragic case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/05/Norwood-Lead-2.jpg)
The prosecutor who secured Mark Norwood's murder conviction says that if Michael Morton had not fought from prison to prove his innocence in his wife's murder, the DNA testing that led to Norwood’s conviction might not have been done. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/19/Norwood-2.jpg)
A jury in March found Mark Alan Norwood guilty of the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, and he was sentenced to life in prison. This photo slideshow provides an overview of the timeline and characters in the tragic case. Full Story
The Texas Forensic Science Commission has concluded that the potential reversal of thousands of drug convictions by the Court of Criminal Appeals is due to a DPS employee's incompetence, but that not all of the drug samples are necessarily compromised. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/26/Drugs-2.jpg)