criminal justice

State Would Require Jails to Pay for Inspections

By Brandi Grissom March 7, 2011

To keep critical jail inspections going even as they cut funding to the agency that provides them, lawmakers are proposing that the counties pay for them. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Texplainer: Can a Judge Still Serve After Losing an Election?

By Andrew Weber March 4, 2011

Ever wonder what a defeated judge is doing up on the bench? Texplainer's got your answer. Full Story
Judge: Big Pharma Lawsuit May Proceed

By Emily Ramshaw March 4, 2011

A judge has ruled the state may continue its legal challenge against the pharmaceutical company Janssen over allegations it offered officials kickbacks to get a schizophrenia medicine on a preferred drug list. Full Story
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 69

By Reeve Hamilton March 2, 2011

On this week's episode, Evan, Reeve, Ben and Brandi discuss Gov. Rick Perry's Twitter feed, the state's changing demographics and issues of innocence. Full Story
Rev. Carroll Pickett: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 28, 2011

Rev. Carroll Pickett holds the world record for witnessing the most state executions as a chaplain. He saw 95 men die by lethal injection during his career as the death house chaplain. Full Story

Credit: Brandi Grissom
Rev. Carroll Pickett: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 28, 2011

The onetime death house chaplain on what it was like to witness the most state executions of anyone in his job (95, by lethal injection), what changed his mind about the death penalty and why lawmakers should continue to fund the chaplain program. Full Story
Exoneree Sues to Clear Name, Get Compensation

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 28, 2011

Anthony Graves, who was freed from jail this year after spending 18 years behind bars for brutal murders he did not commit, sued the state of Texas today to officially clear his name and to force the Texas comptroller to pay him for the time he was wrongfully imprisoned. Full Story

Credit: www.anthonygraves.org
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 26, 2011

The best of our best content from Feb. 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story
Cigarroa: Campus Carry Creates "Less-Safe Environment"

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 24, 2011

Today, University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa issued a letter to Gov. Rick Perry weighing in on the touchy issue of allowing concealed handguns in college campus buildings. In short: He's against it. Full Story

Credit: utsystem.edu
Colin Goddard's Right to Bear Witness to a Campus Massacre

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez Feb. 24, 2011

Colin Goddard survived the 2007 mass shooting on Virginia Tech's campus that left 32 dead and wounded 16 others. He thinks allowing concealed weapons to be carried on college campuses is a dangerous idea, and he came to Austin to explain why. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
650,000 Employees Now in Government Pay App

By Ryan Murphy and Emily Macrander Feb. 24, 2011

We’ve pushed the first update of the New Year to our government salary database, which now includes data on more than 650,000 employees from more than 100 entities. This update refreshes the salaries of more than 20 public agencies and adds 13 new entities. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Virginia Tech Surivior Opposes Guns on College Campuses

By Justin Dehn Feb. 23, 2011

Virginia Tech shooting survivor Colin Goddard lobbies against proposed legislation that would allow handguns on college campuses. Full Story
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 68

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 23, 2011

This week's TribCast features Ross, Reeve, Ben and Emily discussing the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, the buzz about Medicaid and concealed carry on college campuses. Full Story
Dale Rudick: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 23, 2011

Dale Rudick, Sugar Land's director of intergovernmental affairs, on the history of the Central Prison Unit, why the city wants it shuttered, and whether the budget crunch is actually working to Sugar Land's advantage. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Dale Rudick: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 23, 2011

The Texas Tribune sat down last week to talk with Sugar Land's director of intergovernmental affairs, Dale Rudick, to talk about the history of the prison in Sugar Land and about what local officials think would be a better use of the land where it sits today. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Chief Justice to Legislature: Remember the Neediest

By Morgan Smith Feb. 23, 2011

In his biennial State of the Judiciary address on Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson urged the Legislature to protect legal aid funding — and renewed his call for the reform of judicial elections. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Guest Column: The Conservative Case for Needle Exchange

By William Martin Feb. 23, 2011

While many people believe that needle exchange programs simply facilitate or condone illegal drug use, there is a powerful conservative argument for why they're good public policy. Full Story
UT/TT Poll: Texans Are Ready to Roll the Dice

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 23, 2011

A majority of the state's voters say they're ready for full-blown casino gambling, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva
Exonerated Men Plead for Justice System Change

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 22, 2011

After listening to nearly two hours of emotional testimony from exonerated prisoners, the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee today approved a bill meant to reform the way law enforcement officials in Texas gather and use eyewitness identification evidence. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Courtesy of the Cole family
Advocates Worry TYC Cuts May be Shortsighted

By Aziza Musa Feb. 22, 2011

The House and Senate budgets propose a $95.6 million cut in total revenue from the Texas Youth Commission budget in 2012-2013, and lawmakers are eying reductions in parole services, which could lead to fewer staffers and fewer district parole offices. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman