Are Inmate Phone Privileges Too Costly?
Bill Pope knows a thing or two about prison phones. He’s the president of NCIC, a service provider for phones in Texas detention centers. He also knows about how the phones affect lives.
TCJC In the News
Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at mkaigh@TexasCJC.org or (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.
Bill aims at cutting criminal justice debt
Inspired by what he sees as a proliferation of debtor prisons, a state representative has filed a bill that permits judges to waive fines and fees imposed on poor people charged with Class C misdemeanors.
A Nonviolent 15-year-old Will Spend Christmas in an Overcrowded Facility
A part of Amelia Rondon almost did not want to attend her son’s detention hearing, held three days before Christmas.
Coalition aims to keep Texas 17-year-olds out of adult jails
Expanding reentry education, job training and treatment alternatives to incarceration were announced Wednesday as the upcoming legislative priorities for the Texas Smart-On-Crime Coalition.
The Source: Should Texas Repeal The Driver Responsibility Program?
Texas' Driver Responsibility Program imposes surcharges on drivers for traffic violations from speeding and accidents to driving while intoxicated or without a license.
Videotapes reveal flaws in Harris County bail bond hearings
Anthony Wayne Goffney shuffles toward the floor marker where he is told to stand, wearing light blue pants and a smock top, four days after being jailed for trespassing.
What Does a New Sheriff Mean for Harris County?
While many Harris County residents are in mourning for the nation as a whole, some criminal justice experts say there's reason to be optimistic about a political office closer to home — specifically, Sheriff-Elect Ed Gonzalez.
Felons Face Difficulties in Regaining Voting Rights
The last time Lewis Conway Jr. voted was in 1992, when he cast his ballot for Bill Clinton. This November, he will head to the polls for the first time in more than two decades.
Sexual abuse allegations, suicide attempts follow jump in juvenile offender population
Officials at the state youth prison agency are investigating a suspected serial sexual predator among corrections officers at a juvenile lockup in Gainesville.
Harris County’s system for defending the poor is still woefully inadequate, state audit finds
The Harris County Courthouse's system of providing legal representation to defendants who can't afford it is creaky and overburdened, a state audit has found, as elected judges appoint their favorite attorneys and allow them to take on caseloads that far exceed recommended levels.
Fights Abound at the Overpopulated Harris County Juvenile Detention Center
The Harris County Juvenile Detention Center has kicked into "emergency staffing" mode given that the 250-capacity detention center was housing 295 kids as of September 22.
Crime continues to slide in NB
According to data a New Braunfels Police Department spokesman released Monday, crime across the city appears to have taken a slight decline last year, judging from statistical data the department collects and forwards to the FBI as a part of the bureau’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
Local Highlights at Trib Fest: Mayor Steve Adler, Lance Armstrong among those representing Austin
Failed presidential hopeful John Kasich. Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post. Genesis drummer Phil Collins. Trib Fest (Sept. 23-25) attracts some high-profile names from all across the political and media fields. Yet it's also an opportunity to hear from some of Austin's leading figures, who will be appearing throughout Saturday's programming on the UT-Austin campus.
County leaders have paid $170,000 in legal fees fighting bail reform
About $170,000 in tax money has been paid to outside attorneys to defend Harris Country officials from a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that the bail bond system discriminates against poor people, records show.
US jails, prisons struggling to meet federal anti-rape rules
Miguel Moll knew the risk of rape when he was thrown into a Texas jail in 1989 after joyriding in a stolen car.
Few US states protecting juvenile inmates from rape
Only 12 US states are in full compliance with an prison anti-rape rule intended to keep juvenile offenders from adults.
Jails, prisons still trying to meet federal anti-rape rules
Miguel Moll knew the risk of rape when he was thrown into a Texas jail in 1989 after joyriding in a stolen car.
The Harris County Jail Got So Crowded the Sheriff Delayed Inmate Transfers
County officials have known for some time that the Harris County jail is overcrowded with inmates who haven't yet been convicted of a crime, who are there in many instances just because they can't afford to pay bail before trial.
City budget: Austinites say their piece
In just about a week, City Council will approve its Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget. After hours of public testimony, it is clear that there are a lot of tough decisions left to make.
Facing tighter budgets, Texas officials ready to consider prison cuts
The Texas prison system, grappling like most other state departments with a request from state leadership to cut its budget, has signaled that it is prepared to entertain ideas about saving money by closing prisons.