Does Sheriff Ron Hickman Have a Defensiveness Problem?
After deputies were indicted last week for ordering the search of a woman's vagina for marijuana in public, it's safe to say Sheriff Ron Hickman's response was rather jarring.
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.
This July 4th Holiday, Remember Our Founding Principles: New report reveals continued problems with civil asset forfeiture
Today the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition releases the first in a series of new studies that attempt to shed light on the use of civil asset forfeiture in Texas.
TCJC Op-Ed: Our Constitution Matters, and Not Just on the 4th of July
The 4th of July is a good time to remember what our Founders were fighting for. They inscribed our Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. Yet, in June 2016, the Texas Supreme Court said the government can take your possessions under Texas’ civil “asset forfeiture” law, even if government officials have no constitutional basis to search your home or car.
Nearly half of Dallas inmates return to jail within 3 years. Can officials change that?
Jail is often called a revolving door, but now there's more hard evidence: Nearly half of Dallas County inmates are arrested again within three years of getting out, a new study says.
COMMENTARY: Building stronger American families
More than 90,000 fathers will be living in a Texas prison on Father’s Day this year.
This Father’s Day, Simple Steps to Stronger Families
More than 90,000 fathers will be living in a Texas prison on Father’s Day this year. Some of them will soon be coming home. The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition calls for changes that will give those families a fighting chance at success.
ACLU, MALDEF part of coalition pushing Dallas ISD to ban some elementary school suspensions
A coalition of 21 advocacy groups wants Dallas trustees to ban suspension of students in pre-K through second grade, according to a letter sent to the board Wednesday.
Cameras for Cops: Key details remain unresolved as proposal heads to City Council
Next Thursday, June 9, City Council will once again take up the topic of body-worn cameras (BWCs) for the Austin Police Department. The topic was originally scheduled for May 19, but Council punted it in order for the city to have time to consider what was missing from APD's primary operating policy.
Body camera questions continue at Austin City Hall
A new series of proposals from a state-wide public policy watchdog aims to clear up what appears to be ongoing confusion over when the public will be able to access Austin police body worn camera (BWC) videos and when people’s privacy will be protected.
City to vote on body camera contract as groups ask to clarify policy
As the Austin City Council gears up to decide Thursday whether to approve a contract that would equip the vast majority of police patrol officers with body cameras, several local organizations are calling on the Austin Police Department to clarify its policy regarding public access to the recordings.
The End of Prison Visitation
A new system called "video visitation" is replacing in-person jail visits with glitchy, expensive Skype-like video calls. It's inhumane, dystopian and actually increases in-prison violence — but god, it makes money.
'Video visitation' is ending in-person prison visits – and prisons are going to make a ton of money
A new system called "video visitation" is replacing in-person jail visits with glitchy, expensive Skype-like video calls.
Payday lender used in driver payment program
The revelation last week that payday lender ACE Cash Express is collecting for the Texas’ Driver Responsibility Program amounts to a double whammy for Texans who are struggling to keep their driver’s licenses, their vehicles and their jobs, critics say.
Efforts to End Texas Driver Responsibility Program
Momentum is building in Austin to do away with Texas' Driver Responsibility Program. It penalizes drivers who commit certain violations and has ultimately forced 1.2 million people to lose their license because of the added fees.
I’m living proof: Walmart believes and invests in its workforce
When I began working at Walmart 12 years ago, I was a little unsure of how things were going to pan out. I started out as a cashier in the garden center — not a great fit for someone with fair skin and red hair.
County Drags Feet on Plan to Give Poor People Lawyers at Bail Hearings
If you're accused of a crime in Harris County, within 24 hours, you'll reach a fork in the road: a bail hearing.
Pressure builds in race for Harris County sheriff
The winner of this fall's sheriff's race will inherit a post under siege, scrutinized by criminal justice watchdogs and as the department attempts to recover from the murder of a deputy that exposed a sordid sex scandal.
Officials: Reduced drug sentences hold promise
Texas lawmakers, already applauded nationally for expanding treatment and rehabilitation programs, may consider reducing some low-level drug sentences in exchange for more offenders getting the help they need to succeed once they leave prison or jail.
Alternatives to jail time for non-violent drug offenders
Getting caught with drugs in Texas can land you a spot behind bars, but there is a push at the state capitol to change the law.
State Lawmakers Consider Softening Drug Penalties
With one of the highest incarceration rates in the nation, Texas state lawmakers are studying alternative penalties for non-violent drug offenders.