TCJE in the News


Press Contact: For all media inquiries, please contact Madison Kaigh, Communications Manager, at mkaigh@TexasCJE.orgor (512) 441-8123, ext. 108.


 

Overall Crime Rates Down in Texas According to 2016 National Crime Report Released Today

The FBI released its 2016 Crime in the United States report today and, although there are pockets of increased crime, the data indicates that Texas crime rates have dropped statewide.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Texas prisons eliminate use of solitary confinement for punitive reasons

Texas correctional officials this month quietly eliminated the use of solitary confinement as a punishment for jailhouse rule-breakers, positioning the state at the forefront of a nationwide push to end the practice.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

Organizations Call for Driver Responsibility Program Amnesty for Hurricane Harvey Victims

Today, six statewide organizations, along with individuals and organizations directly engaged in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, filed a formal petition asking the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue a one-time Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) fee amnesty in Texas’ disaster area counties.

Read the rest of this press release here.

DPS hears plea to change arrest rules to prevent another Sandra Bland case

Sandra Bland wasn't mentioned by name. But it was clear that her highly publicized death, which helped galvanize the Black Lives Matter movement, was a key part of a hearing Thursday aimed at stopping police from locking up Texans over minor traffic offenses.

Read the rest of this article at Houston Chronicle.

Jenkins, Harris: Leading the way to sensible policy on drug use

After decades of pursuing failed policies in the name of waging war on drugs, elected officials now claim to seek sensible approaches to drug use.

Read the rest of this op-ed at the Houston Chronicle.

Advocates: Reject Police Union Contract

City Council is holding budget hearings later this afternoon, with testimony expected on the proposed property tax rate, any fee changes, etc. Criminal justice advocates say they will be there to oppose the current Austin Police Association contract, and demand greater accountability over officer misconduct.

Read the rest of this article at Austin Chronicle.

Inmates and Loved Ones Affected After Mecklenburg County Ends In-Person Visitation

On September 23, 2016, hundreds of protesters marching through the streets of Uptown Charlotte stopped outside of the Mecklenburg County Jail on East 4th Street to show solidarity.

Read the rest of this article at Creative Loafing Charlotte.

Meet-and-confer negotiations with police ineffective, groups say

A group of Austin community advocacy organizations came together Tuesday to call on city leaders to end meet-and-confer negotiations with the Austin police officers’ union.

Read the rest of this article at the Austin American-Statesman.

TCJC Wants Drug Policy Reforms Added to Texas Special Session Call

The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) calls on Governor Greg Abbott to expand the call of the Special Legislative Session to fix the state’s dangerously outdated drug policies.

Read the rest of this press release here.

12 Texas inmates are serving banned juvenile life sentence

In early 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court told states to retroactively apply its 2012 ruling that banned mandatory life without parole for juveniles convicted of homicide. While many states have acted to resentence offenders to parole-eligible terms, Texas has left it to inmates to apply individually.

Read the rest of this article at the San Antonio Express-News.