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.


 

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.

Read the rest of this article at Dallas News.

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.

Read the rest of this article at KTRH.

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.

Read the rest of this article at HoustonPress.

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.

Read the rest of this article at TribTalk.

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.

Read the rest of this article at Houston Chronicle.

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.

Read the rest of this article at Houston Chronicle.

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.

Read the rest of this article at CBS DFW.

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.

Read the rest of this article at kxan.

Texas lawmakers discuss breaks for some drug crimes

Taking the first step on a topic that could generate heat in the 2017 legislative session, Texas lawmakers began discussing Tuesday whether some nonviolent drug crimes should carry shorter sentences or be converted from felonies to misdemeanors.

Read the rest of this article at myStatesman.

Gimme Shelter: Formerly incarcerated face a particularly chilly housing market

On January 1, HB 1510, a bill that exempts landlords from the threat of civil liability for renting to people with criminal records, took effect.

Read the rest of this article at Austin Chronicle.