In an effort to give people a perspective of what the future holds, the Texas Tribune is hosting a series of public events across the state that where lawmakers and analysts will cover eight major policy areas such as criminal justice, energy, the environment, health, higher and public education, immigration and transportation.

Read the rest of this article at The Item.

Each year, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is celebrating the month this year by launching Somos DPA, an online tribute that recognizes the “significant and far-reaching” contributions of Latino drug-policy reformers to end the war on drugs.

Read the rest of this article at PanamPost.

The Coalition for Public Safety and Right on Crime took the Fair Sentencing and Fair Chances National Tour to Texas yesterday, hosting a public event at the Texas Public Policy Foundation in Austin.

Read the rest of this article at The Coalition for Public Safety.

A new report from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition suggests there are economic and social benefits to expanding Harris County’s drug diversion programs.

Read the rest of the article at Houston Matters.

Seven years ago, Terry Brudos pulled his truck into the probation parking lot in Georgetown. He finished up a final toke of methamphetamines, put down the pipe and walked in to meet with his probation officer.

Read the rest of this article at the Midland Reporter-Telegram.

Until recently, progressives have largely embraced the involvement of the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch in the push for criminal justice reform, including changes in mandatory minimum sentencing laws.

Read the rest of this article at The American Prospect.

Criminal Justice Committee Chair Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, has sent a strong signal now that he wants to review state drug sentencing guidelines during the 85th session of the Texas Legislature.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

Policy Background:

Pretrial release decisions are crucial to the safe and efficient operation of Texas jails. Unfortunately, a 2016 study found that “Texas’ resource-based bail system keeps low-risk individuals unnecessarily detained before trial and allows risky defendants to buy their freedom with limited oversight. This practice undermines public safety, disproportionately harms low-income defendants, and costs counties millions of dollars every year.”¹

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.

Read the rest of this article at myStatesman.

Policy Background:

The Texas Legislature created the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) in 2003. Under the program, the Texas Department of Public Safety levies annual, administrative surcharges on the drivers’ licenses of people convicted of certain traffic offenses; some of the funds go towards repaying Texas trauma hospitals, which absorb hundreds of millions of dollars in uncompensated healthcare costs every year.