New Report Highlights Issues Facing Women in Texas' Criminal Justice System

Today, TCJC released part two of a two-part report series on women in Texas prisons and jails. An Unsupported Population: The Treatment of Women in Texas’ Criminal Justice System explores the unique issues facing women impacted by the criminal justice system and makes recommendations for programs and policies that treat women with dignity and increase the likelihood that they can successfully rejoin their families and communities.

Fort Bend ISD finds historic cemetery near construction site

The 31 marked graves inside Old Imperial Farm Cemetery are rusted and crumbling, markers of a time that Reginald Moore believes Sugar Land hopes to forget.

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After fatal fires, Houston officials propose stronger lodging house safety rules

After residential facility fires last year claimed the lives of three people and displaced dozens of others, Houston city officials on Tuesday unveiled several proposed changes to city ordinances aimed at improving oversight of the buildings.

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Tear gas, pepper spray use up in Texas prisons, including on suicidal inmates

As violence behind bars continues to rise, Texas prisons over the past 10 years have seen a 71 percent increase in the use of chemical agents on inmates, often those attempting suicide or self-harm.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

Suicide attempts have more than doubled in Texas prisons

The attempted suicide rate recorded inside the Texas prison system has doubled in four years, a trend that some experts call "concerning" and others see as a positive sign the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is getting more serious about tracking mental health issues.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.

4 current and former juvenile prison employees arrested following Texas Rangers investigation

It's been a rough month for the state's scandal-plagued juvenile lock-ups.  The string of shake-ups at the top. The flurry of concern over moving kids to adult prison. The cloud of concern from the sex abuse scandal.

Read the rest of this article at the Houston Chronicle.