Melissa Lucio supporters hold rallies days before scheduled execution

Melissa Lucio supporters are holding a National Day of Action across the country just four days ahead of her scheduled execution date. Lucio is set to be put to death on Wednesday, April 27. She was convicted of killing her 2-year-old daughter in 2007 but has maintained her innocence over the years. Lucio said her daughter's death was an accident after suffering injuries falling down a flight of stairs at their South Texas home.

Supporters rally in last-ditch effort to stop Melissa Lucio's scheduled execution

Supporters of death row inmate Melissa Lucio gathered at the Texas Capitol Sunday afternoon in an effort to stop her execution scheduled for next week. It's the latest effort underway to save Lucio, who was convicted of killing her youngest daughter in 2007. She is scheduled to be executed on April 27.

TribCast: Two death penalty cases draw attention in Texas

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Andrew and Jolie about Texans’ role in the confirmation hearing of Ketanji Brown Jackson and two important death penalty cases.

Listen to the full TribCast episode here.

Melissa Lucio's Life Was Spared at the Last Minute. What Happens Now?

When the news broke, the small crowd gathered outside the governor’s public reception room at the Texas Capitol erupted with cheers: The state’s Court of Criminal Appeals had stayed Melissa Lucio’s impending execution. It was sending her case back to district court to consider several pressing claims, including that Lucio was innocent in the 2007 death of her 2-year-old daughter, Mariah.

Read the rest of this article from The Intercept.

The Cruel Practice of Banning Books Behind Bars

In Florida, the list of 20,000-plus banned books includes Nutrition For Dummies and PCs For Dummies.

Supporters in Dallas rally for Melissa Lucio, an abused mother who faces the death penalty

From politicians of all stripes to celebrities like Kim Kardashian — and a cross-section of Texans — supporters of Melissa Lucio are urging the state of Texas not to execute her later this month. That was the message at a rally Thursday night in Dallas.

Read the rest of this article from KERA Dallas.

Books, E-Readers, and the Cost of Reading in Prison

During the Cost of Reading in Prisons: Book Censorship and E-Reader Tablets In Carceral Institutions, a panel of advocates for prison inmates outlined the struggle to provide incarcerated people with access to reading materials—as well as the benefits and mounting challenges facing the introduction of digital reading devices into prisons.

Texas Center for Justice and Equity & Texas Women’s Justice Coalition to Mark International Women’s Day

Today, the Texas Center for Justice and Equity (TCJE) and the Texas Women’s Justice Coalition, which was co-founded by TCJE, will mark International Women’s Day by highlighting the unique challenges faced by women in the criminal legal system.

Read the rest of this press release here.

Plastic Surgery Has a Troubled History Inside Prisons. Some Advocates Want It to Make a Comeback.

Starting in 2017, Thai media published a series of articles on the country’s growing class of “new poor people,” former incarcerees who were finding it almost impossible to get hired and often returning to prison as a result. 

Press Advisory: Houston Event Will Highlight System-Impacted Leaders, Build Community for Formerly Incarcerated Locals

On January 29, a group of formerly incarcerated and justice system-impacted Texans will convene in Houston. The event, “From Prison to Power: Finding Your Voice After Incarceration,” is organized by the Texas Center for Justice and Equity’s Statewide Leadership Council (SLC) and partners.

Read the rest of this press advisory here.