By Julie Anderson Editor On June 15, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 1849, known as the Sandra Bland Act, into law. That same day, USA Today published an opinion piece saying the new Texas law “sets an example for rest of the nation.” The article, authored by Nick Selby, a Dallas-area police detective, and Colt Remington, a certified Texas mental health peace officer, … [Read more...] about Senate Bill 1849 Breaking Down the Sandra Bland Act – 85th Legislature
Jails
ANALYSIS Should Texas Raise the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility?
Should Texas Raise the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility? By Kellie A. Dworaczyk House Research Organization Focus Report Number 84-11 Part One of the latest House Focus Report ran in our December 2016 issue and covered the adult criminal justice system, the juvenile criminal justice system, proposed legislation, and debate on raising the age. Part Two … [Read more...] about ANALYSIS Should Texas Raise the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility?
ANALYSIS: Should Texas Raise the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility?
By Kellie A. Dworaczyk House Research Organization Focus Report Number 84-11 October 25, 2016 The following is Part One of the latest House Research Organization Focus Report. To view the report in full, go to http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/pdf/focus/ageofcriminalresponsibility.pdf Texas is one of seven states in which 17-year-olds accused of committing … [Read more...] about ANALYSIS: Should Texas Raise the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility?
Open Communication Key to State/County Partnership
By Brandon Wood, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Jail Standards For the most part, our job at the Texas Commission on Jail Standards hinges on communication – not halfhearted or insincere attempts at communicating, but real communication. Whether it is in Austin or one of the far-flung corners across this huge state, I have had the opportunity to meet … [Read more...] about Open Communication Key to State/County Partnership
Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness Part 3
Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness: Pretrial Diversion Across the Country and the Next Steps for Texas to Improve its Efforts and Increase Utilization Editor’s Note: The following is Part 3 in a series, “Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness,” a report released in June 2015. The full report is available at … [Read more...] about Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness Part 3