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?
jail
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
Overincarceration of Mentally Ill Inmates Part 2
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 2 in a series, “Overincarceration of People with Mental Illness,” a report released in June 2015. The full report is available at http://rightoncrime.com/2015/06/overincarceration-of-people-with-mental-illness/. Part 1 ran in … [Read more...] about Overincarceration of Mentally Ill Inmates Part 2
Special Jail Section
TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION TIDC Awards Grant to Fund Public Defender Program in Willacy County On Aug. 21, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC or Commission) awarded a two year grant for $313,308 to provide funding for the Willacy County Public Defender Office (WPDO). Willacy County is currently facing a financial crisis due to the termination … [Read more...] about Special Jail Section