The latest criminal justice news from The Texas Tribune.
Todd Smith was Miller’s longtime political consultant when he admitted to soliciting bribes for licenses the agency typically issues for $100. Miller then put him on the payroll at $218,000 per year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/31429e810211d057e9da26fe64dc9d8d/0801%20Sid%20Miller%20OA%20TT%2048.jpg)
Senate Bill 15’s supporters say police shouldn’t be publicly maligned for unproven allegations. Critics say the bill disincentivizes agencies from properly investigating complaints. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c7153af9a550eb83a9004c4fd4508524/Dallas%20Police%20REUTERS.JPG)
A new petition claims Anderson County judges acted unconstitutionally multiple times in both Roberson’s case and in recognizing custody of his daughter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/528b9bc8b39da6b22d87608d8fd37cb2/0716%20Robert%20Roberson%20Hearing%20JA%20TT%2001.jpg)
Bobby Lumpkin, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s COO, will take over the the top role on Sept. 1, following Bryan Collier’s retirement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/11e560012f353da454e8cb63bc0bfd54/0321%20Telford%20Prison%20SK%2002.jpg)
Texas law bans the sale of synthetic kratom, but it isn’t enforced. Earlier this year, legislation died in the Texas House to ban the natural plant, too. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f228f45f3bb6ee81096753513ca4979d/0808%20Kratom%20RB%2007.JPG)
Local records released this week — after a yearslong lawsuit —affirm previous reporting about law enforcement’s flawed response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a79027cc2afb8e3f17581cfc406a49f5/Robb%20Memorial%202%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
Senate Bill 15 seeks to prevent the use of fraudulent deeds to sell someone else’s property or take out loans. It now heads to the House, where its fate is uncertain. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/728e4c6eb81ba3d4d27814a7067d4d48/0524%20SATX%20Housing%20File%20EH%20TT%2004.jpg)
Miller denies wrongdoing after allegations surfaced during an investigation into one of his aides, who pled guilty to bribery. The agriculture commissioner has not been charged with a crime. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f85614e5649f41148b91e50d8fc7f616/1025%20Trump%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2032.jpg)
Dissenting judges expressed frustration over a lack of clarity on why the case of David Leonard Wood, whose execution in March was halted, was remanded to the lower court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/61ec3a3db4b17f59317edac60ad883bc/Huntsville%20Jail%20MF%20TT%2002.jpg)
The Senate’s decision signals another potential standoff with Gov. Greg Abbott, who vetoed a similar ban earlier this year as he called for more regulations instead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/55079b2c14d085f77896020e010eff03/0523%20THC%20Farmers%20AR%2018.jpg)
Senate Bill 5 would ban products containing any detectable amount of any cannabinoid, creating criminal offenses for possession of hemp-derived THC. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d291aaf3ebfcfabd1f6193355427dae9/0722%20Senate%20State%20Affairs%20RB%2007.JPG)
DPS troopers labeled Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, who remains in a Salvadoran prison, a Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang member based on a photo of him with a tattooed man. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c1b1d5184633c850c07b8b0087c06c6e/CECOT%20San%20Salvador%20Prison%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
Despite receiving substantial state funding to air-condition prisons in the last few years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stayed mum on when it will install cooling across the system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/feb35c5c8c6e73fd32d601ddea5a368e/1121%20Bartlett%20Prison%20LW%2015%20TT.jpg)
Roberson’s attorneys have asked the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals to pause his execution until the court has considered his case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7a4eca025a228fd837386b50dc2a39c7/0716%20Robbie%20Roberson%20JA%20TT%2001.jpg)
Kelly Kenten Giles, 64, is accused of providing false information on his application and petition to run for the Randall County Republican Party Chair seat. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ec3e879e62047572836d3cbb173f31be/Kelly%20Giles%20Campaign%20Photo.jpg)
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling means that Senate Bill 4, which allows local police to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants, continues to be blocked. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dcafda0c2f5bd43bc567bc2c962372cc/5th%20Circuit%20NO%20JJ%20TT.jpg)
After three sessions, Texas lawmakers passed a bill last month that defines consent and fixes what advocates called a loophole in Texas sexual assault laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/33f0567dbfdf3689503a57e16f37198f/0220%20Summer%20Willis%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
A North Texas man charged with capital murder after slipping mifepristone into his girlfriend’s food signals another attempt to rein in abortion pills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e5bd119f66788cbe73e82e3588f5dc3/Misoprostol%20Abortion%20Pills%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
A court hearing on Wednesday will determine whether to proceed with Paxton’s request. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/023db18c72c4babd07b797c9793be2bc/Robert%20Roberson%20IPL%20TT%2021.jpg)
Texas lawmakers approved a sweeping package to overhaul the state’s bail system, a longtime priority of Gov. Greg Abbott’s. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af4e41df2f3c643e3a6740e09f6dc80f/0131%20Ivan%20Cantu%20MC%20TT%2001.jpg)