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Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Attempts to Limit Review of Bad Evidence in Criminal Trials

On Friday, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a ruling on limitations he believes are imposed on the Forensic Science Commission’s ability to investigate past cases, even those which result in death sentences. The opinion was issued following a request by the former Chairman of the commission, the from Williamson County John Bradley. The Forensic Science Commission first came under fire when they looked into a murder investigation which ended in the imposition of a death sentence and the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. Experts on arson were hired by theRead More


CCA Being Investigated For Sexual Assault

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the corporation which has contracts to manage a number of Texas prisons, is currently under investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement  as a result of allegations that their guards were groping and propositioning female prisoners for sex. This investigation is being conducted due to actions at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor, Texas.  To those familiar with CCA, these allegations come as no surprise. The company, which also manages the Mineral Wells PPTF, Bradshaw State Jail, and several others is known for being veryRead More


Texas Republicans Cancel $239 Million in Proposed Cuts in Prison and Parole System

Governor Rick Perry ordered state agencies to cut $1.2 billion in spending to assist in controlling a shortfall of up to $18 billion in this year's budget. The main issue of concern to readers of this blog is that there were $239 million in proposed budget cuts in the Texas Prison and Parole System., including cuts in prison health care, security, and other important issues. Earlier in the year several lawmakers offered suggestions concerning how to reduce the budget for the penal system, including closing some facilities, such as theRead More


U.S. Supreme Court Bans Life Without Parole for Juveniles

For once, Texas was ahead of the trends in the criminal justice system since last session Governor Perry signed SB 839, a bill authored by Senator Juan Hinojosa, which allowed juveniles to be considered for parole after 40 years. Not a huge difference from life in prison, but at least something. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 split vote, held that the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment did not allow a sentence of life without parole for juveniles. Although in this case the juvenile was sentencedRead More