Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston says a bill that would raise the age of adult criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18 years old fails to address his chief concerns: cost and safety.
Johnathan Silver
Johnathan Silver reported on the state’s criminal justice system for the Tribune from 2015 to 2017. Previously, Johnathan was a Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Buster Haas intern and staff reporter at the Victoria Advocate. A Fort Worth native, Johnathan graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington with bachelor’s degrees in political science and criminal justice – and a graduation mug from The Shorthorn, the campus student newspaper.
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Criminal Justice
Sandra Bland’s mother urges House committee to pass bill named after her daughter
The Sandra Bland Act would require law enforcement agencies to document the race and ethnicity of drivers they stop, divert some people to treatment instead of jail and require more training and reporting for county jails and law enforcement officials.
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Criminal Justice
Senate panel approves bill banning bestiality in Texas
“These are serious crimes,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the bill’s author. “The state’s response should be as well.”
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Criminal Justice
Senate passes court security bill named in honor of Austin judge who was attacked
The Judge Julie Kocurek Judicial and Courthouse Security Act of 2017 passed the chamber Tuesday.
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Criminal Justice
Bestiality isn’t illegal in Texas. A Houston lawmaker wants to change that.
Texas is one of eight states that does not have a ban on the books against bestiality.
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Criminal Justice
Senate passes bill requiring schools to teach teens about interacting with police
The proposal – which would affect high school students, new drivers and police officers – passed the chamber unanimously and now heads to the House.
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Criminal Justice
House panel votes to raise age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18
The House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee on Wednesday voted to approve a bill that would raise the age of criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18.
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Criminal Justice
Senate panel OKs bill requiring schools to teach teens about interacting with police
The proposal, Senate Bill 30, is a bipartisan response to deadly encounters between law enforcement and civilians seen in recent years throughout the country.
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Criminal Justice
Proposed bill would speed up the process of bonding out of jail
A bill aimed granting more defendants release from jail without paying bail would require judges to use a risk assessment system before making bail decisions — and to make those decisions within 48 hours of an arrest.
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Criminal Justice
Texas proposal would limit prosecutors in grand jury proceedings
Grand jury reform legislation would allow suspects’ attorneys to be present during questioning and would prevent prosecutors from going to another grand jury if the first one declines to indict – unless there’s new evidence.