The committee will review and make recommendations on substance abuse, care for veterans, identifying illnesses early and improving delivery of mental health care.
Garnet Coleman
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Panetti Case Highlights Cracks in Execution Law
The complex and protracted path Scott Panetti’s death row case has traveled illustrates how few safeguards Texas has to protect mentally ill killers from being executed.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Scrutiny Follows Bland, Deputy Deaths
In the coming days, the deaths of Sandra Bland and Harris County Deputy Darren Goforth will continue to jolt statewide conversations about how the Texas criminal justice system deals with — or fails to deal with — mental health issues.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
McCraw Hammered at Hearing on Bland Case
State lawmakers grilled Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw on Thursday, voicing concerns about arrest procedures used by state police and pressing the agency head to explain the July 10 arrest of Sandra Bland, who was found hanged three days later in the Waller County Jail.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Mental Health Jail Check Failed in Bland Case
The Waller County Jail failed to complete a two-part mental health screening process as required by law during Sandra Bland’s booking process, according to the state jail commission and at least one public policy group.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Resolution in Lieu of Bill
Following an emotional floor debate, the Senate passed a resolution Wednesday reaffirming the state’s opposition to same-sex marriage, an action taken as it became clear a bill to prevent such marriages in Texas was dead.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate Backs House on In-Person Inmate Visitation
Inmates in some Texas county jails may no longer have to speak to loved ones on a video screen, after the Senate voted Monday to pass a House measure guaranteeing a minimum of two 20-minute, in-person visitations per week.
Posted in
Demographics
GOP Gun Measures Could Backfire With Minorities
Republican lawmakers backing open carry and guns on campus are heading in the wrong direction for many black and Hispanic Texans who would prefer stricter gun laws, polling shows. It’s another disconnect with minorities the GOP might regret.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: March 18, 2015
A bill allowing the carrying of handguns on college and university campuses wasn’t heard on the Senate floor on Tuesday because of a paperwork error. But it is expected to be heard today and will likely pass.
Posted in
Health care
The Brief: Feb. 20, 2015
An Austin lesbian couple obtained a marriage license Thursday morning, but the status of what would be the state’s first gay marriage was in flux by the afternoon after the Texas Supreme Court issued a stay.