Criminal Law

State Criminal Justice System Group: "Texas Failing Traumatized Girls"

The state's juvenile justice system is failing the girls in its custody, according to a new report from the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition. The findings of a one-day survey of approximately 100 girls at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex suggest that the residents, most of whom ... More >>

Texan Challenges Civil Forfeiture Law

Police can keep your cash, car and other property, regardless of whether you've been convicted of – let alone charged with – a crime.

The Unexpected Guest

Suave, with impeccable but false credentials, "Dennis Shaw" moved easily through River Oaks society.

Grinding Justice

Operation Streamline costs millions, tramples the Constitution, treats migrants like cattle and doesn't work.

Crash Reports

Running a red light and killing someone does not automatically mean you're in trouble in Harris County.

Domestic Violence Cases Spike In Harris County

​Harris County is seeing a big spike in domestic-violence cases this year, District Attorney Patricia Lykos' office announced today. They also announced they've taken a variety of steps to handle it.Jane Waters, chief of the DA's Family Criminal Law Division, reported that 4,900 family violence ch ... More >>

For Their Own Good: A Chance at Rehabilitation

Teens could go to TYC till they're 19, then have another hearing to determine parole or prison after that.

For Their Own Good

Harris County juveniles certified as adults are jailed in isolation 23 hours a day — without being convicted of a crime.

DA's New DNA Policy Still Might Not Find Past Mistakes

Photo courtesy patlykos.comA non-working DNA lab and lack of proper policies were among the biggest contributors to the wrongful incarceration of Ricardo Rachell, District Attorney Pat Lykos said today at a press conference in the Criminal Justice Center.Lykos and Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt a ... More >>

Another Slap On The Wrist For The Child-Fondling Doctor

Photo courtesy Jefferson County Sheriff's OfficeHere's today's criminal justice system tip: If you're going to plead guilty in Harris County to repeatedly fondling young girls -- some of whom you're related to -- make sure you're a doctor. And we're not talking podiatrist, here.Hair Balls suggest yo ... More >>

Change Comes To The Harris County Courthouse

No Death Penalties This Year For The Death-Penalty Capital Of America (That's Us)

Prosecutors Dismiss Assault Charges in J Prince Gym Beating Case

The Last Word

They've fought for justice for nine years, but time is running out

Prison Break?

Critics wonder if massive TDCJ cuts will be a prelude to privatization

Bench Blues

The judiciary starts scrambling after state cuts in visiting judges

Screwed!

Robert Casey told on Constable Perry Wooten. Wooten fired him. Now Casey and two other people are suing to get their jobs back.

Passive Aggressive

A court slaps down the D.A.'s bid to broadly expand its antipollution powers

On the Defense

Internal feuds and investigations cripple the agency representing accused convicts

Innocence Lost

The D.A.'s policy cuts into an inmate advocacy program

Old Ways Die Hard

A state law can't break up a juvenile courtroom gang

Nice Guy, Wrong Color

How Ken Bentsen got run over by a rainbow

Dumped On

Houston was supposed to be cracking down on polluters. So why has it spent five years cleaning up on little guys like Walter Bazarsky?

Law Breakers

County prosecutors and the sheriff target a controversial judge

Getting Wasted

Local officials say they are only after compliance and cleanups. Critics claim otherwise.

Sick Kids

For many mentally ill teenagers in Texas, the only way to get treatment is to get arrested.

Bar Tabs

The D.A. and county attorney dip into office funds to up the influence in judicial polls

Paying the Price

Hospital district officials wanted a simple one-sentence policy on immigrant health care. What they got instead was a criminal probe and plenty of politics.

Drug Money

Narcotics task forces in Texas spend millions of dollars each year busting low-level users and dealers. Is it money well spent, or are officers just addicted to easy cash?

Waivering Rights

Are prosecutors circumventing the new law designed to preserve DNA evidence?

Rejected

Thousands of inmates rely annually on a capricious parole board for their freedom. Most, like George Dismukes, return to their cells without ever knowing why they were denied.

Picking Up the Bill

This time, a plan to bring drug courts here has real teeth

An Open Mike

He wants to castrate pedophiles and purge the courts of politics. He has assailed fellow jurists, lawyers and lawmakers. He's maverick Mike McSpadden, a tennis ace with a tomahawk tongue.

Knowing Right from Wrong

Did Johnny Penry's abusive childhood prevent him from developing a moral compass that might have stopped him from murdering Pam Carpenter? Or is he just another cold, calculating killer?

Rob Todd Unredacted

Desperately seeking Susan

A Deadly Passion

Sandra Orellana became known as the woman who had sex on a hotel balcony and fell to her death. Her family says that's a lie- she was murdered by her boss.

GOP Inc.

How "Scary" Gary Polland turned his party apparatus into a political slot machine

Sand in Your Craw?

Make yourself heard

A Yenne for Your Thoughts

Brazoria's D.A. raises privacy issues over DPS emissions tests

Justice on the Block

Is the D.A.'s office for sale to the highest bidder?

The Insider

Report No Evil! UH threatens its top cop for reporting a star athlete's misdeeds

Love Hurts

Six of her ex-lovers or associates are wounded or dead. Authorities wonder if old ways die hard for former Houston attorney Catherine Mehaffey Shelton.

Strong Convictions

Hard-line leaders such as loopy Stephen Mansfield have taken their agenda to the Court of Criminal Appeals, where legal precedents--not prosecutions--get overturned

Law and Disorder

In Janice Law's quests for a judgeship, the fourth time was a charm -- and now an alarm for the rest of the courthouse

Conspiracy Theory

Arms dealer-turned-gadfly Al Johnson thinks everyone's out to get him. He's right

Bully on the Bench?

Abrasive encounters with some Hispanics, cash-and-carry court appointments coupled with hefty campaign contributions. Critics wonder if Pat Shelton's speedy dockets are outrunning justice.

Queen of the Good Ol' Boys

The macho world of trial law is ruled by tough, hard-driving men -- and by Katherine Scardino, a tough, hard-driving woman

Keeping the King Quiet

What Really Happened To Rodeny Hulin?

Since his death, teenage inmate Rodney Hulin has become a national symbol of why it's wrong to send juveniles to adult prisons. His true story, though, paints a different kind of troubling picture.

Video Pulpit

A Houston judge takes his quest for juvenile justice into national syndication