Criminal Law

UPDATED Coalition Looking Forward to TDCJ Closing Some Privately Run Jails

A coalition of anti-private-prison groups is claiming victory for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's plans to close two privately run detention centers in the wake of a $97 million budget cut. Grassroots Leadership, along with the ACLU of Texas, the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, and oth ... More >>

Jeffery Deaver: The Kill Room

The Peddler

Both in and out of prison, Brian Culwell has spent his life selling people baubles, trinkets and jewels. Now he's buying your gold and silver.

Juan Perez Tells Kids To Do Porn Or He'll Put Their Semi-Dirty Pictures On The Net

Juan Perez is staying in custody​A Houston man has been hit with a slew of charges relating to child pornography, federal prosecutors say. Juan Perez, 28, contacted minors and established relationships with them via phone and computer, an indictment says, and then he got really sleazy. After ... More >>

Incoming: Fairness for Victims

Plus: Darkhorse Rides In

Confined Youth

Reader weigh in on youths in state homes and behind bars.

The DA Takes On Illegals, Because She Can

Photo courtesy Pat Lykos for DANot content to throw two of her prosecutors into the blender last week, Harris County DA Pat Lykos has decided to turn her guns on yet another unimportant bloc of voters - illegal immigrants.The Chron picks up the tale:"Four senior assistant district attorneys, speakin ... More >>

Two Of The Seven Hazing Cheerleaders Get A Sweet Deal

Plea deals have been worked out for two of the seven Morton Ranch High cheerleaders indicted for hazing, the DAs office has announced.Hayley Spincer Davis, 17, and Adelynn Frances Garner, 18, have agreed to a pre-trial diversion deal that will see the charges dismissed if they fulfill their obligati ... More >>

More HISD Middle-School Staffers Nabbed For Pot

What is it with HISD teachers and pot these days? A month ago, a middle-school assistant principal gets nabbed for growing dope in his home. Now, a pair of teachers at Williams Middle School (Northwest side represent!) are making friends in county due to a meddling tipster and a drug-sniffing ... More >>

Who's Crying Now?

More Women Complain Of Being Harassed By Brazoria Judge

Justice for Porn

Bad Checks

Sure you can ferret out the slimeballs in our midst? Guess again if you're relying on standard background searches in Texas

Juvenile

Reality Check

The Prince of Perjury Palace

In court, the truth didn't matter -- he got his child anyway

End of the Line

An acquittal raises more questions about pollution prosecutors' tactics

Strings Attached

Will Linden move on to become a music mecca or fall beneath the weight of a racist past?

Fostering Abuse

Did something go very wrong at Gloria and Kenny Rogers’s group home in Brazoria County? Or are they and their kids victims of a power-hungry CPS?

The Bradford Game

A mid-trial meltdown scorches the district attorney

Justice for Some

Just who is a victim? After flexing its muscles to reform the justice system, the victims’ rights movement suffers growing pains over divisive issues.

Lethal Legacy

Yates isn't dying to prove the equity of Harris County executions

The Dome and Dylan

Knock-knock-knocking on Reliant's door

Grassroots Campaign

A Galveston D.A. candidate comes out for cannabis

Protective Wrapping

Programs surround a kid and his family with services, hoping for success

Driving Miss D.A.-isy

A ride-along girlfriend and erroneous testimony taint a DWI squad case

Votes 'n' Bail

GOP consultant Allen Blakemore looks to become a do-it-yourself bondsman

The Bench Warmer

After two defeats by voters, will Bob Burdette finally lose his black robe to a DWI?

Private Practice for County Attorney Fleming?

Insider extra

From Cells to Souls

Chuck Colson and his evangelical Christians team up with a local prison for a divine intervention program

Innocence Lost?

Despite its increasing importance, DNA evidence routinely gets destroyed here

Campaign Finance Laws, What Are They Good For?

Absolutely nothing! Yarbrough proves it again.

Courting Disaster?

Some woes aren't going away at the county's new criminal justice center

The Insider

Incompetent Justice. An elderly retarded man's year-long trip into the legal twilight zone

The Insider

Art Decoy: A handwritten note undercuts UH chancellor's wordy defense

Borderline Bond

Local judges go anti-immigrant in bail policies

Judicial Hunting Season Opens

Approaching Death At The County Morgue

For three years as Harris County's chief medical examiner, Dr. Joye Carter has been haunted by controversy. Can she survive?

Sexual Healing?

Shin Higashiura offers women "inside treatments" to correct their hormonal balance. It's not rape. It's not prostitution. But it's not shiatsu, either.

Coming to No Good End

Undertaker Jay Herman shot his lover, Edwina Prosen, to death in 1991. That's the only thing he and her family have agreed on since.

Slipping Under the Bar Radar

Will a less-than-Frank Reyes cloud O'Quinn's win?

Bloodletting?

The medical examiner's controversial DNA expert is fired... for doing her job

Gayland's Choice

Gayland Randle was there the night Paul Broussard was murdered, but he never laid a hand on the victim. So why is Randle doing 15 years in prison?

Scenes from a Marriage

John Whitmire was on a roll coming into the 1995 Legislature. But how the mighty have fallen. Tim Fleck examines the mounting troubles of the state senator known as "Boogie."

Rotations

Turkeys (and Other Creatures) On the Ballot

Quick! It's almost Election Day!! Do you know who your candidates are? Check this guide to the mother of all ballots!

Pursuing Jerry

A former prosecutor finds it was easier to investigate ethically challenged officials than to run against one

Losing Track

Juvenile Probation has gotten out-of-touch with the INS ... and some young criminals it's supposed to supervise

Open Season on Open Seats

D.A.s told it's okay to go after judgeships, but not after judges

Defending the Indefensible

Do court-appointed attorneys serve their clients or the courts?