The Common Law: Does An Old Arrest Show Up on a Criminal Background Check?

What's best to do after a case gets dismissed

"...While a dismissal is an excellent outcome to any criminal case, it doesn't change the fact that you were..."

Sept. 5, 2014 Column by Chris Perri

Death Watch: Court of Criminal Appeals Stays Halprin's Execution

The case has been sent back to trial court for review

"...On Friday, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted Randy Halprin a stay of execution for..."

Oct. 4, 2019 News Post by Brant Bingamon

Travis County Primary Candidates Jockey to Champion Criminal Justice Change

A closer look at the heated District Attorney, County Attorney, and County Court at Law races

"...Everybody supports "criminal justice reform." Advocates across the entire political spectrum trumpet..."

Feb. 7, 2020 News Feature by Michael King

Criminal Justice Reform

Slow Train A-Comin'

"...the time to clean up problems in the state's criminal justice system. Thus far, however, the tally for criminal..."

May 8, 2009 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Criminal Justice: Weed and Weapons

Fallout from the 84th Texas legislative session

"...that he'd sign any open carry bill into law. Criminal Justice..."

June 5, 2015 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Notes on Kamp: Easing the Stigma

Fair Chance ordinance is a good start in helping people with criminal records rejoin society

"...culmination of over a year's worth of effort by criminal justice reform advocates to improve employment opportunities for people..."

March 25, 2016 News Column by Amy Kamp

2 Fast 2 Furious

"...approached by the feds with an offer of expunged criminal records if they can help set up the Man,..."

June 6, 2003 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Getting Outside the Box

Will City Council decide to give job applicants with criminal records a "fair chance"?

"...opportunities." But for the nearly 12 million Texans with criminal records, there's one question that's not so easily spun:..."

Oct. 9, 2015 News Feature by Amy Kamp

Austin First Fair Chance City in the South

Ban the box ordinance passes Council

"...private employers to delay asking about a job applicant’s criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been..."

March 25, 2016 News Post by Amy Kamp

After Innocence

This documentary raises staggering questions about virtually every aspect of the criminal-justice system as it follows what happens to several convicts who have been exonerated by DNA evidence submitted by the Innocence Project.

"...raises staggering questions about virtually every aspect of the criminal-justice system. Sanders follows several men accused, tried, and convicted..."

Feb. 24, 2006 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

Travis County Jail Population Continues to Drop

COVID-19 accelerates the trend, despite Abbott’s pushback

"...Last month, Travis County criminal justice officials felt fairly successful in their efforts to..."

April 7, 2020 News Post by Michael King

Cops Say Legalize It

New report from drug-reform cops with the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition says the time is right to legalize -- and regulate -- drugs

"...reads the LEAP report, compiled in conjunction with the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. "The few who have been helped..."

Dec. 2, 2008 News Post by Jordan Smith

Gimme Shelter

Austin's housing market is rough. It's even worse if you have a criminal record.

"...threat of civil liability for renting to people with criminal records, took effect. The bill was crafted by criminal..."

Jan. 29, 2016 News Feature by Amy Kamp

If You're White, It's All Right

The colors of justice in Williamson County

"...cases bear some superficial similarity. Significantly, WCSO and court records suggest that law enforcement officers built solid cases against..."

Sept. 24, 2004 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Open and Shut Case

Morales' Opinion on Judges' Records Seems Self-Serving

"...illustration by Doug Potter A groundbreaking open records decision from Attorney General Dan Morales was barely in..."

Sept. 5, 1997 News Feature by Bob Elder

Will Austin Applicants Get a "Fair Chance"?

Proposed ordinance would require businesses consider job applicants with criminal histories

"...would bar employers from inquiring about a job applicant's criminal history until a conditional offer of employment has been..."

March 25, 2016 News Feature by Amy Kamp

Undocumented, Unafraid

Balancing fear and power in the wake of ICE arrests

"...that most of those arrested locally did not have criminal records, sparking questions of political retaliation. The immigrant community,..."

March 10, 2017 News Feature by Mary Tuma

DPS Troopers Push Undocumented Immigrants Into a Deportation Pipeline

Spike in traffic stops raises concerns about racial profiling, faulty record keeping, and the damage done to families

"...DPS records that are publicly available on the internet indicate that..."

June 2, 2017 News Feature by Debbie Nathan

Drug War Blowback

Drug-raid tactics come under increasing scrutiny

"...private dwelling for the purpose of exposing an alleged criminal act. Probable cause is far more than bare suspicion..."

Dec. 21, 2007 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Pressley Files Her Complaint

Accuses Travis County Clerk of state law violations

"...of State, accusing Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir of criminal violations of state law in her management of the..."

Jan. 16, 2015 News Post by Michael King

Niche Justice

Travis County specialty courts try to break the cycle of crime

"...to get sob­er, change their lives, and clear their criminal records – was at the forefront of a now..."

March 26, 2010 News Feature by Jordan Smith

A Better Tomorrow

Woo's crime drama is one of the signature films of the Hong Kong cinema.

"...and went on to break all existing box office records in Hong Kong cinema, establishing a new star on..."

March 5, 1993 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Mike Denton Jumps Into County Attorney Race

As expected, just-retired judge announces campaign for Dem nomination

"...On Tuesday, beneath the towering monolith of the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, newly retired County Court-at-Law Judge Mike Denton..."

Sept. 27, 2019 News Feature by Michael King

How to Jail the Poor

Travis County tries to fix its Driving While License Invalid issue

"...Travis County, 3,266 people got booked into the county's criminal justice system for the high crime of driving somewhere..."

Sept. 21, 2018 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Notes on Kamp: Cowards

Why is the right wing so scared of voting rights?

"...saying that only "good people" get to vote. As criminal justice reform advocate Lauren Johnson put it in a..."

June 3, 2016 News Column by Amy Kamp

APD Among Texas Police Agencies With Poor Eyewitness ID Procedures

The Justice Project says Texas police agencies are way behind in implementing best practices that can decrease the incidence of mistaken identification.

"...for the administration of live and photo lineups of criminal suspects, but "does little to ensure that its lineup..."

Nov. 19, 2008 News Post by Jordan Smith

Mingering Mike, Superstar

An real singer with imaginary albums takes the stage.

"...legendary 1968 performance Live at the Howard Theatre, political records like Boogie Down at the White House, the soundtrack..."

March 4, 2008 Music Post by Thomas Fawcett

ICE Continues Its Raids in Travis County

“Callous disregard for the climate of fear” in immigrant communities

"...and among the 28 of those who had no criminal records. In its wake, the local undocumented community grappled..."

March 17, 2017 News Feature by Mary Tuma

No Place Like Home

All Belinda Acosta wanted was a roof over her head that wouldn't explode into flames. Little did she know that jumping into the Austin housing market is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

"...qualifying at a "good" complex if you have a criminal record or bad credit history...."

July 28, 2000 Features Feature by Belinda Acosta

Sheriff Sally Hernandez Continues to Do "What’s Right"

Besieged by the state GOP, Hernandez shows no sign of backing down from her immigration policies

"...the area – most of whom did not have criminal records. President Trump's own threats to cut federal funding..."

July 7, 2017 News Feature by Mary Tuma

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