What We're Reading
News that caught our attention or cited the Texas Justice Initiative from across the Lone Star State and beyond.
People in Prison in Winter 2021-22
Published on March 10, 2022A new report from the Vera Institute of Justice found that from December 2020 to December 2021, Texas prison populations decreased by 1.1% — compared to the previous year, when populations decreased by 14.6%. Meanwhile, the number of people in Texas county jails rose by 1.8% from December 2020 to December 2021.
2021 Was Deadliest Year for Law Enforcement Officers in History
Published on January 11, 2022A new report from the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund found that Covid-19 fatalities were the leading cause of death of law enforcement officers in the U.S. in 2021.
Prisoners in 2020 — Statistical Tables
Published on January 1, 2022A new report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics reveals that deaths in U.S. prisons increased 46% from 2019 to 2020.
DOJ Can Improve Publication of Use of Force Data and Oversight of Excessive Force Allegations
Published on December 7, 2021The nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office analyzed the collection and dissemination of data on law enforcement's use of force and found quite a bit of room for improvement.
Locked Up And Left To Die
Published on November 1, 2021Reporters Michael Barajas and Sophie Novack report on the Texas Rangers' death investigations for the hundreds of people who've died in Texas jails, revealing, "how Texas' patchwork regulatory system repeatedly fails to ensure safe conditions behind bars."