https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/The latest news by Jolie McCullough.enFri, 02 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-youth-prison-crisis/For more than a decade, Texas has been trying to slim down its youth prison system, which has been plagued by years of abuse scandals. This Legislature is reversing that course.Jolie McCulloughFri, 02 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-youth-prison-crisis/Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility in Lee County, on July 20, 2022Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility, in Lee County on July 20, 2022.Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-prosecutors-removal/The GOP priority legislation could remove prosecutors from office if they don’t pursue certain crimes. The bill gained traction after some Democratic district attorneys said they would not prosecute abortion-related crimes.Jolie McCullough and Eleanor KlibanoffSun, 28 May 2023 21:34:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-prosecutors-removal/A view of Houston's Criminal Justice Center.Hurricane Harvey severely damaged Houston's 20-story Criminal Justice Center, taking out dozens of courtrooms, countless offices and enough holding cells to accommodate 900 inmates.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-republican-bills-deadline/Rushed agreements and suspended rules rescue legislation on the electric grid and economic incentives for companies, and work is still being done on a property tax proposal.Jolie McCullough and Joshua FechterSun, 28 May 2023 10:44:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-legislature-republican-bills-deadline/The Texas Capitol in Austin is seen behind parking garage lights on the evening of April 18, 2023.The state Capitol in Austin is seen behind parking garage lights on the evening of April 18, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-prisons-air-conditioning/Stifling heat has killed inmates and exacerbated employee turnover in Texas prisons. But funding for air conditioning was whittled down in the draft budget released Thursday.Jolie McCulloughFri, 26 May 2023 11:56:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/26/texas-prisons-air-conditioning/The Byrd Unit in Huntsville, TX, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.The Byrd Unit in Huntsville, TX, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-legislature-border-unit-bill/The House has already passed the bill, but the two chambers will need to iron out the differences in their versions before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.Jolie McCullough and James BarragánWed, 24 May 2023 02:07:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-legislature-border-unit-bill/Migrants carry supplies before crossing the Rio Grande into the U.S. from Ciudad Juárez on May 8.Migrants carry supplies before crossing the Rio Grande River and into the U.S. from Mexico on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Juárez, Chihuahua. Several hundred migrants have been waiting on the U.S. side of the river to be picked up and processed by CBP.Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-legislature-senate-priorities/The two chambers have been at odds over property tax relief and school choice, but on Tuesday night, those divisions spilled over into priorities the bodies had previously agreed upon.Eleanor Klibanoff, James Barragán and Jolie McCulloughWed, 24 May 2023 01:28:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/texas-legislature-senate-priorities/Representatives vote on the House floor during the legislative session at the state Capitol on April 11.Members of the House vote on the House floor during session at the state Capitol on April 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/guns-crime-texas-mandatory-sentences/The idea appeared to die in the Texas House over the weekend, but senators kept it alive by grafting the proposal on to another piece of legislation.Jolie McCullough and Alejandro SerranoTue, 23 May 2023 18:19:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/guns-crime-texas-mandatory-sentences/Gold-plated hand guns for sale at a gun show in San Marcos, TX, on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023. (Gold-plated hand guns for sale at a gun show in San Marcos, TX, on Sunday, Jan 29, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/hypnosis-ban-texas-trials/Despite its tendency to distort memories, hypnosis has been used on witnesses in numerous investigations, including death penalty cases. Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a similar bill in 2021.Jolie McCulloughTue, 23 May 2023 17:11:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/23/hypnosis-ban-texas-trials/The Lady Justice statue at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso on Oct. 11, 2022.The Lady Justice statue at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso on Oct. 11, 2022.Jorge Salgado for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/senate-prosecutors-abortion-voter-fraud/The bill would allow for the removal of prosecutors who adopt any policy to not pursue certain crimes, including some low-level theft and drug charges. The Senate’s version will need to be reconciled with the House, which had carved out some exemptions.Jolie McCullough and Eleanor KlibanoffFri, 19 May 2023 17:42:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/senate-prosecutors-abortion-voter-fraud/Screens display case information on May 9 at the Travis County Criminal Court at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin.The Travis County Criminal Court, at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, in Austin as screens display case information on May 9, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/daniel-perry-murder-austin-protestor/Perry’s case has become an explosive political stew of arguments over gun rights, self-defense and racist social media posts. The governor dived in early, saying he would pardon Perry even before a judge handed down the sentence.Jolie McCulloughWed, 10 May 2023 10:14:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/daniel-perry-murder-austin-protestor/Daniel Perry reacts Wednesday after being sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of Garrett Foster.Daniel Perry reacts after being sentenced to 25 years for the murder of Garrett Foster, at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center on Wednesday, May 10, 2023.Courtesy of Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesmanhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-dps-austin-police/A month after the Texas Department of Public Safety began patrolling Austin streets, city officials have both praised a drop in violent crime and condemned the operation’s disparate impact on Latino and Black residents. In 2019, Dallas faced the same challenges.Jolie McCulloughTue, 02 May 2023 18:45:43 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-dps-austin-police/New Texas Department of Public Safety troopers at the Texas Capitol. For the past month, at the request of the Austin Police Department, DPS has largely been patrolling predominantly Latino neighborhoods, state and local officials said Tuesday.The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) graduates a class of 74 new state troopers at the Texas Capitol.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-juvenile-justice-prison-transfers/Moving the most violent and troubled youths to adult prison makes it easier to help others in juvenile facilities, some prosecutors and lawmakers say. Youth justice advocates say Texas is giving up on the children who most need help.Jolie McCulloughFri, 28 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-juvenile-justice-prison-transfers/Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility, in Lee County on July 20, 2022. (Giddings State School, a Texas Juvenile Justice Department correctional facility, in Lee County on July 20, 2022.Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-prison-suicide-beasley/Joshua Keith Beasley Jr. had been transferred from a Texas youth facility to an adult prison despite a long history of suicidal behavior. Five guards and two supervisors allegedly failed to check on him.Jolie McCulloughTue, 25 Apr 2023 11:50:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-prison-suicide-beasley/A mourner wears a shirt with the image of Joshua Keith Beasley Jr. at his funeral on April 1.From left: Friends Mario Lozano, 18, Jose Quijada, 18, wearing a shirt with the image of Joshua Keith Beasley Jr. and Joshua's brother Malachi Davis, 20, during Joshua's funeral on April 1, 2023 at McCrury Cemetery (CQ) in Bogota, Texas.Ben Torres for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/20/texas-execution-ivan-cantu/Two jurors from Cantu’s 2001 double-murder trial now support his appeals, which claim prosecutors relied on false testimony and withheld crucial evidence.Jolie McCulloughThu, 20 Apr 2023 13:40:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/20/texas-execution-ivan-cantu/Interior of the state’s death chamber.Interior of Death Chamber in Texas.Jenevieve Robbins/Texas Department of Criminal Justicehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/daniel-perry-racist-comments-texas-shooting-austin-protester/Gov. Greg Abbott has said he wants to pardon Perry, who was convicted by a Travis County jury last week.Jolie McCulloughFri, 14 Apr 2023 12:43:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/daniel-perry-racist-comments-texas-shooting-austin-protester/Daniel Perry and his family walk into a Travis County courtroom on March 23. Perry was convicted in the murder of protester Garrett Foster during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Austin.Daniel Perry and his family walk to the 147th District Courtroom at the Travis County Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Complex on Thursday Mar. 23, 2023 in Austin. Perry is on trial for shooting and killing protester Garrett Foster during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Austin.Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman via REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/daniel-perry-pardon-greg-abbott/In an unprecedented use of his power, the Republican governor moved to pardon Daniel Perry less than a day after an Austin jury convicted him in the murder of protester Garrett Foster.Jolie McCulloughThu, 13 Apr 2023 15:19:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/13/daniel-perry-pardon-greg-abbott/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/11/texas-prisons-air-conditioning/Sweltering heat has killed inmates, driven away prison workers and cost taxpayers millions in lawsuits. The House budget would provide air conditioning for 46 prisons, but it’s unclear if the Senate will sign on.Jolie McCulloughTue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/11/texas-prisons-air-conditioning/Prisoners walk down a hot hallway at Brazoria County's Darrington prison in July 2017.Inmates walk down a hallway at Brazoria County's Darrington prison in July 2017.Jolie McCullough / The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/05/texas-judiciary-business-courts/In his biennial state of the judiciary, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht also warned against politics’ encroachment into the third branch of government.Jolie McCulloughWed, 05 Apr 2023 15:15:45 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/05/texas-judiciary-business-courts/Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivers the State of the Judiciary speech at the Texas Supreme Court building in Austin on April 5, 2023.Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivers the State of the Judiciary speech at the Texas Supreme Court building in Austin on April 5, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/29/texas-death-penalty-mental-illness/The chamber has repeatedly passed legislation in recent sessions eliminating the death penalty in cases of severe mental illness, but this year the measure faced increased pushback from conservative lawmakers.Jolie McCulloughWed, 29 Mar 2023 15:21:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/29/texas-death-penalty-mental-illness/Interior of Death Chamber by Texas Department of Criminal Justice.Interior of Death Chamber by Texas Department of Criminal Justice.Photo Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/texas-youth-prisons-scandals/Plagued by decades of scandals over sexual and physical abuse of children, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is at a crossroads.Jolie McCulloughThu, 09 Mar 2023 14:14:06 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/09/texas-youth-prisons-scandals/State Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, speaks at a press conference at the Texas Capitol on Thursday to support his bill to close juvenile prisons.State Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock, speaks at a presser to support a bill aimed at closing down juveniles detention centers and reforming the Texas Juvenile Justice Department at the state Capitol on March 9, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune