Criminal Justice

Many of Lubbock's city leaders traveled to the Texas Capitol for "Lubbock Day," to meet with members of the legislature and discuss West Texas issues that they feel should be addressed in Austin. The Texas Newsroom's Nina Banks reports the Texas Senate also passed three bills yesterday aimed at tightening the bail system in Texas.

Members of the Texas Senate's Criminal Justice Committee heard testimony Wednesday on five bail-related bills aimed at tightening rules on who gets bail and how it's set.

The Supreme Court upheld the federal law that bans domestic abusers under protective orders from having guns in the Rahimi case. But enforcement varies by state.

Yesterday, the City of Lubbock recognized January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month and January 23rd as Texas Blue Sand Project Day. Our reporter Samantha Larned has more on local advocacy for victims of human trafficking. On Monday, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" Opal Lee wrote an open letter to President Trump, asking him to choose unity over division.

The Texas Indigent Defense Commission is asking the Legislature to allocate millions of the state's general revenue to rural public defense attorneys and offices.

Ahead of the 89th Legislative session in Texas' congress, the Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey reports state lawmakers will find out today just how much money they’ll have to work with when crafting the state’s next 2-year budget. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports a new Texas A&M report shows rural counties are short on criminal attorneys who represent low-income defendants.

Recreational marijuana is still illegal in Texas. The socially conservative legislature has voted it down year after year. And yet, with its exploding market for largely unregulated consumable hemp, Texas has inadvertently become the new Republic of THC.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an amended complaint Tuesday alleging six of the nation’s largest landlords — including Dallas-based Willow Bridge Property Co. — participated in an illegal scheme allowing landlords to increase rental prices and decrease competition.

President Joe Biden has granted 39 pardons and nearly 1,500 commutations for prisoners, including former Lubbock businessman Benny Judah. Houston Public Media’s Gail Delaughter looks at how Texas Christmas tree growers keep supplies strong despite a drought over the summer. Between this weekend and the new year, AAA projects 9.1 million people in Texas will travel more than 50 miles from home.

Texas lawmakers are again attempting to get death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify about his conviction. KERA's Toluwani Osibamowo reports Roberson was blocked from testifying in person the first time he was called. The City of Lubbock is accepting applications for several boards and committees through December 31. The term for the positions will begin June 1, 2025. Applications can be submitted at www.mylubbock.us/cityboards.