Tag Archives: jail overcrowding

Yes, Your Honor, we do need a public defender’s office

Posted on October 4, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I really don’t understand the argument against at this point. More than 100 private attorneys were assigned by judges to represent inmates who could not afford a lawyer in felony cases in 2008. Sixty of them received more than $100,000. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Commissioners Court approves public defenders plan

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The “hybrid” public defenders office that Commissioners Court had been considering was approved Tuesday by a 5-0 vote, though the details still need to be worked out in time for the February 2010 budget meeting. “It’s going to take however … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Commissioners Court approves public defenders plan

The county’s proposal for a public defender’s office

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Next week, a proposal for a “hybrid” public defender’s office will be presented to Harris County Commissioners Court. It is considered a hybrid because it would allow courts to use both public defenders and private attorneys. For example, two of … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The county’s proposal for a public defender’s office

“Jail hell”

Posted on September 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

That’s the title of this Houston Press story about the experiences of those who have served time in the Harris County jail, as told by those who have just gotten out. The story is partly a response to the county’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Harris County disputes federal criticism of its jails

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting. Harris County officials today delivered a 300-page response to the U. S. attorney general’s findings that the Harris County Jail was unconstitutional, saying the report was largely based on anecdotal accounts from inmates and incomplete data. County … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A city-county threefer?

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

In case you were wondering why there didn’t seem to be any progress in making a Dynamo Stadium deal, it appears the reason for that is there will be much more to it than just a stadium deal. The city … Continue reading →

Posted in Local politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The city jails have problems, too

Posted on August 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose I’m not surprised to find out that the Houston city jails have their share of problems, but I’m a little puzzled by this article about them. The inspection was conducted as part of a legal consent decree originating … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Outsourcing inmates

Posted on August 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We know Sheriff Adrian Garcia has a plan to fix problems with the Harris County jails. He’s been up front about what he wants to do, and he’s helped create the position of “jail czar”, who is tasked with finding … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

How to uncrowd the jails

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Defense attorney Rob Fickman makes the case for dealing with Harris County’s jail overcrowding problems. Jail overcrowding creates unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Locking up the wrong people does not leave sufficient room to lock up the right people, those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Parker’s crimefighting plan

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Tis the season for Mayoral candidates to send out position papers on various issues. I’ve gotten a couple in my mailbox in the past few days and want to spend a little time examining them. First up is Annise Parker’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment, Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The DA’s new DWI program

Posted on August 1, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The Harris County District Attorney’s new driving while intoxicated diversion program appears to have some problems. Under the new program, those accused of a first-time DWI will be offered the diversion program or 30 days in jail and a $750 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The DA’s new DWI program

Grits on the jail czar

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

When I blogged about the creation of a “jail czar” position in Harris County whose job it will be to deal with overcrowding in the local jails, I said hoped that Scott Henson would comment on it. He did leave … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Grits on the jail czar

City or county?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Like Nancy Sims, I was at the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce candidate forum yesterday morning. And like Nancy, I thought this bit was one of the more interesting parts of the debate. Several questions focused on city finances and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2009 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The jail czar

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I think the whole “czar” thing is overdone, but if it takes hiring a person whose only job it is to focus on jail overcrowding to get something done in a real and lasting way about it, then so be … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Garcia’s agenda

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia lays out his agenda on the op-ed pages. This is an opportunity for me to work with every stakeholder in the Harris County justice system — including, first of all, you — to make sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our local mental health crisis

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Today’s must-read is this op-ed by Dr. Stephen Schnee, the executive director of the Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County, about mental illness and the Harris County jails. The Harris County Jail is now the largest mental … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Our local mental health crisis

Still talking about a new jail

Posted on May 28, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

We’re going to be having this conversation for awhile, I expect. As he attempts to secure a new jail for Harris County, Sheriff Adrian Garcia has hired nearly 90 more guards but still faces skepticism from commissioners about whether a … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still talking about a new jail

Blow before you drive

Posted on March 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

MADD wants to make it harder for people with a drunk driving conviction to get behind the wheel. Mothers Against Drunk Driving is again pushing Texas legislators to require ignition interlocks for people convicted of their first driving while intoxicated … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Blow before you drive

Harris County tackles jail overcrowding

Posted on January 26, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Well, what do you know? Harris County’s burgeoning jail population is expected to swell to 12,600 this spring, prompting newly elected officials to take a fresh look at ways to alleviate overcrowding, including releasing low-risk offenders. The new sheriff, district … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Harris County tackles jail overcrowding