criminal justice

There is no statewide standard for non-traffic offenses, leaving the price of pretrial freedom to depend largely on geography, individual judges and local politics.

New regulations from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are causing confusion with the Inside Books Project, a group that's been supplying literature to inmates for nearly three decades.

Kansas legislators in 2025 passed a law requiring courts across the state to keep criminal case files secret until someone is arrested or an arrest warrant is denied.

Police used genetic genealogy to help solve a 25-year-old pair of child sex crime cases.

Proposition 3 requires the denial of bail for people accused of certain violent or sexual offenses if prosecutors put forth enough evidence. Experts are still divided on whether the amendment will bolster public safety and protect the due process rights of the accused.

While most proposed amendments on this year's ballot focused on taxes, voters also showed strong support for investing in Texas' network of technical colleges and dementia and Alzheimer's research.

The medical condition can cause symptoms that confuse first-responders and others, leading to arrests and possible violence during specific types of seizures.

The Autism Society of Texas and the Autism Society of America have issued an open letter urging Texas officials to stop the scheduled October 16 execution of Robert Roberson, a man with autism who was sentenced to death in 2003 for the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki.

Tom Bates, the executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, announced his resignation this week.

And in 2025, the Texas Legislature's 89th session was no different. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 412, which makes changes that could mean criminal charges for educators.