Texas prisons

The state has battled to keep secret key documents related to an assault by prison guards that left a man in a coma.

Jovian Motley worked a double shift that day. His mother said he should never have been in the cell where he died.

Thirteen guards from a Texas prison have been fired or resigned after the beating of an inmate that left him hospitalized — likely for the rest of his life. Several eyewitnesses along with former staff said staffing and training issues are leading to more violence. TDCJ denied the incident was due to staffing or training.

Speer has been on death row for decades after strangling another inmate at a Texas prison. The victim’s sister and faith leaders have both called on the parole board to halt the execution.

Kiheem Grant attacked a guard, according to prison officials and was subsequently beaten so bad he has yet to wake up. His mother wants to know why. Thirteen were fired or resigned in the aftermath.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said its officers used excessive force and have asked the Inspector General to criminally investigate a Sept. 5 incident that saw 13 guards terminated or resign and an inmate still in hospital more than two weeks later.

“This is one situation in which they can take control of their narrative, so they can rewrite the story and envision a world in which they are not seen as the bad guys, but the heroes who can save the world.”

Texas sees prisoner deaths spike as congressman calls for investigation of 'cruel and unusual' punishments.

The courts, along with federal and state lawmakers, have created a series of barriers against improving prison conditions with air conditioning.

Citing the many reports of dangerous heat in Texas and other states’ prisons this summer, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee encourage GOP colleagues to join them in pushing for action.