What We're Reading

News that caught our attention or cited the Texas Justice Initiative from across the Lone Star State and beyond.
  • When Asthma in Jail Becomes a Death Sentence

    When Asthma in Jail Becomes a Death Sentence

    Published on September 2, 2020

    Since 2005, nearly 800 people have died in Texas jails of causes labeled by officials as natural. "But in recent years, lawsuits," Michael Barajas reports, "Texas Rangers reports, and newspaper investigations have shown many of those to be preventable tragedies that appear to result from negligence on the part of jail staff."

  • The U.S. Prison System Has Reached 1,000 COVID-19 Deaths

    The U.S. Prison System Has Reached 1,000 COVID-19 Deaths

    Published on August 28, 2020

    Reason Magazine's Scott Shackford reports that the number of people who have died of COVID-19 in American prisons has passed 1,000 (inmates and staff), based on data collected by The Marshall Project.

  • Officer-Involved Shootings Climb in Texas; Blacks, Latinos Disproportionate Victims

    Officer-Involved Shootings Climb in Texas; Blacks, Latinos Disproportionate Victims

    Published on August 27, 2020

    The Center on Media Crime and Justice at John Jay College featured TJI's officer-involved shootings report in their publication, The Crime Report. Reporter Laura Bowen focused on the increasing number of shootings by officers in Texas over the past four years and decreasing survival rates of victims.

  • Save Black Lives

    Save Black Lives

    Published on August 5, 2020

    A new report from the Center for Justice Research and the Black Public Defender Association explores racial injustices and the impact of COVID-19 and incarceration in Black communities. Howard Henderson, the founding director of the center, said: "Black people are being infected and dying from COVID-19 at alarming rates. They are also overrepresented in carceral systems that increase their risk of exposure to this deadly virus.

  • Coronavirus in Jails and Prisons

    Coronavirus in Jails and Prisons

    Published on July 27, 2020

    Kelly Davis reports on conditions at federal facilities including FMC Carswell, in Fort Worth, where three women have died of COVID-19: "Three women sleep four to a room and the rooms have no doors. As COVID-19 tore through the Texas prison—cases grew from 50 on July 7 to 571 by July 23—staff shut off the air conditioning and hung plastic curtains in the doorways to stop the virus’ spread."