Reasonably Suspicious

We started with a discussion of the hearing on the Texas George Floyd Act and then broke down aspects of the bill we didn't get to in Part One: 1. Qualified Immunity, featuring interviews with Arif Panju and Keith Neely from the Institute for Justice (4:50) 2. Corroboration in Drug Cases, featuring an interview with Innocence Project of Texas founder Jeff Blackburn (13:45) 3. Use of Force and Duties to Intervene/Render Aid (19:29) When is Slavery Profitable? Texas prisons operate several agricultural businesses in which they can't break even using prisoners' slave labor. Can you guess which ones they are? (27:40) Texas Law of Parties: Mandy wrote a report on the topic earlier this year for the Texas Public Policy Foundation and we go through the details. (37:45) Suspicious Mysteries: Traffic enforcement in Texas has plummeted over the last decade but road safety remains un-affected. What's going on? (47:24)

As jury selection begins in the trial of Derek Chauvin, here in Texas lawmakers will soon take up the Texas George Floyd Act and co-hosts Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo are rolling out the first in a two part series on this bill and police reform. We interviewed bill author, Chairwoman Senfronia Thompson and Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee Chairman James White and discuss the Class C arrest limitation in light of the recent Keller, Tx incident. Chairman White, whose committee oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety, also took a moment to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott's suggestion that DPS "colonize" the Austin Police Department, in his words. Austin folks will want to hear this.(35:58) In further news, Appropriations and Senate Finance have been meeting for weeks, and we interview Anthony Graves on the need for investment in basics like food for those behind bars.

Scott Henson discusses recent police budget changes in Austin with Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition, a conversation that surfaces some telling details about the history of policing in Texas.

This month, Mandy and I discuss how police licensing agencies can weed out bad cops, what 911 calls EMS could take over from police, and unveil a new jingle from Just Liberty and the Austin Justice Coalition aiming to oust Austin police Chief Brian Manley. Here's what's in this month's episode: Top Stories Police licensing agency in Texas undergoing comprehensive review: How to fix it. (2:50) EMS union head tells how police responses to 911 calls can be reduced: Analyzing Austin 911 call-center data. (12:17) New jingle from Just Liberty, Austin Justice Coalition, calls for Austin police chief's ouster. (23:25) Something, Nothing, or Everything? Reviewing new Texas public opinion polling on criminal-justice topics. (31:07) Progressive challenger Jose Garza defeats incumbent Margaret Moore in Travis County District Attorney primary runoff. (35:15) Audit of Houston PD Narcotics Division finally released (38:23) The Last Hurrah (47:45) 5 years since Sandra Bland's death: What's next? Texas and feds both resumed executions: Feds are a bigger deal. San Antonio PD can't fire bad cops: 70% of terminated officers get back on the force.

Join us for a roundup of topics related to the continuing police protests, the policies and laws that are supposed to keep police in line, and the people who are trying to figure out how to change things. Top story: Reflecting on the George Floyd protests, including an interview with Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition. Fill in the Blank Was George Floyd set up by a crooked Houston narcotics cop? The policy behind the slogan of "Defunding Police" Texas' anachronistic "riot" laws The Last Hurrah Cops in schools How cops spend their time How does Austin police Chief Brian Manley still have a job?

How bad must a police chief be for community groups to call for the ouster of public safety leadership during COVID-19? Very bad indeed. Meanwhile, virus spreads in Texas prisons and jails with tens of thousands on lockdown. Ongoing coverage of the fight to free Rosa Jimenez, Joe Bryan and the dozens of people convicted thanks to corrupt Houston police officer Gerald Goines.

While Just Mercy launches with huge fanfare and forums all around the state this month, two Texas innocence cases languish. Despite a dressing down by a federal judge (we recorded it for you)Travis County DA Margaret Moore can't accept the decision of four judges and several experts in the Rosa Jimenez case. Meanwhile, the Texas parole board is the last hope for Joe Bryan, the Bosque County school principal falsely convicted in 1985 based on erroneous blood-spatter testimony. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals says Texas prison guards couldn't have known it was a problem to keep a prisoner naked sleeping in feces and urine for six days. (And really, how could anyone have guessed?) Police practices back in the news, thanks in part to a feisty Travis County primary.

Enjoy Grits' Christmas Poem: "If The Whos Were Us" Top Stories Why high fines and fees are a plague on the criminal-justice system. What recent Texas innocent cases tell us about needed policy reforms. Year in Review: Fill in the Blank Bail reform in Harris County Abolition of the Driver Responsibility surcharge Texas Legislature unintentionally decriminalizes marijuana More prosecutors going after cops in police shootings The Last Hurrah Care for seniors makes up half of Texas prison health budget Prison supervisor busted in contraband scheme How Potter County lost ALL its historic criminal-court data to a ransomware attack and what it means

Houston drug cops now facing federal and state charges, but that may be the tip of the iceburg. Houston PD narcotics division a black hole of bad practices. In other news... Victoria County Jail death from drug withdrawal Racist Austin PD chief outed, what's next? Indigent defense shortchanged in Amarillo Denouement of Harris County bail litigation Why Greg Abbott owns a homeless camp Rodney Reed execution stayed

This month, my cohost Amanda Marzullo and I interviewed attorneys for Rodney Reed, who is on death row with an execution date of November 20th. We plumbed unknowable but interesting questions about misdemeanor arrests, discussed the sad, grim, story of Atatiana Jefferson's shooting in Fort Worth, and complained that the time spent reading and talking about a new ACLU report on how to end mass incarceration is time we'll never get back again. But hey, now you don't have to! :) Top Stories First takes on the Atatiana Jefferson shooting in Fort Worth (2:34) Evaluating ACLU decarceration recommendations for Texas (8:34) Interview This month, Mandy and I spoke to Bryce Benjet of the national Innocence Project and Quinncy McNeal of Mayer Brown in Houston on the Rodney Reed case. Reed is scheduled to be executed on November 20th. (14:38) This is excerpted from a longer conversation. I'll publish the full interview, which goes into more detail about debunked forensic testimony in the case, separately in a couple of days. Suspicious Mysteries Why have misdemeanor arrests declined? Why didn't they decline earlier when crime first dropped? What do we really know about why crime dropped or the relationship between crime and arrests? Mandy and I discuss some known unknowns. (27:15) The Last Hurrah (36:40) Hard to reprimand Texas judges Years-long backlogs at crime labs Message sent by jury in prison-guard murder trial

Texas prisons may soon get a half billion dollar medical bill: why they have to pay it. Top Stories Harris and Galveston County bail litigation - 1:40 HPD Chief Art Acevedo demagogues on bail reform - 10:30 Interview: Attorney Scott Medlock on TDCJ Hep C lawsuit - 14:45 Fill in the Blank TPPF on police union politics - 27:45 Crime debates in Houston mayor's race - 32:45 The Last Hurrah (37:25) DPS stops patrols in Dallas Do Dallas police murder indictments signal changing attitudes? Oklahoma parole changes a model for Texas?

Texas Monthly's Michael Hall stops by to tell us about the latest innocence case he's been covering out of Tyler, and a special segment in which he and I rank the greatest American prison songs. Top Story: Hemp SNAFU led to de facto natural decrim experiment for marijuana in many counties. Interview: Texas Monthly's Michael Hall tells the story of an actual innocence case out of Tyler that was broken open by a Michigan podcaster. Conversation: Scott and Michael Hall rank the greatest American prison songs. The Last Hurrah: * DPS intel chief who warned of Mexican rapists arrested for sexual assault * Texas House members create criminal-justice reform caucus * Harris County bail lawsuit settled

Texas Legislature legalizes hemp and in the process may have accidentally made it impossible to prosecute workaday pot cases. But is this really a problem? In other news, a San Antonio Judge ignores due process on probation revocations. He may not be the only one. Reasonably Suspicious interviews Marc Levin, who offers strong suggestions for reforming probation and parole. Chris Harris discusses the rollback of Austin's anti-homelessness ordinances. And much more!

Rundown: what happened on justice reform bills with the Texas legislature? Dozens of Dallas cops got caught posting prejudice musings on Facebook. Just in time for primary season: what it really means to run for office as a progressive prosecutor in Texas. And a lot more!

Top Stories: Tuff-on-crime backlash against Dallas DA John Creuzot Marijuana penalty reduction bills at the Texas Legislature Fill in the Blank: Twin Peaks indictments all dismissed Texas cops are arresting tens of thousands for minor traffic offenses How will #cjreform advocates remember the 86th TX Legislature? The Last Hurrah $12k bail for $1 theft in Austin Travis County DA will reject "trace" drug cases Harris County DA is bleeding staff

Reasonably Suspicious recorded live from the Podcast Stage at SxSW this month, bringing in retired Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Elsa Alcala to talk about the evolution of her thinking on the death penalty, along with the latest on reforms moving at the Texas Legislature, from cannabis reform to stopping porch pirates. Update from Houston: deadly botched drug raid surfaces history of shady, corrupt drug enforcement.

The deadly, botched Houston drug raid has turned a spotlight on serious problems with militarized, no-knock raids aimed at small-time drug cases. Reasonably Suspicious explores the problem. Interview with Corrections Chairman James White looks at the pressure on local property tax payers created by an inefficient and bloated prison and jail system, and reforms that he believes can turn Texas around. Half a million people arrested and jailed on nonpayment of Class C misdemeanor fines -- mostly traffic ticket debt. What in the world do we think we're doing? Discussion with data analyst Chris Harris.

Lively discussion of the impact of the Dallas, Galveston and Houston bail lawsuits on bail reform legislation. Important bills you won't learn about anywhere else. Why police can continue to swab that white spot on your car seat, even though drug field tests have been discredited and drug charges against hundreds have been dismissed.

Opening: Pythons as stocking stuffers? What else! Top Story: Principles for progressive prosecutors Interview: Police-union negotiators Ron DeLord and Chris Perkins sit down with a now-familiar adversary, Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition, to discuss the aftermath of the year-long fight over the capital city's police-union contract. Home Court Advantage: When is it okay to electrocute a mentally ill defendant in court? Discussion of James Calvert oral arguments. Also, Ken-Paxton prosecutors de-funded, but at what cost to indigent defense? The Last Hurrah Dallas PD officer indicted for murder Lawsuit challenges driver surcharges Ray Hill, R.I.P.

November 2018 Reasonably Suspicious Elections: Judges opposing bail reform swept out of office, newly elected DAs promise big changes. Interview: Why Austin's new police contract is a big step forward for criminal justice reformers. Forensic Focus: Bill filed to eliminate forensic hypnosis Austin PD rape clearance rates inflated? Federal First Step Act teetering, needs Senate vote. Texas doesn't track children of incarcerated parents Journalist who made up quotes had other shortcomings

Lead stories, Houston's proposed sex robot ban, and clips from last week's in depth debate between Dallas' DA candidates on DA reform topics. Legislative update: what the legislature can do to reform Texas' unconstitutional bail system with a update on litigation in Dallas and Houston. Just for fun, we probe the reasons for racial disparities in DWI and marijuana cases in Houston, and more!

Top stories this month -- In blind tests, two thirds of crime labs falsely accuse an innocent person; as crime fell, why didn't prosecution rates; plea bargains that are not bargains at all.

Interview with ace ProPublica reporter Pam Colloff by Scott Henson of Just Liberty/Grits for Breakfast on her coverage of the Joe Bryan case, blood spatter evidence, and forensics generally. We also discussed criminal-justice podcasts she likes and the changing media landscape around justice reform.

This month, a man kidnaps a shark in a baby carriage. Top story: how Texas can finally end the long lines at the drivers license renewal centers. In depth: award winning journalist Pam Colloff on her latest investigation into junk science leading to false convictions.

A lively discussion of Texas criminal justice policy and politics. July, 2018 episode.

Special episode of Just Liberty's Reasonably Suspicious podcast created to promote platform planks at the 2018 Texas Democratic Party convention in Fort Worth. Hosted by Scott Henson, featuring interviews with state Rep. Gene Wu, Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition, as well as Kathy Mitchell and Sukyi McMahon, who are organizers with Just Liberty.

Justice needs a platform. Theme music

Just Liberty's special hour-long podcast aimed at promoting criminal justice reform at the 2018 Texas state GOP convention. Includes interviews with: Dr. Derek Cohen, Director of Right on Crime John Baucum, Chairman Emeritus of the Texas Young Republican Federation Charles Blain, Executive Director of the Restore Justice Project at Empower Texans Jason Isaac, President of the Conservative Coalition Research Institute Heather Fazio, Campaign for Responsible Marijuana Policy David Safavian, American Conservative Union Foundation

May 2018 Reasonably Suspicious podcast Here's what we discussed this month: Top Stories Prosecutors flailing with Twin Peaks biker massacre cases. Interview Scott talks to David Safavian of the American Conservative Union Foundation on why Texas should reduce penalties for low-level drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. Suspicious Mysteries Why have the number of arrests for DWI and drunkenness plunged in Texas since 2010. Death and Texas On the use of forensic hypnosis in death penalty cases. Stop the Train Promoting Just Liberty's new decarceration campaign and jingle. The Last Hurrah Russian troll farms most successful projects were Blue Lives Matter posts. With San Antonio launching a pilot program, what will it take to approve needle exchange programs in Texas? Texas' "subjugation rate" (the number of people in prison, jail, on probation and on parole) declined from 1 in 22 a decade ago to 1 in 41 today. What is the cause?

"Stop the Train" Theme music for Just Liberty decarceration campaigns.

Thank you for demanding a smaller, safer prison system. This is a first, key step to changing how the state thinks our tax dollars should be spent. No government agency will ever shrink itself, even when it might make sense. That’s why your help — right now when agency budgets are still in draft form — is so important. We’re excited about partnering with you and other Just Liberty supporters in 2019 to pass criminal-justice reform legislation that will continue our state’s “miracle” — reduced incarceration with greater public safety. If we can pass additional sentencing reforms, we will be able to shutter many more prisons in our bloated system. Listen to and download “Stop the Train,” our original new theme music for our decarceration campaigns!

April 2018 episode of the Reasonably Suspicious podcast co-hosted by Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo. Top Stories Travis County indigent defense system producing terrible outcomes. Texas Supreme Court to consider whether prosecutors can be fired for refusing to break the law. Listen to Just Liberty's new anti-incarceration/prison-closure jingle! (~9:00 mark.) Death and Texas Juan Castillo may be executed next month but courts haven't considered informant recantation. Fill in the Blank Litigation in Galveston County made national press after a judge refused to pay for defense-attorney investigation in misdemeanor case. Two Tarrant County cases show how politicized elections-based criminal prosecutions can be. Former Congressman Sylvestre Reyes authored a clueless column on Texas and the opiod crisis. The Last Hurrah Houston limits zoning for offender services. The Tyler Court of Appeals declared Texas' "revenge porn" statute unconstitutional. The Harris County Sheriff fired the deputy who shot Danny Ray Thomas, an unarmed black killed man amidst a psychotic episode while his pants around his ankles when he was killed.

March 2018 episode of Just Liberty's Reaonsably Suspicious podcast, covering Texas criminal-justice politics and policy. Featuring co-hosts Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo.

February 2018 episode of Just Liberty's Reaonsably Suspicious podcast, covering Texas criminal-justice politics and policy. Featuring co-hosts Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo. Top Stories Competitive Texas District Attorney primaries Texas Court of Criminal Appeals primary races Just Liberty's campaign to put #cjreform into party platforms Home Court Advantage Court of Criminal Appeals considers pretext stops Victim of prosecutor misconduct denied relief at 5th Circuit Errors and Updates Harris County loses bail litigation TDCJ settles heat litigation Management shakeup at Texas Department of Juvenile Justice The Last Hurrah Juvenile probationers in Harris County overincarcerated TDCJ wage hikes create problems for youth prison employee turnover Fort Worth and Austin opted out of Great Texas Warrant Roundup

January 2018 episode of the Reasonably Suspicious podcast from Just Liberty covering Texas criminal justice policy and politics. Cohosted by Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo Top Stories Banned books in TDCJ (featuring Lauren McGaughy): Why Mein Kampf is okay but The Color Purple is banned. Alleged interference at State Counsel for Offenders: Did TDCJ board dictate defense strategies? Interview Ron DeLord, founder of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas on police pensions, predicts defined benefit pensions for police will vanish within the next couple of decades. Errors and Updates Harris County magistrate judges sanctioned for bail SNAFU Austin police union declines to re-enter negotiations after contract rejected Interview Richard Whitaker: Father of a death row inmate, who is also one of his victims, asks the governor, parole board to spare his son's life. The Last Hurrah Latest Dallas exonerations based on prosecutor misconduct Quick results from drug-law change in Oklahoma Twin Peaks biker cases soon headed to trial

December 2017 edition of the Reasonably Suspicious Podcast from Just Liberty featuring JL Policy Director Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo, executive director of the Texas Defender Service. Top Stories US v. Carpenter: SCOTUS appears likely to require a warrant for cell-phone location data. Interview Brandi Grissom, discussing the staff-on-youth sex scandal at the Gainesville State School. Home Court Advantage Evaluating a sharply split decision from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upholding a first-degree felony drug conviction in which a police officer stole the product and laced sheetrock with less than a gram of cocaine to frame the defendant. (See prior Grits coverage.) Interview Peter Neufeld of the national Innocence Project, discussing forensic science reform. Errors and Updates Forensic hypnosis Austin City Council rejected police union contract DNA mixture evidence The Last Hurrah TDCJ prison understaffing and staff safety Death penalty use declining: A first for Harris County in 40 years Dallas pilot program de-escalates mental-health calls by sending medical staff instead of cops

November 2017 edition of Just Liberty's Reasonably Suspicious podcast featuring JL policy director Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo, executive director of the Texas Defender Service. Top Stories The Louisiana Supreme Court said a man who told police "Why don't you just give me a lawyer, dawg?" wasn't really asking for a lawyer. But this is common. A recent Texas case denied an attorney on the same basis. Risk assessments have come under fire from liberals for generating racial disparities. What are the implications for using them as part of Harris County bail reform? Game Segment: Tea Leaf Reading Looking forward to criminal-justice-related interim charges at the Texas Legislature. Appropriate treatment, services to offenders aged 17-25 to reduce recidivism, future crime. (See an earlier podcast segment on the topic.) Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: Front-end and back-end solutions. Death and Texas US Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Ayestas v. Davis, seeking funds for investigation into an ineffective assistance claim. A state district court considers Ex Parte Flores in which the key eyewitness was subjected to hypnosis before changing her ID of the suspect. She at first told police the suspect was a white man with long hair. Mr. Flores is an Hispanic man with short hair. The Last Hurrah Rapid fire quick takes: USDOJ deleted 70% of tables from the newest edition of the national Uniform Crime Reports. A new study says police bodycams haven't changed police behavior. Why is that? Rent to own furniture companies as modern debtors prisons.

October 2017 Reasonably Suspicious Podcast from Just Liberty Contents: Top Stories: The Police Union Playbook on Reacting to Critical Incidents If Harris County prosecutors are screening arrests, why are so many people arrested for Class C misdemeanors? Interviews: Sukyi McMahon and Kathy Mitchell on the Austin police union contract Scott Henson interviews Campaign Zero's Sam Sinyangwe on why liberals and conservatives are both reluctant to criticize police union excesses Game segment: Fill in the blank. Bexar and Dallas Counties cease arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Court of Criminal Appeals still denying DNA testing to capital defendants Real costs of incarceration top $1 billion nationally The Last Hurrah Unions now a minority at Dallas police pension board Time to make the Austin crime lab independent? Bipartisan push in Congress for asset forfeiture reform

September, 2017 edition of Just Liberty's "Reasonably Suspicious" podcast covering Texas criminal-justice policy and politics. Featuring: Just Liberty's Policy Director, Scott Henson, and Amanda Marzullo, Executive Director of the Texas Defender Service. Topics covered: Top Stories Police-union pension crisis predicted by Ron DeLord Prosecutors ill-advised to withhold witness statements Big implications for Harris County bail-reform litigation Forensic Follies Junk Science Writs and the Goldilocks Problem First DNA-mixture "black box" broken open Last Hurrah (quick takes)

Just Liberty's latest "Reasonably Suspicious" podcast for August features discussions of important issues and fresh ideas confronting Texas' criminal justice system. Topics covered include: Jim Bethke leaving TX Indigent Defense Commission "Cap and Trade" proposal to minimize incarceration DPS crime lab fees on hold, but crisis lingers DNA mixture evidence and Texas courts What can judges do to minimize debtors prison practices? Brain science and capital crimes by young adults And more!

Check out the latest "Reasonably Suspicious" podcast from Just Liberty, hosted by your correspondent and Amanda Marzullo of the Texas Defender Service. This month's episode features an excerpt from an interview with House Corrections Chair James White (I'll publish our full conversation later in the week) plus a discussion of a new petition for rule making, which will be submitted on Monday by Just Liberty to the Texas Department of Public Safety, calling for limits on arrests for non-jailable offenses. Also, be among the first to hear the new, original music produced for the podcast by Gabe Rhodes and an all-star crew of musicians.

A review of criminal-justice reform legislation from the 85th Texas Legislature - featuring Just Liberty's Policy Director Scott Henson and Texas Defender Service Executive Director Amanda Marzullo