Friday, September 22, 2017

Texas not among states arresting prison visitors for traffic warrants

In Michigan, state prisons arrest visitors who arrive with outstanding traffic warrants, running their names and arresting them while they wait, the Marshall Project reported.

Grits emailed Jason Clark, spokesperson at TDCJ, to ask if Texas prisons did something similar. For the record, he replied, "No sir, we do not."

Glad to hear it.

3 comments:

Ray Collins said...

For a couple of years about 25 years ago, I went into the Ferguson Unit monthly with a group of men who were part o Kairos. We routinely told new people that they would be arrested on warrants at the gate. Glad to hear that has changed.

Anonymous said...

I, too, am glad to hear they don't do that (or that the policy changed). But I'm bothered I can't put my finger on what's so wrong with such a policy.

I only say that because it is routine and accepted that a bored patrolman can "run" a license plate on a car he's idling behind at a drive-thru -- and pull them over if they get a warrant hit.

So..... Just running around out in public going about my daily business could result in a warrant check. But going to a prison (where, by the way, they can physically search you) does not. I'm not saying I hate it, it's just kinda...weird.

James S.

Anonymous said...

But I believe Harris County might.