tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7911765601405066732..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Notable TX criminal justice legislation from the first day of bill filingGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75807170138425360952014-11-14T13:36:36.146-06:002014-11-14T13:36:36.146-06:00Wasn't texting and driving bill filed first da...Wasn't texting and driving bill filed first day? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-77174706312839657592014-11-14T11:10:42.696-06:002014-11-14T11:10:42.696-06:00Ban red-light cameras. How we gonna claim we innoc...Ban red-light cameras. How we gonna claim we innocent when they got us on camera?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-45240670408742794822014-11-13T14:51:36.180-06:002014-11-13T14:51:36.180-06:00Grits, thanks for bringing this one to readers att...Grits, thanks for bringing this one to readers attention.<br /><br />"Nuther try for an innocence commission"<br /><br />Just remember, any commission or committee seeking to learn the real causes and remedies being devoid of multiple member(s) having been falsely arrested & wrongfully convicted via various methods utilized over the last three or so decades, is a sham. I'll let you know what the authors have to say about the potential make up of members and if they have any experience in the field. Get it? <br /><br />ThanksThomas R. Griffithhttp://www.projectnotguilty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83045396096048123092014-11-13T08:06:10.194-06:002014-11-13T08:06:10.194-06:00Trigger Mortis, you're right, I did miss that ...Trigger Mortis, you're right, I did miss that first time around. Will get to it soon: I bet it gets a hearing, at least.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44266016410693568832014-11-13T01:00:19.925-06:002014-11-13T01:00:19.925-06:00this is very nice!
"Anonymous said...
Dear l...this is very nice!<br /><br />"Anonymous said...<br />Dear legislature,<br />How about a bill designed to give Due Process to registered sex offenders (RSO)? Especially those who's conviction pre-date the enactment of these laws which violate Ex Post Facto. What would be the harm in allowing an RSO to go before a judge to show cause why he/she should not be on the registry? It could even be adversarial; meaning, that the state or parole board, could send their advocate to dispute the petitioner's attempt at coming off the registry. Again, what would be be the harm in allowing this process? At least it would give a person some measure of Due Process, something the current process does not. They just slap this stuff on you without a hearing, without a court's finding of future dangerousness or anything, they just do it and that my friends is very dangerous for everyone. Therefore, if someone could get this idea to say, Rep Whitmire and ask this to be at least looked at this would be a good start at giving RSOs their life back and indeed, their manhood back.<br /><br />11/12/2014 09:04:00 AM"<br /><br />but I see no reason to make an illegal on it's face system LEGAL.<br /><br />Sorry but under our LEGAL constitution in any conflict between the state and a citizen the burden of proof is supposed to be on the STATE not the defendant.<br /><br />Sorry but if the state thinks "x" is just so damn dangerous they want to put them on retroactive illegal parole and track them for life. THEN PROVE IT! to a REAL JUDGE. not the new illegal so-called sex offender civil commitment judges.<br /><br />right now every gov't agent involved in the current sytem is a traitor to their oath of office to uphold and protect the United States Constitution.<br /><br />That means legally we CAN remove you if we want. No matter HOW we have to do it.<br /> rodsmithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84995217801706112112014-11-12T23:14:38.990-06:002014-11-12T23:14:38.990-06:00Grits I want to be Tarzan, save Jane, and kick sup...Grits I want to be Tarzan, save Jane, and kick superman in his arce and save Louis Lane. Which party do I belong?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28465708909116607042014-11-12T18:44:59.095-06:002014-11-12T18:44:59.095-06:00Grits
perhaps not as many places have ridiculous k...Grits<br />perhaps not as many places have ridiculous knife-laws. The "Second Amendment crowd" does talk about bearing and possessing knives, at least on Ammo Land. <br /><br /><br />~~<br />LAVA<br />~~Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70643057654535639782014-11-12T18:20:15.246-06:002014-11-12T18:20:15.246-06:00Seems you missed SB 135, which does away with the ...Seems you missed SB 135, which does away with the key-man system of empaneling grand juries. IMO, this is the most important of them all. <br /><br />Unfortunately, cops, prosecutors, and even judges will kill this bill before it makes it to committee in order to keep control of their real power.TriggerMortishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488782801153643342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70264745535412186772014-11-12T14:59:14.010-06:002014-11-12T14:59:14.010-06:00Start with Comal County and their abusive treatmen...Start with Comal County and their abusive treatment of older populations. Being retired, going to Comal County is like going on a vacation to Germany as a Jew during WWII.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59789704812902107082014-11-12T14:32:22.311-06:002014-11-12T14:32:22.311-06:00To MWJ,
as long as it is mandated to oversee count...To MWJ,<br />as long as it is mandated to oversee county jails too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-75015916239710081892014-11-12T13:54:48.720-06:002014-11-12T13:54:48.720-06:00This is a P.S. to my earlier comment:
Texas CURE h...This is a P.S. to my earlier comment:<br />Texas CURE has joined the efforts of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, the Texas Inmate Family Association, Texas Voices for Reason and Justice, and the Texas Civil Rights Project in pushing for an adult version of the OIO.Michael W. Jewell, President, Texas CUREnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46835160354335527482014-11-12T13:38:23.111-06:002014-11-12T13:38:23.111-06:00During the last legislative session Rep. Alma Alle...During the last legislative session Rep. Alma Allen introduced HB 877, which called for an Independent Oversight Committee to act as watch dog over the prison system. Texas Cure had representatives who testified at the hearing in support of the bill, but alas, it died in committee. An oversight committee would not only serve to protect the constitutional rights of prisoners, it would save Texas taxpayers train loads of money. The prison system has shelled out billions of dollars as a result of prisoner litigation. In hindsight we realize that HB 877 was not the best solution.<br /><br /> A perfect model for a prison oversight committee is the Office of the Independent Ombudsman that monitors the Juvenile Justice system, which was established as part of the initial juvenile justice reforms in 2007. The OIO was established for the purpose of investigating, evaluating and securing the rights of children committed to state juvenile justice facilities, which before creation of the Ombudsman's office was a virtual feeding ground for sexual predators and child abusers. Now, we seldom hear of violations in juvenile facilities.<br /> <br />Texas is in dire need of an adult version of the OIO that would investigate, evaluate, and secure the rights of Texas prisoners.<br /><br />Michael W. Jewell, President, Texas CUREnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4141267698585200382014-11-12T11:59:21.578-06:002014-11-12T11:59:21.578-06:00A bill to disallow the BPP reason for denial of pa...A bill to disallow the BPP reason for denial of parole of "insufficient time served" and "nature of offence" would be good. The inmate cannot do anything about either of those things after the fact, and especially in the case of time served, the BPP are basically saying they don't agree with the sentence and that's not their job.<br /><br />A bill to require TDCJ to permit inmates the ability to call overseas would be really nice too.sunray's wenchhttp://lookingforthecabinbythelake.blogspot.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-66787258818645134382014-11-12T11:08:19.715-06:002014-11-12T11:08:19.715-06:00Hopefully the ban on texting and driving will have...Hopefully the ban on texting and driving will have make it past the governor's desk this year. Hopefully the new governor will look more favorably on the bill.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-71946544361063715832014-11-12T10:13:23.315-06:002014-11-12T10:13:23.315-06:00I would sure like to see a bill taking away the au...I would sure like to see a bill taking away the authority of DPS to ignore legislative mandate of full fingerprinting when applying for and renewing licenses. It's a gross overreach of personal privacy and rights.caseymagnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-22565230943872612332014-11-12T09:04:15.591-06:002014-11-12T09:04:15.591-06:00Dear legislature,
How about a bill designed to giv...Dear legislature,<br />How about a bill designed to give Due Process to registered sex offenders (RSO)? Especially those who's conviction pre-date the enactment of these laws which violate Ex Post Facto. What would be the harm in allowing an RSO to go before a judge to show cause why he/she should not be on the registry? It could even be adversarial; meaning, that the state or parole board, could send their advocate to dispute the petitioner's attempt at coming off the registry. Again, what would be be the harm in allowing this process? At least it would give a person some measure of Due Process, something the current process does not. They just slap this stuff on you without a hearing, without a court's finding of future dangerousness or anything, they just do it and that my friends is very dangerous for everyone. Therefore, if someone could get this idea to say, Rep Whitmire and ask this to be at least looked at this would be a good start at giving RSOs their life back and indeed, their manhood back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4138856509756518452014-11-12T08:13:35.673-06:002014-11-12T08:13:35.673-06:00@sunray, I don't know those data, though I do ...@sunray, I don't know those data, though I do know that suicides are <a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2008/09/most-texas-gun-deaths-are-suicides.html" rel="nofollow">more common</a> than homicides.<br /><br />I don't doubt that more guns in the home means a greater chance of accidents, suicides, etc. (though I haven't seen data one way or the other re: concealed carry househols). I only dispute that the advent of concealed carry or the loosening of gun laws caused homicides to rise - the numbers don't bear that out.<br /><br />OTOH, I do NOT believe concealed carry, Castle doctrine, etc., reduced violent crime. The data don't bear out that meme, either, since states without those laws saw steeper crime declines. IMO <a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2012/06/hypothesizing-reasons-for-continued.html" rel="nofollow">other factors</a> are at play.<br /><br />On the DRP - Pickett thinks abolition can't be done so won't try. And it may be true that HE can't do it. They need GOP leadership to get it done.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-61815399345674835162014-11-12T08:00:20.843-06:002014-11-12T08:00:20.843-06:00When compared to the national average Texas incarc...When compared to the national average Texas incarcerates 45% more individuals. That 50,000 inmates and with an annual cost of $3.3 billion that's an extra $1.0 in costs. Texas also ranks 49th in per capita spending for public education. To put in in stark terms, two inmates equals the cost of one new teacher. Which is better for the future of Texas?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-3454894259229137482014-11-12T00:28:30.427-06:002014-11-12T00:28:30.427-06:00Scott - does the concealed carry also relate to lo...Scott - does the concealed carry also relate to lower accidental deaths and injuries from guns too?<br /><br />There needs to be some kind of sanity test with new laws (in any juristiction). I don't see how most of those mentioned actualy help anyone.sunray's wenchhttp://texasprisonsupport.createaforum.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-62166576776504414242014-11-11T22:25:21.908-06:002014-11-11T22:25:21.908-06:00Has the DRP ever been challenged in the courts and...Has the DRP ever been challenged in the courts and if so, how high? It looks like double jeopardy to me. It also amazes me that Rep. Pickett in El Paso is the chair of this committee and he continues to find ways to continue this failure yet has the highest amount of people not paying it. Isn't that right? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-83819195577399074742014-11-11T22:20:19.724-06:002014-11-11T22:20:19.724-06:00Ditto 5:43. Ditto 5:43. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-42270430150394122432014-11-11T17:43:18.609-06:002014-11-11T17:43:18.609-06:00Sure would hate to see the DRP get continued on th...Sure would hate to see the DRP get continued on the feel-good reason of funding trauma centers. If trauma centers are to be funded that money should come from more income streams that just DRP.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67049612293459430202014-11-11T15:18:32.712-06:002014-11-11T15:18:32.712-06:00I get all that, and that was going to be my point ...I get all that, and that was going to be my point as well. I guess I read something else into the way you phrased your 'naysayer' comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-67323017866143296302014-11-11T13:32:56.708-06:002014-11-11T13:32:56.708-06:00@Jason, I have never claimed that concealed carry,...@Jason, I have never claimed that concealed carry, etc., reduced crime. New York's murder rate fell much more than ours and they have strict gun laws. OTOH, Chicago and D.C. have strict gun laws and relatively high murder rates.<br /><br />My point was that Texas' murder rates fell significantly in the years following passage of concealed carry - not as much as in New York but still, to a remarkable degree. Liberal demagoguery claiming concealed carry would result in shootouts in the streets turned out to be patently false. The opposite occurred and more guns empirically did not result in more murders.<br /><br />@1:26, this was a new revenue stream for trauma centers, it didn't replace other revenue.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-59890175477865744072014-11-11T13:26:43.551-06:002014-11-11T13:26:43.551-06:00Re: surcharge bill: what were they doing before th...Re: surcharge bill: what were they doing before that flunky passed the first time with regard to trauma care? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com