Good criminal justice coverage from Texas Observer

There are a couple of interesting stories up at the Texas Observer on topics this blog has covered that merit Grits readers' attention. Check them out:

• Checkpoint Carlitos: Why did DPS set up checkpoints in the Valley?
• Study shows why Houston's Public Defender program is worth the cost

See related, recent Grits posts:

• 'Show me your papers comrade': DPS vehicle checkpoints further degrade Fourth Amendment
• DPS backs of S. Texas roadblocks after dubious justifications debunked
• On the dubious constitutionality of DPS roadblocks
• Harris Co. Public Defender achieves much better results than assigned counsel

MEA CULPA: BTW, after Grits' earlier write-up of the Council of State Governments Justice Center report on the Harris Co. Public Defender program, a couple of people have told me I was remiss not to credit Jessica Tyler as a report author in addition to Tony Fabelo and Carl Reynolds, as apparently she did the bulk of the work on the document. I've never met Ms. Tyler, but if and when I do, the first round is on me. Grits regrets the omission and appreciates her efforts producing the report.