The Latest Breaking News from Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Despite Surge in Prison Overdoses, State Agency Requests No New Treatment Funding

“Funding drug interdiction alone is a misguided approach,” one state senator told the Observer. “The state must also address the ongoing problem of addiction in our prison system through treatment and rehabilitation, in addition to prevention.”

Texas Observer · Oct 15

Texas appeals order requiring prison air conditioning, saying it puts operations at risk

TDCJ, which estimates climate control will cost $1.5 billion, said the federal judge’s order imposes “chaos and confusion” on the country’s largest prison system.

The Texas Tribune · Oct 12

A Texas woman was on death row for 27 years. But questions over a key witness could have her soon walk free from prison

Brittany Holberg’s murder conviction has been passed down to the district court after the prosecution failed to provide a key piece of evidence: their lead witness was a paid informant, James Liddell writes.

The Independent UK · Mar 23, 2025

Texas prison system’s staffing crisis and outdated technology endanger guards and inmates

A new state report says the prison population will outgrow capacity by the end of next year.

The Texas Tribune · Oct 1, 2024

Texas Man Executed For Killing 3-Month-Old Son

Travis Mullis executed in Texas for killing his son, sparking debate on capital punishment.

Top News · Sep 25, 2024

Texas executes man, 41, who committed murder as a teen then served as spiritual advisor to prison inmates

Ramiro Gonzales died by lethal injection and was pronounced dead at 6.50pm at the State Penitentiary in Huntsville

The Independent UK · Jun 26, 2024

Texas inmate killed by cellmate during a statewide prison lockdown

The killing of inmate Billy Chemirmir in the Coffield Unit occurred during a statewide lockdown of prisons, promoted by a rise in inmate homicides. A day before the lockdown, another incident at the same prison resulted in the firings of seven correctional officers and the resignations of another six.

The Texas Tribune · Sep 21, 2023

Billy Chemirmir preyed on elderly women in a murder spree that landed him behind bars. Then he was killed by his own cellmate

Under the guise of being a healthcare aide, he would slip into their rooms where he’d smother them and steal their valuables. How a jewelry box led police to a Texas serial killer. Andrea Cavallier reports

The Independent UK · Sep 19, 2023

Life with Parole

Probation and parole systems remain understaffed and buggy in Texas, causing people to fall through the cracks and land in prison.

Texas Observer · Jun 15, 2023

Aging state vehicle fleet fuels tens of millions in new money requests by agencies

Many state-owned vehicles are aging past the standards for replacement. Early budget drafts signal that lawmakers are considering funding some $237.6 million in requests for new ones.

The Texas Tribune · Mar 3, 2023