Can Police Search Your Cell Phone Without a Warrant?
Think back to your high school history class. Can you remember the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution? If it’s not on the tip of your tongue, you’re not alone. Most Americans are woefully unaware of their constitutional rights. But the contents of that amendment are worth remembering – it prohibits searches of your personal property, and that includes your cell phone. Constitutional amendments are one thing, but do they hold up in real life? The…
A Guide to Harris County’s Landmark Bail Reform
The push towards bail reform is a natural consequence of mass incarceration in the United States. The condition is widespread: Americans who can’t afford bail can’t get out of jail, and it’s costing the government over $1 billion per year. Thousands of people today are locked up even if presumed innocent because they can’t pay. But with recent changes to Harris County’s court system, things are moving along at a rapid rate for bail reform.
The Deep Criminal History of the Man Who Murdered Sandeep Dhaliwal
On September 27, Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, 42, was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop by repeat offender Robert Solis. He was the first observant Sikh to become a sheriff’s deputy in Harris County. The fatal traffic stop took place at 12:23 p.m. local time. It went normally at first until Deputy Dhaliwal walked back toward his vehicle. At this time, Robert Solis exited his car and ran toward Dhaliwal from…
Hurricanes and Inmate Overpopulation: The Impact on Harris County Jail Staff and Inmates
Ever since Hurricane Harvey demolished the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in downtown Houston in 2017, the justice system has been facing a backlog of mounting cases. This has been increasing the pressure put on the Harris County Jail—including its growing population of inmates. Related: A Grim Look Into Prison Life in Harris County Harris County Jail’s Inmate Overpopulation Takes a Toll on Staff According to Darryl Coleman, the chief of the Criminal Justice Command…
The Damon Allen Act: What it is, and Why it Matters
In August of last year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed the Damon Allen Act. This bill is a set of proposals aimed at protecting police officers and communities after a repeat-criminal gunned down a Texas trooper last Thanksgiving. In fact, there are two sets of bail reform bills named after a Texas trooper killed by a suspect out of jail on bond. Both for assaulting a sheriff’s deputy. The criminal in Damon Allen’s case had not…