THE SEARCH FOR A FORGOTTEN ACTIVIST—Marty Goddard, pioneer of the modern forensic “rape kit”—takes a deep dive into the vagaries of the US justice system and the many ways it grinds down the most vulnerable, including Ms. Goddard herself. A MINUS

THE SEARCH FOR A FORGOTTEN ACTIVIST—Marty Goddard, pioneer of the modern forensic “rape kit”—takes a deep dive into the vagaries of the US justice system and the many ways it grinds down the most vulnerable, including Ms. Goddard herself. A MINUS
Following a Verite News and ProPublica investigation, a district judge vacated the death sentence of Jimmie Duncan, whose 1998 murder conviction was based on allegedly fabricated bite mark analysis. It remains unclear if Duncan will walk free.
Louisiana Judge Nullifies Death Row Inmate’s Murder Conviction Based on Junk Science
https://www.propublica.org/article/jimmie-duncan-murder-conviction-nullified-death-row
Since late January, nearly 200 county, city, and state law enforcement agencies have signed what are known as 287(g) task force model agreements with #ICE. These agencies operate in 23 states, with a whopping 137 in Florida. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-287g-ice-army/
Our top story: A shocking case of police brutality in school. But #Trump’s gutting of the Education Department could stymie justice for 17-year-old Ja’Liyah Celestine.
https://www.texasobserver.org/beaumont-pepper-spray-school-department-education/
On July 7, 2022, Chad LaVia received a shocking bill for $14,320 in fees for his year of incarceration in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
After being found not guilty, facing this debt felt not just unreasonable, but insulting.
New from Francesca D'Annunzio: To augment its roughly 6,000 #ICE deportation agents, the #Trump administration has enlisted the help of other federal agencies including the DEA and IRS. But an even more significant expansion may be playing out at county and municipal levels. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-287g-ice-army/
Law Commission of Ontario publishes issue papers on artificial intelligence in criminal justice https://www.byteseu.com/949818/ #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #CriminalJustice #LCO
“We oppose this execution as we do every execution. Capital punishment is an act of state sanctioned violence that violates the sacred dignity of every human life.”
Texas is scheduled to execute Moises Mendoza today. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-death-row-moises-mendoza/
Somehow at work I've become not only the plastic furniture fuhrer, but also the narcan czar and now the bathroom boss. This is not what I had in mind for a career path in criminal justice. #lifegoals #career #criminaljustice
Sec of State #MarcoRubio announced major reorganizatin of the #StateDepartment which includes a 15% reduction in total staff and the number of bureaus reduced from 734 to 602.… Tyler McBrien, Editor of #Lawfare: “The new State Department reorg pretty much cuts all departments related to global #women’s issues, global #criminaljustice, #conflict stabilization operations, #trafficking in persons, and international #ReligiousFreedom offices/bureaus.” #diplomacy #government #trump #russia #china
The May/June 2025 issue of Texas Observer magazine will be out starting May 1, featuring stories from Candice Bernd, Michelle Pitcher, Brant Deboer and more.
Become a member to support our work, and get the best of our reporting in our magazine.
New from Michelle Pitcher: 41-year old Moises Mendoza has spent half his life on death row. Texas plans to execute him on Wednesday, April 23. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-death-row-moises-mendoza/
"We do not, and for the most part cannot, know precisely who is under the executioner’s hood. State secrecy statutes put the equivalent of a Harry Potter cloak of invisibility over these state-sanctioned killers. But litigation files and investigative journalism have revealed a number of executioners’ identities, allowing us to peek behind the veil of secrecy for a glimpse of who these people are."
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/17/death-row-executioners
#ICYMI: “People are scared to go out because they go out with their kids, and they don’t want to go to a place where (people are) going to show up with guns to check whether they’re a U.S. citizen or not. That was very upsetting for a lot of people.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/ice-raids-abbys-bakery-valley-los-fresnos/
Our top story: Operation Lone Star has turbocharged DPS’ surveillance capabilities. Lawmakers say they want to prevent Texas from becoming a police state but have filed only modest legislation to regulate use of #AI.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/
“The history of Lawrence represents LGBTQ+ people’s struggle to be fully seen as human rather than as criminals and deviants ...”
I'm gradually crossposting my @TexasObserver stories onto my website. This article illuminates how decades of queer activism in #Texas ushered in a landmark #SCOTUS ruling. https://kitoconnell.com/2023/02/09/lawrence-v-texas-phelps-review/
#LGBTQIA+ #history #law #HumanRights #CriminalJustice #activism #Dallas #books #bookstodon
I've been gradually crossposting my @TexasObserver stories onto my website. Using a history book as a jumping off point, this article illuminates how decades of queer activism in #Texas ushered in a landmark #SCOTUS ruling that changed people's lives. https://kitoconnell.com/2023/02/09/lawrence-v-texas-phelps-review/
#LGBTQIA+ #history #law #HumanRights #CriminalJustice #activism #Dallas #books #bookstodon
German climate activist faces expulsion from Austria after ban | National https://www.byteseu.com/918877/ #Austria #CommonLaw #Crime #CriminalJustice #CriminalLaw #Government #HumanRights #IssuesInEthics #justice #LastGeneration(climateMovement) #LAW #LawEnforcement #partners/afp #Politics #PublicLaw #PublicSphere #SocialIssues
“We’ve kind of forgotten about how big a behemoth the government has become as a surveiller of its populace.”
Our top story: Unpacking the millions spent on #AI-based surveillance of the border ... and how the state's gaze has expanded well beyond the edges of our nation. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/