Scott Henson discusses recent police budget changes in Austin with Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition, a conversation that surfaces some telling details about the history of policing in Texas.

Reasonably Suspicious

Reasonably Suspicious, September 2020

This month, Mandy and I discuss how police licensing agencies can weed out bad cops, what 911 calls EMS could take over from police, and unveil a new jingle from Just Liberty and the Austin Justice Coalition aiming to oust Austin police Chief Brian Manley. Here's what's in this month's episode: Top Stories Police licensing agency in Texas undergoing comprehensive review: How to fix it. (2:50) EMS union head tells how police responses to 911 calls can be reduced: Analyzing Austin 911 call-center data. (12:17) New jingle from Just Liberty, Austin Justice Coalition, calls for Austin police chief's ouster. (23:25) Something, Nothing, or Everything? Reviewing new Texas public opinion polling on criminal-justice topics. (31:07) Progressive challenger Jose Garza defeats incumbent Margaret Moore in Travis County District Attorney primary runoff. (35:15) Audit of Houston PD Narcotics Division finally released (38:23) The Last Hurrah (47:45) 5 years since Sandra Bland's death: What's next? Texas and feds both resumed executions: Feds are a bigger deal. San Antonio PD can't fire bad cops: 70% of terminated officers get back on the force.

Reasonably Suspicious July 2020

Join us for a roundup of topics related to the continuing police protests, the policies and laws that are supposed to keep police in line, and the people who are trying to figure out how to change things. Top story: Reflecting on the George Floyd protests, including an interview with Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition. Fill in the Blank Was George Floyd set up by a crooked Houston narcotics cop? The policy behind the slogan of "Defunding Police" Texas' anachronistic "riot" laws The Last Hurrah Cops in schools How cops spend their time How does Austin police Chief Brian Manley still have a job?

Reasonably Suspicious June 2020 Special Police Edition

How bad must a police chief be for community groups to call for the ouster of public safety leadership during COVID-19? Very bad indeed. Meanwhile, virus spreads in Texas prisons and jails with tens of thousands on lockdown. Ongoing coverage of the fight to free Rosa Jimenez, Joe Bryan and the dozens of people convicted thanks to corrupt Houston police officer Gerald Goines.

Reasonably Suspicious is BACK!! May 2020

While Just Mercy launches with huge fanfare and forums all around the state this month, two Texas innocence cases languish. Despite a dressing down by a federal judge (we recorded it for you)Travis County DA Margaret Moore can't accept the decision of four judges and several experts in the Rosa Jimenez case. Meanwhile, the Texas parole board is the last hope for Joe Bryan, the Bosque County school principal falsely convicted in 1985 based on erroneous blood-spatter testimony. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals says Texas prison guards couldn't have known it was a problem to keep a prisoner naked sleeping in feces and urine for six days. (And really, how could anyone have guessed?) Police practices back in the news, thanks in part to a feisty Travis County primary.

Reasonably Suspicious January 2020

Enjoy Grits' Christmas Poem: "If The Whos Were Us" Top Stories Why high fines and fees are a plague on the criminal-justice system. What recent Texas innocent cases tell us about needed policy reforms. Year in Review: Fill in the Blank Bail reform in Harris County Abolition of the Driver Responsibility surcharge Texas Legislature unintentionally decriminalizes marijuana More prosecutors going after cops in police shootings The Last Hurrah Care for seniors makes up half of Texas prison health budget Prison supervisor busted in contraband scheme How Potter County lost ALL its historic criminal-court data to a ransomware attack and what it means

Reasonably Suspicious Christmas Edition 2019

Houston drug cops now facing federal and state charges, but that may be the tip of the iceburg. Houston PD narcotics division a black hole of bad practices. In other news... Victoria County Jail death from drug withdrawal Racist Austin PD chief outed, what's next? Indigent defense shortchanged in Amarillo Denouement of Harris County bail litigation Why Greg Abbott owns a homeless camp Rodney Reed execution stayed

Reasonably Suspicious November 2019

This month, my cohost Amanda Marzullo and I interviewed attorneys for Rodney Reed, who is on death row with an execution date of November 20th. We plumbed unknowable but interesting questions about misdemeanor arrests, discussed the sad, grim, story of Atatiana Jefferson's shooting in Fort Worth, and complained that the time spent reading and talking about a new ACLU report on how to end mass incarceration is time we'll never get back again. But hey, now you don't have to! :) Top Stories First takes on the Atatiana Jefferson shooting in Fort Worth (2:34) Evaluating ACLU decarceration recommendations for Texas (8:34) Interview This month, Mandy and I spoke to Bryce Benjet of the national Innocence Project and Quinncy McNeal of Mayer Brown in Houston on the Rodney Reed case. Reed is scheduled to be executed on November 20th. (14:38) This is excerpted from a longer conversation. I'll publish the full interview, which goes into more detail about debunked forensic testimony in the case, separately in a couple of days. Suspicious Mysteries Why have misdemeanor arrests declined? Why didn't they decline earlier when crime first dropped? What do we really know about why crime dropped or the relationship between crime and arrests? Mandy and I discuss some known unknowns. (27:15) The Last Hurrah (36:40) Hard to reprimand Texas judges Years-long backlogs at crime labs Message sent by jury in prison-guard murder trial

Reasonably Suspicious October 2019 Rodney Reed Edition

Texas prisons may soon get a half billion dollar medical bill: why they have to pay it. Top Stories Harris and Galveston County bail litigation - 1:40 HPD Chief Art Acevedo demagogues on bail reform - 10:30 Interview: Attorney Scott Medlock on TDCJ Hep C lawsuit - 14:45 Fill in the Blank TPPF on police union politics - 27:45 Crime debates in Houston mayor's race - 32:45 The Last Hurrah (37:25) DPS stops patrols in Dallas Do Dallas police murder indictments signal changing attitudes? Oklahoma parole changes a model for Texas?

Reasonably Suspicious September 2019 #CJreform in a Time of Demagoguery

Texas Monthly's Michael Hall stops by to tell us about the latest innocence case he's been covering out of Tyler, and a special segment in which he and I rank the greatest American prison songs. Top Story: Hemp SNAFU led to de facto natural decrim experiment for marijuana in many counties. Interview: Texas Monthly's Michael Hall tells the story of an actual innocence case out of Tyler that was broken open by a Michigan podcaster. Conversation: Scott and Michael Hall rank the greatest American prison songs. The Last Hurrah: * DPS intel chief who warned of Mexican rapists arrested for sexual assault * Texas House members create criminal-justice reform caucus * Harris County bail lawsuit settled

Reasonably Suspicious August 2019

Texas Legislature legalizes hemp and in the process may have accidentally made it impossible to prosecute workaday pot cases. But is this really a problem? In other news, a San Antonio Judge ignores due process on probation revocations. He may not be the only one. Reasonably Suspicious interviews Marc Levin, who offers strong suggestions for reforming probation and parole. Chris Harris discusses the rollback of Austin's anti-homelessness ordinances. And much more!

Is it a problem? Really? Is it? Reasonably Suspicious July 2019

Rundown: what happened on justice reform bills with the Texas legislature? Dozens of Dallas cops got caught posting prejudice musings on Facebook. Just in time for primary season: what it really means to run for office as a progressive prosecutor in Texas. And a lot more!

June 2019 Reasonably Suspicious: So little criminal justice reform this session!

Top Stories: Tuff-on-crime backlash against Dallas DA John Creuzot Marijuana penalty reduction bills at the Texas Legislature Fill in the Blank: Twin Peaks indictments all dismissed Texas cops are arresting tens of thousands for minor traffic offenses How will #cjreform advocates remember the 86th TX Legislature? The Last Hurrah $12k bail for $1 theft in Austin Travis County DA will reject "trace" drug cases Harris County DA is bleeding staff

Creuzot under attack, weed under the dome -- April 2019

Reasonably Suspicious recorded live from the Podcast Stage at SxSW this month, bringing in retired Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Elsa Alcala to talk about the evolution of her thinking on the death penalty, along with the latest on reforms moving at the Texas Legislature, from cannabis reform to stopping porch pirates. Update from Houston: deadly botched drug raid surfaces history of shady, corrupt drug enforcement.

Reasonably Suspicious Live from SxSW, March 2019

The deadly, botched Houston drug raid has turned a spotlight on serious problems with militarized, no-knock raids aimed at small-time drug cases. Reasonably Suspicious explores the problem. Interview with Corrections Chairman James White looks at the pressure on local property tax payers created by an inefficient and bloated prison and jail system, and reforms that he believes can turn Texas around. Half a million people arrested and jailed on nonpayment of Class C misdemeanor fines -- mostly traffic ticket debt. What in the world do we think we're doing? Discussion with data analyst Chris Harris.

Reasonably Suspicious February 2019

Reasonably Suspicious is Just Liberty's monthly podcast on criminal justice issues. Just Liberty is a bipartisan 501c(4) organization dedicated to comprehensive criminal justice reform in Texas.

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