Reasonably Suspicious Just Liberty

We started with a discussion of the hearing on the Texas George Floyd Act and then broke down aspects of the bill we didn't get to in Part One:
1. Qualified Immunity, featuring interviews with Arif Panju and Keith Neely from the Institute for Justice (4:50)
2. Corroboration in Drug Cases, featuring an interview with Innocence Project of Texas founder Jeff Blackburn (13:45)
3. Use of Force and Duties to Intervene/Render Aid (19:29)

When is Slavery Profitable? Texas prisons operate several agricultural businesses in which they can't break even using prisoners' slave labor. Can you guess which ones they are? (27:40)

Texas Law of Parties: Mandy wrote a report on the topic earlier this year for the Texas Public Policy Foundation and we go through the details. (37:45)

Suspicious Mysteries: Traffic enforcement in Texas has plummeted over the last decade but road safety remains un-affected. What's going on? (47:24)

As jury selection begins in the trial of Derek Chauvin, here in Texas lawmakers will soon take up the Texas George Floyd Act and co-hosts Scott Henson and Amanda Marzullo are rolling out the first in a two part series on this bill and police reform. We interviewed bill author, Chairwoman Senfronia Thompson and Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee Chairman James White and discuss the Class C arrest limitation in light of the recent Keller, Tx incident.

Chairman White, whose committee oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety, also took a moment to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott's suggestion that DPS "colonize" the Austin Police Department, in his words. Austin folks will want to hear this.(35:58)

In further news, Appropriations and Senate Finance have been meeting for weeks, and we interview Anthony Graves on the need for investment in basics like food for those behind bars.

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.

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.

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?

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.