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Evidence Scandal Leads to the Dismissal of over 140 Texas Criminal Cases
by Matt Clarke
Destruction of evidence held at the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office led to the dismissal of over 140 Texas criminal cases—most of them involving drug charges.
When supervisors at the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office directed Deputy Constable Chris Hess to organize the evidence …
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More from this issue:
- Absurd, Abusive, and Outrageous: The Creation of Crime and Criminals in America, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study’s Data Show Racial Disparity in Plea Bargaining Outcomes, by Derek Gilna
- Missouri Supreme Court Holds Probation Revocation for Nonpayment of Court Costs Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
- Evidence Scandal Leads to the Dismissal of over 140 Texas Criminal Cases, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Holds Supervised Release Revocation Sentence Unreasonable, by Christopher Zoukis
- Urban Institute Releases Report Detailing the Effects of Criminal Background Checks on Employment, by Derek Gilna
- California SVP Determination Based on Hearsay Evidence Reversed, by Mark Wilson
- Alford Pleas: Prosecutors’ Choice for the Wrongfully Convicted, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit: Warrantless Seizure of Handgun Not Permitted under Plain View Doctrine, by Mark Wilson
- News in Brief
- Oregon Supreme Court Rules No Vindictiveness in Resentencing Where Longer Term for Specific Conviction but Overall Multi-Conviction Sentence Shorter, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit: Violent Cop’s Below-Guideline Sentence Not Justified, Again, by Mark Wilson
- Unloaded Firearm in Zipped Case Is Not “Deadly Weapon” under Oregon’s First-Degree Burglary Statute, by Mark Wilson
- D.C. Court of Appeals Rules Warrantless Use of Stingray Device Constitutes Unlawful Search and Reverses Defendant’s Convictions, by Richard Resch
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Defendants Voluntarily Consented to Search in Police Ruse to Search Home Purportedly to Investigate Burglary, by David Reutter
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules State Sex Offender Registration Law Violates Ex Post Facto Clause, by David Reutter
- Georgia Supreme Court Rules Flipping the Bird Is Not Disorderly Conduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- New Study: “Broken Windows” Policing May Not Be as Effective as Thought, by Christopher Zoukis
- California Felonizes Some Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Concludes Mandatory Supervision Akin to Parole for Fourth Amendment Analysis, by Mark Wilson
- Proof of Law Enforcement Duty Is Primary Job to Establish Peace Officer Status, by David Reutter
- Oregon Enacts Law Requiring Grand Jury Testimony to Be Recorded—Finally!, by Mark Wilson
- Georgia Supreme Court Tosses DUI Conviction Based on Officer’s Testimony of Impairment, by Christopher Zoukis
- Third Circuit Holds Habeas Petitioner’s Claim Based on Prosecutor Knowingly Using Perjured Testimony Not Subject to Brecht “Actual Prejudice” Standard, by Richard Resch
- Nevada Supreme Court: Mistrial Due to Egregious and Improper Conduct by Prosecutor Bars Retrial, by Christopher Zoukis
- Several States Bar Landlords from Automatically Denying Housing to Felons
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2016–17, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
- Fourth Circuit Holds North Carolina Sex Offender Restrictions Unconstitutional, by Matthew Clarke
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Criminal Trespass Is a Lesser Included Offense of Burglary, by Christopher Zoukis
- Colorado Supreme Court Rules That Unlawful Sexual Contact Is a Lesser Included Offense of Sexual Assault, by Christopher Zoukis
- Kentucky Court Rules Death Penalty Statute Applied to Defendant under 21 Years Old Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Federal Court Grants HRDC Preliminary Injunction Against Mail Censorship at New Mexico Jail, May 1, 2026
- Faced with Record-Breaking Jail Deaths, L.A. County Supervisors Tell Sheriff’s Department to Improve Access to Naloxone, Camera Monitoring, and Security Checks at California Jail, May 1, 2026
- Federal Court Places Medical Care in Arizona Prisons Under Receivership, May 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Liability but Reverses Damages in Lawsuit Over Illinois Warden and Investigator Using Prisoner as Bait to Catch Staff Member Raping Her, May 1, 2026
- Texas Moves to Restrict Cashless Bond and Reverse Federal Court-Ordered Misdemeanor Bail Reform, May 1, 2026
- In Texas, Harris County Commissioners Approve $1.2 Million for Fourth Study of Jail Since 2020 After Dozens of Abuse Allegations, April 1, 2026
- Texas Attorney General Clarifies Scope of Statute Requiring Outside Agency Investigation of Jail Deaths, April 1, 2026
- D.C. Judge Blocks Transfer of Biden-Commuted Federal Death Row Prisoners to “Supermax,” Citing Lack of Meaningful Due Process, April 1, 2026
- Eighth Circuit Revives Lawsuit Over Iowa Jail Detainee’s Suicide, April 1, 2026
- Groundbreaking Statistical Study of Pregnant Texas Jail Detainees Finds Over 400 Monthly, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- The Recycled Police Officer: Research Reveals High Cost of Ignoring Prior Misconduct, May 1, 2026. Harassment by Police, Police Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Excessive Force (Police), Police/Govt Misconduct.
- Michigan Claws Back $1.2 Million Paid to Wrongfully Convicted Former Prisoner, Feb. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Imprisonment, Qualified Immunity, Forensic Sciences, Fabrication of Evidence.
- FCC Releases Final Version of Order Gutting 2024 Phone Cap Regulations, Feb. 1, 2026. Misconduct/Corruption, Telephone Access, Telephone Rates.
- Utah Supreme Court Announces Framework for Analyzing Combined Brady and Napue Violations, Affirms Postconviction Relief in Capital Murder Case, Jan. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Prosecutor/Attorney General Misconduct, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Constructive/Imputed/Presumed knowledge, Brady/Giglio/Jencks Act Issues.
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Male Reproductive, Malpractice, Escapes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Two Exonerated Illinois Prisoners Win Settlements Totaling $14.5 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Sixth Circuit Order Sealing Records in Private Prison Shareholder Suit Vacated, Remanded, Aug. 1, 2025. Corrections Corporation of America/CoreCivic, Misconduct/Corruption, Public Records.
- Fourth Circuit Revives Wrongful Conviction Claim of Exonerated Maryland Prisoner, State Pays Him $3.1 Million, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
- Missouri Prison Nurse Sentenced to 12 Years for Poisoning Husband, Aug. 1, 2025. Misconduct/Corruption.





