Tag Archives: Travis County Sheriff
Monday, December 21, 2020 by Seth Smalley
Travis County
Travis County jail looks toward a more sustainable future
The Travis County Correctional Complex intends to implement a number of sustainability initiatives to reduce waste, save money and shrink the facility’s net energy use to zero by 2040, according to a presentation to the Travis County Commissioners Court last Tuesday.…
Friday, January 17, 2020 by Jack Craver
Budget
Travis County confronts tricky process in reforming pay for law enforcement
Travis County leaders are determined to reform the pay scale for the county’s 1,450 public safety employees, but they’re not quite sure how to do it. The county has long had separate pay scales for civilian employees and law enforcement…
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
Commissioners Court dismisses pay pleas from disgruntled employees
On Tuesday, members of the Travis County Commissioners Court responded to claims from two groups of public safety workers who feel unappreciated due to the amount of pay they receive. In both cases, commissioners made it clear that they didn’t…
Monday, September 9, 2019 by Jack Craver
Budget
Commissioners Court OKs small pay hikes for law enforcement
After approving raises for the county’s civilian workforce, the Travis County Commissioners Court wants to boost pay for the region’s 1,300 sheriff’s deputies, park rangers, jail guards and constable officers. However, members of the court are opting for a more…
Tuesday, September 26, 2017 by Stephanie Federico
Courts
After court ruling, Travis County will comply with all ICE detention requests
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office will honor all federal immigration detainer requests following a federal court ruling that held parts of Texas’ “sanctuary cities” law can go into effect. A three-judge panel for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals…
Friday, July 14, 2017 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
African-Americans spend more time in Travis County jail for same offenses as whites
Travis County has a long way to go before its criminal justice system matches its progressive reputation, according to a report released Thursday by a local advocacy group. African-Americans booked into the county jail spend more time behind bars than…
Wednesday, April 26, 2017 by Audrey McGlinchy
Public Safety
Sanctuary cities debate revolves around ICE detainers. But what are they?
Members of the Texas House of Representatives today will consider Senate Bill 4, popularly coined the “sanctuary cities” bill. The practices of the Travis County Sheriff’s Office have been heralded as a reason to pass this bill – one that…
Friday, January 20, 2017 by Caleb Pritchard
Travis County
New sheriff defiantly reverses course on ICE cooperation
Travis County’s brand new Sheriff Sally Hernandez has thrown down the gauntlet at the feet of President Donald Trump. Late Friday afternoon, Hernandez officially announced, effective Feb. 1, the end of her office’s cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Monday, December 5, 2016 by Michael Kanin
Police
Austin Monitor Radio: Travis County Sheriff-elect Sally Hernandez
Incoming Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to chat about her goals for the office, including those that cover its immigration policy. Show is embedded below.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 by Syeda Hasan
Public Safety
Sheriff’s Office works to recruit more women
This month, voters elected the second woman in history to serve as Travis County sheriff. Now, the department is working to recruit more female deputies and corrections officers to its ranks. Tracy Westbrook never saw herself working as a police…
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 by Audrey McGlinchy
Austin
Is Austin a sanctuary city? Good question.
Attempts to eliminate so-called sanctuary cities has begun anew with another Texas legislative session and new national leadership that has singled out these municipalities. And while Austin is often labeled a sanctuary city, it’s not clear that the city indeed…
Friday, July 22, 2016 by Caleb Pritchard
Travis County
Commissioners Court sides with defense attorneys in courthouse screening case
The Travis County Commissioners Court has come to the aid of defense attorneys in their battle to ward off tighter security measures at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center. On Tuesday, the court voted to ask the Travis County Sheriff’s Office…
Wednesday, March 2, 2016 by Caleb Pritchard
Elections
Hernandez narrowly avoids runoff to become new sheriff nominee in town
Constable Sally Hernandez did the unexpected on election night by winning a clear majority of the vote for the Democratic nomination for Travis County sheriff in a crowded field of four candidates. At her packed campaign headquarters inside a downtown…
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 by Austin Monitor
Elections
Likely winners emerge in local early voting
Gina Hinojosa, a member and former president of the Austin Independent School District board, took a commanding lead in the race to replace House District 49 State Rep. Elliott Naishtat as the early vote was counted tonight. Hinojosa had 55.4…
Tuesday, March 1, 2016 by Michael Kanin
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: TravCo Sheriff’s candidates John Sisson and Todd Radford
Mike Kanin sits down with Travis County Sheriff’s candidate John Sisson; Caleb Pritchard sits down with Travis County Sheriff’s candidate Todd Redford. Show is embedded below. It is sponsored by Austin Water.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016 by Caleb Pritchard
Elections
Candidates for sheriff cite experience, vision in Democratic primary
Late Tuesday, just hours after early voting had begun across Texas, close to a hundred criminal defense attorneys slowly tromped into a large banquet room in downtown Austin. Among rows of desks and musty chairs, they found conversation partners, sat…
Monday, February 15, 2016 by Michael Kanin
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: TravCo Sheriff candidate Don Rios
Travis County Sheriff candidate Don Rios sits down with Austin Monitor reporter Caleb Pritchard. Austin Monitor Radio is sponsored by Austin Water. Post is embedded below:
Monday, February 8, 2016 by Michael Kanin
Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: TravCo Sheriff’s candidate Sally Hernandez
Candidate for Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about her candidacy. Show is embedded below. Austin Monitor Radio is sponsored by Austin Water.
Monday, January 18, 2016 by Austin Monitor
Elections
January campaign finance filings are here
It’s January, and that means that local elections are starting to heat up. Jan. 15 campaign finance reports are in, offering insight into spring elections and crumbs for speculation about fall elections. For candidates seeking office in Travis County this…
Tuesday, December 15, 2015 by Caleb Pritchard
Elections
Filing deadline reveals twist in sheriff’s race
Monday’s filing deadline for the Republican and Democratic primary elections in Texas has come and gone, and one name in particular is strikingly absent from the field seeking to replace Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton: Sheriff Hamilton himself. The incumbent…
