Tag Archives: Travis County Sheriff
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…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Jan 17, 2020
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…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 18, 2019
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…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 9, 2019
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…
Courts • By Stephanie Federico • Sep 26, 2017
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…
Public Safety • By Jack Craver • Jul 14, 2017
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…
Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 26, 2017
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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…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 20, 2017
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.
Police • By Michael Kanin • Dec 5, 2016
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…
Public Safety • By Syeda Hasan • Nov 22, 2016
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…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 16, 2016
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…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Jul 22, 2016
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…
