The bitter Capitol fight over Republican efforts to toughen voter fraud laws has cast a brighter spotlight on Crystal Mason, a Tarrant County woman who was sentenced to five years in prison for illegally casting a ballot that wasn t even counted in 2016.
Democrats and civil rights groups have embraced Mason s case as a cautionary tale on overcriminalizing election matters, and state Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, successfully amended a major GOP voting measure by invoking her name during a recent late-night House debate.
The added attention comes at a critical time for Mason.
The state s highest criminal court is reviewing her conviction to determine if the state law on illegal voting was misapplied in her case. A ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is still months away, but the court s nine Republican judges are Mason s last hope of avoiding prison (her sentence has been delayed by her appeal).
County officials said they have talked about the need for a mental health facility for years. Author: Jozelyn Escobedo (WFAA) Updated: 12:11 PM CDT May 12, 2021
FORT WORTH, Texas Tarrant County officials are working to bring a mental health jail diversion center that would serve as an alternative to putting people behind bars. This week, leaders said that the plan appears to be on the fast track.
Officials said the mental health jail diversion center would be a partnership that involves Tarrant County, John Peter Smith Hospital, My Health My Resources (MHMR), and law enforcement.
County leaders said the center will serve as a place where officers can take people with mental illnesses who would normally be detained for a non-violent, low-level crime. This means that people would not go to jail and instead be taken to the center.
Tarrant County Reminds Citizens of Year-Round ‘No Refusal Rule as the Holidays Approach Under the No Refusal rule, drivers pulled over for suspected impaired driving who refuse to take a routine breath test will be subject to a court-ordered blood test instead
Published December 15, 2020 •
Updated on December 15, 2020 at 2:57 pm
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Tarrant County is reminding citizens as they gear up for holiday celebrations that the county is No Refusal year-round.
Tarrant County Law enforcement leaders and Criminal District Attorney Sharen Wilson announced earlier this year that law enforcement is on the streets all day, year-round, cracking down on drunk driving.