Death penalty

A deep dive into the history of the death penalty in Texas and what it can tell us about crime and punishment in America.

On Wednesday, August 21, the State of Texas prepared to execute Larry Swearingen. He was convicted of the abduction, rape and murder of Melissa Trotter, a…

Convicted killer Larry Swearingen is scheduled to be executed Wednesday. It was almost 20 years ago that Swearingen was found guilty of the abduction,…

In a murder investigation, establishing a time of death help can lead to arresting and convicting the perpetrator — or exonerating someone wrongfully…

Larry Swearingen is scheduled to be executed Wednesday by the State of Texas.It was 19 years ago that Swearingen was convicted of the abduction, rape and…

From Texas Standard : On Tuesday, a new Texas Department of Criminal Justice policy went into effect, banning any religious adviser from being in the...

Up until January, Elsa Alcala had one of nine seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. She was a judge on the state’s highest court that handles…

Justices criticized a state appeals court for using outdated medical standards when it determined that a murderer wasn't intellectually disabled and could therefore be executed.

There are two big letters “D" and "R” on the back of Joseph Garcia’s white prison uniform — they stand for Death Row. Underneath, he’s wearing a burnt…

From Texas Standard: Pope Francis says the death penalty is "inadmissible" under all circumstances. The Vatican announced the change Thursday what the...