Stephen Paulsen
Criminal Justice
Citing the Bible, Federal Lawsuit Challenges Houston’s Ban on Feeding the Homeless
A local ordinance that prohibits providing free food to more than five people is an infringement on free speech and religious liberties, the lawsuit alleges.
On a recent evening in April, a few dozen people experiencing homelessness lined up outside Central Library in downtown Houston for a free — and illegal — meal of vegetarian chili, macaroni, rice and fruit salad. Volunteers with Food Not … Read More
Criminal Justice
A Catch-22 in the Crimmigration System in Harris County
In Houston, a lack of transparency and poor communication between immigration and criminal courts has created a civil rights nightmare and a clog in the system.
Abysmal record-keeping and an increasingly secretive immigration force have created a catch-22 for undocumented defendants accused of low-level crimes in Houston. After being arrested and meeting bail conditions set by Harris County magistrates, these defendants are often transferred to federal … Read More