Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed eight individuals to the Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Council, with terms set to expire on January 31, 2027. The council's role is to conduct comprehensive analyses of the effects of crime on victims and their families.

Representative John Smithee from Amarillo, who chairs the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and holds a law degree from Texas Tech University, joins the council. Alexis Nungaray from Houston, a student at Lone Star College and an advocate for crime victims, has also been appointed.

Senator Joan Huffman of Houston has been reappointed. She chairs the Senate Committee on Finance and serves on other legislative committees. Her background includes roles as a prosecutor and judge in Harris County.

Lee Ann Breading of Denton continues her service as District Judge of the 462nd Judicial District Court. She is involved with several legal organizations and holds degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Southern Methodist University.

Libby Hamilton from San Antonio is another reappointee. She directs post-conviction victim services for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and participates in various victim services associations.

Emmitt Jackson, Jr., Chief of Police for Argyle Police Department, joins the council after serving in Dallas Police Department. He holds degrees in criminal justice from the University of North Texas and Lamar University.

Brandi Reed, CEO of Family Support Services in Amarillo, brings expertise in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention to her appointment.

Erleigh Wiley serves as Kaufman County's Criminal District Attorney. Her involvement extends to several legal boards and community organizations. Wiley earned her law degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

The appointees bring diverse experiences that are expected to contribute significantly to addressing crime impacts across Texas.