Bond Reform

In theory, bond reform makes sense. But in practice, it’s caused a lot of problems. Without a statewide, standardized system that sets bond on risk, the current bail reform has contributed to the degradation of safety in Harris County. For the last two years, the work of law enforcement officers has been subverted by judges playing fast and loose with lenient bond policies. There are more than 50 examples of violent, repeat offenders in Harris County being released on extremely low, REPEAT bonds that have gone on to commit murder in the last two years. In fact, last week, a murder suspect with alleged gang ties was released last month on his SIXTH bond. Should someone accused of shoplifting sit in jail for months on end just because they can’t afford bond? Not if this is their first offense or prior offenses have been nonviolent. But a shoplifter that has multiple priors showing them to be a violent offender? Yes, that person should stay in jail until their trial.