The ongoing pandemic has forced the courts to release more and more people accused of violent crimes, sending them home to await trial.
There are currently around 70 felony murder suspects who have been allowed to bond out of jail as the Dallas County Sheriff’s office continues to try and balance public safety versus the chance of the coronavirus spreading to the stass as well as inmates in the jail.
Former Fort Worth police chief Jeff Halstead, who is now a law enforcement consultant, says there is reason for concern because there are no trials scheduled, meaning those who are out on bond will be out a long time.
"Where you have someone that has been arrested, charged, and indicted for capital murder, or a serious violent felony, then they are released knowing taht they have these charges pending - someone in that system has to be held accountable for that decision" said Halstead.
In addition to the felony murder suspects out on bond, there have also been 37 capital murder suspects allowed to bond out of jail on electronic monitoring.