Police officers from several major Texas cities met with state lawmakers in Austin to offer their ideas for bail reform. It's one of the items that lawmakers can discuss during the current special session.
Officers at the meeting told Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives that the current system allowed judges to release people accused of violent offenses, as long as they had enough money to post bail. They expressed concern that some of those suspects were later re-arrested.
"You've seen it in Dallas, you've seen it in Houston, you've seen it in Austin. The crime rate has almost skyrocketed with the murders and homicides that are happening right now," said Frederick Frazier with the Dallas Police Association. "We're seeing the same individuals that are out on bond committing these crimes. The task force that I'm assigned with the U.S. Marshal's Office...we are constantly going after the same person or same individual groups that are committing these crimes while sitting on two, three or four bonds. It has to stop. Texas needs to know that the bail system is broken."
A member of the Houston Police Department also attributed problems with crime in his city to repeat offenders being released while awaiting trial.
"Just in Houston alone we've had over 70 people murdered by people on multiple felony bonds," said Doug Griffith with the Houston Police Officers' Union. "That's uncalled for. There's no reason we can't put these violent offenders away and hold them."
Democrats in the Texas House have also called for reform, but their measures generally focus on reducing the importance that money plays in determining whether a defendant can be released while awaiting trial. They argue the focus on cash bail can be detrimental to poor people who are accused of crimes.
Most of the Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives are spending the special session in Washington, D.C. in order to prevent the House from having enough members to reach a quorum, which is required to pass any legislation. They're objecting to proposed new voting measures that Governor Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to pass.
Republican lawmakers had a message for the Democratic colleagues after their meeting with the officers.
"We're here to pass legislation for bail reform. It's necessary. We need our colleagues to return home," said State Representative Jim Murphy of Houston. "I encourage them to come here where the people's work occurs. We welcome all their ideas."
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