O'Rourke: Texas should lead the way on true criminal justice reform [Opinion]

[Gothmog]

This is old news in Texas but I agree with Beto's suggestions about criminal justice reform https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Beto-ORourke-Texas-criminal-justice-reform-jail-13181472.php

Twenty-three years ago I was arrested for attempted forcible entry after jumping a fence at the University of Texas at El Paso. I spent a night in the El Paso County Jail, was able to make bail the next day, and was released. Three years later, I was arrested for drunk driving — a far more serious mistake for which there is no excuse.

But those mistakes did not ultimately define me or stop me from what I wanted to do in my life or how I wanted to contribute to the success of my family and my community — as a father, small business owner, city council member, and congressman. The chance that I had, and which I have made the most of, is denied to too many of our fellow Texans, particularly those who don’t look like me or have access to the same opportunities that I did.

On Wednesday, I toured the Harris County Jail with Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and met men from this community who have made a mistake from which they may or may not recover. Men who don’t have the resources to post bail. Some of whom got arrested on purpose to get the treatment and care they need, care they won’t be able to afford or access on the outside. In fact, the Harris County Jail is the largest provider of mental health services in our state, a state that is the least insured in the nation. Of the 10,000 inmates in the Harris County Jail, one quarter of them are being prescribed at least one psychotropic medication. The jail has more people receiving psychiatric treatment every day than the nine state mental hospitals in Texas combined.

Beto has some good suggestion. In Harris County, George Soros helped us elect the first Democrat as DA in 30+ years and as a result we are moving on informal pot decrim and bail reform

Second, we need to end the failed war on drugs that has long been a war on people, waged on some people over other people. Who is going to be the last man — more likely than not a black man — to languish behind bars for possessing or using marijuana when it is legal in more than half of the states in this country? We should end the federal prohibition on marijuana and expunge the records of those who were locked away for possessing it, ensuring that they can get work, finish their education, contribute to their full potential and to the greatness of this country......

Fourth, we can end the current use of bail bonds that punish people for being poor. This is a tactic that wastes resources on incarcerating those who are not a threat to anyone, not a flight risk, not likely to be repeat offenders. In the Harris County Jail, it’s estimated that 500 to 600 of the inmates at any given time fit this description — in for misdemeanors but without the resources to post bail as I did more than twenty years ago.

Finally, we should provide meaningful reentry to help cut down on recidivism for those who committed non-violent crimes. That starts with strong rehabilitation services, counseling and access to preventative health care. It continues by banning the box on job applications so those formerly incarcerated can work and pay taxes, returning drivers licenses so they can get to that place of employment, allowing them to apply for loans that can unlock skills trainings, and ensuring their constitutional right to participate in civic life by voting is protected.

[Major Nikon]

1. Drugs ruin lives, period

To prove that we will put you in jail and ruin your life.

[brer cat]

2. K&R

[Lee-Lee]

3. I think the move to end bail will have unintended consequences

The whole post by of bail is to give incentive to appear in court. I know the process varies by state, but typically it’s assigned when there is reason to believe that the person may not show up for their court date without an incentive.

There is a reason for that. A way higher number of people that you would probably believe blow off court dates.

Yeah, of all the things to ignore I know it seems crazy that people who ignore a criminal court date. But it is way more common than you think.

When I was a deputy FTA, or Failure To Appear, was the most common Warrant I arrested people on. People would have a court date set for something minor- shoplifting, misdemeanor possession, driving without registration etc. and then not show up for court. Judges don’t like that. At all. You will face the new charge on top of the arrest and you will get arrested and go to jail longer and in the end receive a longer harsher sentence.

Bail helps provide incentive to show up. To get your money back or for whomever posted your bail to get it back. Or if you used a bondsman for them to have their scumbag bail enforcement agents to come drag you before the court.

Absent a bail system I suspect you will see a whole, whole lot more people end up facing more serious charges for what would have been minor stuff because they blow off court dates, and that will harm them long term in their lives.

Bail is meant to ensure the person shows up for court. In many ways this is a protection against them making stupid choices that will harm them long term more than it is a protection for the courts. Because they will make it in front of the judge eventually, the only question is how many more charges will they add by skipping out and how kissed will the judge be come sentencing time.