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Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
4 bail reform bills signed into law by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
The Brief Gov. Abbott signed four bail reform bills into law Tuesday Reform advocates and crime victims' family members joined Abbott at the signing Two bail ban proposals were blocked by Democrats during the legislative session HOUSTON - With his signature, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott completed what was described as "a day of reckoning." Four bail reform items were signed by Abbott in Houston on Tuesday, completing a major judicial rewrite. What we know SB 9 provides the most substantial reform. The legislation restricts the use of cashless bonds and allows prosecutors to appeal a judge's decision to grant bail. SJR 5 authorizes a public vote on a constitutional amendment. If passed in November, bail could be denied to people charged with violent crimes, especially repeat offenders. Gov. Abbott called it a travesty that the criminal justice system gives offenders the opportunity to go back to their lives, while victims and their families can never go back. What they're saying "For all of us, this was a resounding call to action. And now today we stand on the verge of real lasting change. Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, House Bill 75, especially SJR 5, the proposed constitutional amendment, represent more than a policy shift. They are promises kept. Promises to victims that their voices mattered, promises to families that we heard their pain, promises to Texans that we will not let violent offenders turn our communities into revolving doors of danger," said Rania Mankarious with Crime Stoppers of Houston. Among those who joined the governor for Tuesday's signing ceremony were several crime victims. Aimee Castillo spoke about her brother who was killed by a repeat offender. The man, according to Castillo, was out on bond. "And as if losing Josh wasn't enough, we were forced to endure even more injustice when we encountered the revolving door at the Harris County courthouse. This man charged with a capital murder while out on multiple felony bonds was offered another bond. How is this possible? How is it justice? There is something deeply tragically wrong with this system that gives repeat violent felony offenders chance after chance while families like mine are given a life sentence of grief," said Castillo. Dig deeper During the session, Democrats successfully blocked two bail ban proposals. State Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) explained why he opposed allowing a public vote on SJR 87 during a debate on May 27. "We know that a few people may have been saved. That's true. Then why not do it for everything? Why not lock up all people accused of crimes indefinitely for fear that they may do something? I guarantee a handful of lives will be saved by doing that, too. But at what cost? The cost of our liberty. The cost to the state inflicting immense, life-destroying punishment on people who haven't been convicted of anything, literally regardless of what the strength of the current charges are. The cost, absolutely, members, to our taxpayers who will foot the bill for detaining these people without due process," said Rep. Moody. On Tuesday, Lt. Gov Dan Patrick called out those who blocked the bail proposals that failed. "We've called out names of judges who don't even work and let murderers out. I want the voters in these districts to call their Democrat members and say Alma Allen, Anna Hernandez, Anne Johnson, Morales, Rosenthal, Simmons, Thompson, Wally, Ward. Hubert Vo, Gene Wu, where are those Democrats, to not stand for the crime victims in this county and in this city," said Patrick. Patrick urged residents of Harris County to contact those lawmakers. "Voters, they are the ones still letting illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes out and they're still the ones letting people who are citizens of this country out on the streets to kill again," said Patrick. What's next Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick promised to bring back the items that failed, but they did not commit to calling a special session for that to happen. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski. This story was reported from Austin.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Fairweather qualifies for world champs with stunning swim
Erika Fairweather. Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded world championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the world champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the championships.
CBS News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Texas constitutional amendment aims to keep state judges from releasing violent offenders on low bail
With about a month left in the Texas legislative session, Governor Greg Abbott is pushing another one of his "emergency items": a constitutional amendment on bail reform. The Governor is urging Texas lawmakers to pass a bill and Constitutional amendment to crack down on local judges who he says repeatedly release violent offenders on low bail, only to see them commit more violent crimes, including murder. At an event in Houston last week, Abbott joined family members whose loved ones he said were killed by offenders let out on low bail after committing violent crimes. Chuck Cook spoke in favor of the legislation because his mother Rosalie was stabbed to death, "My mom died a lonely, painful death on the hot asphalt of a Walgreens parking lot drowning in her own blood. The system is supposed to be designed to protect the public and most importantly, the most vulnerable. The system failed my mother." While the Texas Senate passed SB 9 and SJR 5, the Governor had a message for the Texas House, which will soon consider the legislation. "This is common sense," said Abbott. "You pass this bill, pass this constitutional amendment, lives will literally be saved. You fail to pass this; more people are going to be murdered. This has to get done." Earlier last week, the Governor spoke before local sheriffs. "The fact is that activist judges let repeat offenders, gang members, career criminals, back out into the neighborhoods with little or no bail. All must end this easy bail system this session." Among other things, this constitutional amendment will require judges to automatically deny bail for violent crimes, including murder, rape, and human trafficking. It would also give prosecutors the right to appeal a judge's decision on bond and require judges to explain in writing why they released a violent criminal on what the Governor called easy bail. Texas Senators comment on the measures State , D-Austin, is one of two Democrats in the Senate who voted against the measures. She told CBS News Texas, "There was a lot of good stuff in the bill, but on balance, I had to vote against it because it took away fundamental rights to individuals based on where they were born, and that under the U.S. Constitution as well as the state constitution, a judge gets to determine the risk of you reoffending or being a flight risk based on an individual analysis, not on where you were born." State Senator Joan Huffman, R-Houston, wrote the bill not only this year, but two years ago when it was killed in the House. She told CBS News Texas, "We need to give judges the ability to hold the most violent offenders without bond awaiting trial after due process and finding a probable cause. We have seen incident after incident in Harris County alone. There's been 162 murders in the last couple of years by individuals out on bond for a felony or a violent offense. People are dying. It's not just in Harris County. It's happening throughout the state." Asked if judges have the ability to place a high bond, Huffman said, "They do have that ability to do so, to put a high bond. Many times, they go back and lower those bonds. They do not have the ability to set a no bond or a strict, holding of a person." Senator Eckhardt said if a judge is found to be releasing violent offenders on lower bail, voters have a remedy. "We have elected judges in Texas, and if an elected judge is too lenient and doesn't protect the community's safety, the remedy is to vote them out, and we have." In response Huffman said, "They can vote them out, but there are many judges especially in these large counties. It's very hard for the public to be informed about these judges. That's part of what we're trying to do with this legislation is bring transparency to the process." What is next for the constitutional amendment on bail reform? The bill is making its way through the Texas House. Because this is a constitutional amendment, 100 votes are needed to send this to the voters to decide this in November. There are 88 Republicans in the House, and all are expected to vote for this, and so that means, they will need 12 Democrats to approve it. In March, CBS News Texas asked Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, about this scenario and whether he would lean on the Democrats who serve as committee vice-chairs and subcommittee chairs if necessary. Burrows said, "It's why working across the aisle is so important. Many of the big things we do does require working across the aisle and I think at the end of the day, we're going to find a solution. We're going to find the 100 votes that are necessary. But we're going to work to get those, and it may take a little bit to figure out how to get that done. But we're going to continue to work with all our colleagues." Some House Democrats have vowed to block some constitutional amendments after Republicans rejected their plan to send the school choice-education savings account bill to the voters. In an interview with CBS News Texas, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder said, "I would hope that the Democrats would remain true to their word, and they would move forward with trying to block any of these constitutional amendments, moving forward until the Texan public have a right to vote on whether or not they are going to have their community schools raided by billionaires." House Republicans rejected a voter referendum last month on the school choice education savings accounts bill that will provide tax dollars for students to attend private school. That bill is now law in Texas. Texas Republican Party Chairman Abraham George told CBS News Texas that the party is behind the Governor's effort and wants him to play hardball. "I hope he will call special sessions if he doesn't get this. I really do hope he will do that because this has been a problem especially in the last few years with all the illegal immigration. We have people who are charged for murder walking out and going and committing crime. It's been crazy. The party would support and will stand with the governor on this, 100 percent." Senator Huffman said she will work with House Republicans to get this passed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Senate votes in favor of proposals to deny bail to certain accused violent criminals
Legislation that would keep certain criminal defendants in jail while they await the resolution of their cases sailed through the Texas Senate on Wednesday. The Republican-led body overwhelmingly passed three bail-related proposals onto the House and is expected to approve a fourth one on Thursday. Spearheaded by Republican state senator from Houston Joan Huffman, a former Harris County prosecutor, Senate Bill 9 passed 28-2 and builds on a 2021 state law that narrowed who is eligible for release from jail on a low-cost or cashless bond. Under SB 9, people accused of unlawful possession of a firearm, violation of a family violence protective order, terroristic threat, or murder as a result of manufacturing or delivering fentanyl could no longer be released from jail while their cases play out, unless they can afford to pay the cash bond set by a judge, or a portion of that amount to a bail bonds company. The Senate also approved 29-2 Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would amend the Texas Constitution to restrict judges from offering bail to undocumented immigrants charged with a felony. Huffman said the amendment would help the state align with the Laken Riley Act, a new federal law that requires law enforcement officers to detain undocumented immigrants arrested for or charged with certain crimes. Texas' proposal was named Jocelyn's Law in memory of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Houstonian who was sexually assaulted and murdered last June, allegedly by two undocumented immigrants from Venezuela who now face capital murder charges. The case garnered national attention, and Jocelyn's mother also visited the state Capitol last week to advocate for more restrictions on bail for undocumented immigrants. 'There are many alleged murderers out on the street in Harris County and in the state of Texas,' Huffman told fellow senators as she presented the bill on Wednesday. 'Members, this is just unacceptable in our state.' Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, said SJR 1 could face constitutional problems, but he nonetheless voted in favor of it. The legislation now heads to the House for consideration, where it must receive support from two-thirds of lawmakers before it can appear on the November ballot for voter approval. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told reporters last week that the suite of bills in the bail package has the support of House Speaker Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, and that if the bills fail to pass through the House, there is no reason not to hold one or more special legislative sessions. Burrows' office did not respond to the Tribune's request to confirm his support. Rep. Gene Wu, a Houston Democrat who was appointed vice chair of the criminal jurisprudence committee, told The Texas Tribune in a Wednesday interview that he had concerns about the bail legislation. He said he hopes other lawmakers look carefully at the bills before agreeing to pass them. 'Denying bail because of someone's immigration status is very openly and clearly unconstitutional,' Wu said, referring to SJR 1. Immigration attorneys also raised constitutional concerns during last week's Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing where Huffman introduced the bills. The proposed bail changes come as Gov. Greg Abbott declared 'bail reform' one of his seven emergency items during his State of the State address this month, allowing lawmakers to fast-track the legislation. The governor has repeatedly criticized the state's bail system, pointing to cases where violent offenders are released on bond and then commit more crimes. Patrick, who presides over the Senate, also designated SB 9 a priority. Patrick attended last week's committee hearing where invited family members of crime victims as well as local law enforcement officers voiced their concerns about the state's current bail policies. About 70% of Texas' jail population is pretrial, meaning they are presumed innocent and have not yet been convicted of the crime for which they are incarcerated. That number has doubled over the last 25 years, pushing county jails past their capacity and leading some to export their pretrial detainees to private prisons in neighboring states. Increasing the state's reliance on pretrial detention strains crowded jails struggling with low staffing levels, according to critics of Huffman's proposals. Critics, which include nonprofit organizations such as the Texas Civil Rights Project and the ACLU, also say the bills would not improve public safety because pretrial detention destabilizes individuals by separating them from their jobs and families, exacerbates physical and mental health problems and increases an individual's chance of rearrest. Kirsten Budwine, a policy attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project said in a statement that she was disappointed by the Texas senators who voted to pass the bail bills that 'only exacerbate the harms of pretrial detention, impede on judicial discretion, insult the legal principle of presumption of innocence, and further target immigrant communities.' 'We are hopeful that the Texas House will recognize that these regressive 'bail reform' bills are counterproductive to public safety, and vote them down,' Budwine added. On Wednesday, the Senate also passed 27-3 Senate Bill 40, which would prohibit political subdivisions from using public funds to pay nonprofit organizations that help defendants cover bail costs. Huffman alleged last week that Harris County has used public funds to pay The Bail Project, a national organization that helps low-income defendants pay bail. Representatives of The Bail Project have vehemently denied that they have received any public dollars, clarifying that the money they received from Harris County were refunds of bail that they posted for low-income Harris County defendants. Bail is legally refundable to the payor if a defendant makes their court hearings. 'This bill is based entirely on misinformation and false claims,' Emma Stammen, policy strategist for The Bail Project, said during a Wednesday press call. Harris County's auditor's office confirmed that the payments were bail refunds. Huffman said on the Senate floor that she was 'not accusing anyone of anything' and that she decided to propose the bills after victims of crime came to her concerned about public dollars going toward bail. The Texas Senate is expected to discuss and approve Senate Joint Resolution 5 on Thursday. The proposed constitutional amendment would allow judges to deny bail to defendants accused of murder, aggravated kidnapping, robbery or assault with a weapon. Currently, defendants are largely guaranteed the right to pretrial release except in limited circumstances, including when charged with capital murder. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers move forward on bail reform package
The Brief Texas lawmakers are moving forward on the bail reform package SB 9 will include keeping violent undocumented immigrants in jail, as well as Jocelyn's Law AUSTIN, Texas - State lawmakers are moving forward on legislation to keep violent undocumented immigrants in jail. That's just one piece of the bail reform package. It also includes "Jocelyn's Law." A bill named after a 12-year-old girl who was murdered and left under a bridge in Houston. RELATED:Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls on House to pass bail reform package What they're saying A Senate committee passed a package of bail reform measures on Wednesday. The package includes a call for a public vote on eliminating bail for undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes. "There's nothing more important than the safety of our citizens. There's nothing more important than pushing back when courts release dangerous felons onto the streets to kill again," said Lt. Governor Dan Patrick. The reform bills were heard Wednesday in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. They make it tougher for judges to let violent suspects out on bond and limit the use of tax dollars to help offenders get out of jail. "These family members, these victims have come to us time and time again begging for an injustice to be righted. At some point you have to think, why are we here, what is the government all about?" said Houston Senator Joan Huffman. The package includes calling for a public vote on constitutional amendments that would deny bond to undocumented immigrants who are accused of committing violent crimes. And another constitutional amendment that would prevent someone from bonding out of jail for some extreme crimes and in cases of human trafficking. "These are not isolated cases, this is all over the state, and you could argue all over the country by a judicial system that seems to focus more on the killers than those they killed," said Patrick. Local perspective Travis County GOP chairman Matt Mackowiak says Senate Bill 9 is critical to Travis County. He says it's outrageous the Texas House has not moved bail reform bills the last two sessions. "The reason crime is going up in Austin is because habitual offenders are not being treated seriously," said Mackowiak. Several victims of violent crimes testified, one being the mom of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered in Houston by two suspected Tren De Aragua gang members who entered the country illegally. The two men have been charged with capital murder and were put in jail on $10 million bond each. "The fact that my family and I had to be there to make sure they had a high enough bond is something we shouldn't have had to sit through. No victim should have to be subject to that. No victim's family should have to be subject to that," said Jocelyn's mother Alexis. The other side But opponents fear the passing of Senate Bill 9 could mean overcrowding in jails. "As a result of Senate Bill 6, Texas saw a sharp uptick in jail population where the total jail population rose by almost over 7% with some counties seeing a much bigger increase, we're bound to see similar or most drastic results under Senate Bill 9," said Kirsten Budwine, Policy attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project. And that's not their only concern. "Prosecutors are one of the most powerful figures in our legal system. Expanding their powers to allow them to appeal a bail order when they subjectively think the amount is insufficient, and effectively keeping people in jail while the appeal is pending is extremely troubling," said Budwine. What's next Lt. Gov. Patrick said he's confident speaker Burrows will get the bills passed. He says he will call as many special sessions needed to pass the legislation. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King
