Judge Josh Hill said a suspect with prior felony convictions now accused of kidnapping, beating, and choking a woman was too poor to pay bail.
After two monitored parolees allegedly murdered three people in Dallas last year, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered an investigation into parole supervision.
The Houston crime victim advocate will join a 13-member panel as one of five citizens reviewing formal complaints against judges.
Bail release for violent suspects has drawn bipartisan support for Republican judicial candidates in the Democratic-leaning county.
A Houston victims advocate asked lawmakers to consider adding Felon in Possession of a firearm to a law limiting personal bonds for some criminal charges.
As family members shared stories of murdered loved ones, many expressed anger towards elected officials over rising crime in the community.
In 2021, a Capital Murder bond for Taylor had been set for $200,000. But Judge Amy Martin lowered bond and released the suspect now charged with the murder of a deputy constable.
At a press conference with elected officials, Crime Stoppers of Houston showed that violent crime, especially towards children, has risen significantly.
While some officials pushed for a new rule, several experts disputed the authority of the local licensing board to impose a rule requiring 10 percent down payments on bonds.
Rising crime and felony bond practices are expected to be top issues in local judicial elections in Harris County next year.
Decrying other proposals as “splashy headlines,” Hidalgo and Garcia sought a 6-month expansion of criminal courts but passed a resolution condemning a legislative fix to felony bond policy.
Listed among Gov. Abbott's emergency items, bail reform for violent offenders has passed its first marker after the House gave initial approval.
