Activist attorneys want a federal judge to enjoin the sheriff and county from following state law on detention of felony suspects in Harris County.
Federal resources will include five new trial attorneys and a $2 million grant for police de-escalation training, youth outreach, and re-entry programs.
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.
Alexandra del Moral Mealer called for a plan to increase county law enforcement staffing by 1,000 officers to combat a dramatic rise in crime since 2019.
Hidalgo, facing a fierce challenge from a Republican, struck out at fellow Democratic officials over what she called “misinformation” about public safety.
Kim Ogg warned that Houston’s no-questions-asked program would impede the investigation and prosecution of violent crime and incentivize firearm theft.
Incumbent Lina Hidalgo leads by 1 percent, while del Moral Mealer has a slight advantage with Latino voters and a net favorability rating of +17 percent to Hidalgo’s +7 percent.
At a press conference with elected officials, Crime Stoppers of Houston showed that violent crime, especially towards children, has risen significantly.
Criminal justice officials pointed to high turnover, a lack of institutional experience, and hostility from an IT department headed by a political appointee.
As the county grapples with a daunting case backlog and a jail at capacity, violent suspects released on bond continue to pose challenges for public safety.
The nomination of Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to be the new head of ICE will need to be approved by the U.S. Senate.
