Texas Gov. Greg Abbott highlighted recent efforts to prevent district attorneys from adopting non-prosecution policies that enable criminals to avoid punishment for unlawful activity.
Posing for a picture with law enforcement officers, Abbott said in a recent Twitter post, “Public safety is priority #1 in Texas.”
“I was proud to sign laws this year to rein in rogue DAs, keep violent offenders behind bars, boost funding for rural law enforcement, and more,” he explained.
The law to stop “rogue DAs” was designed to prevent progressive district attorneys from adopting non-prosecution policies that enabled them to release criminals back onto the street with little or no punishment for violating the law.
For example, Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot famously instituted a sweeping amnesty practice for anyone who stole $100 to $750 worth of goods. He ultimately reversed the policy, however, after prolonged public outcry and resistance from other law enforcement agencies in the area, as reported by The Dallas Express.
House Bill 17 successfully passed the Texas Legislature during the 88th General Session and was signed by the governor in June.
The law forbids “a prosecuting attorney’s adoption or enforcement of a policy of refusing to prosecute a class or type of criminal offense under state law or instructing law enforcement to refuse to arrest individuals suspected of committing a class or type of offense under state law.”
If a DA or prosecuting attorney does adopt such a policy, “A petition for removal of a prosecuting attorney may be filed by any resident who … lives or has lived for at least six months in the county in which the alleged cause of removal occurred and who is not currently charged with a criminal offense in that county.”
Such a petition will initiate removal proceedings.
During public hearings on the bill, Texas citizens voiced both support and opposition to the measure.
Steven Ellis, a resident of Dallas, made mention of Creuzot’s theft amnesty policy, asking, “Since when is $750 of someone’s hard earned money and personal property not worthy of legal protection?”
Turning his testimony to a personal experience, he continued, “What if, like my mother, an elderly person is robbed of her precious and only remaining picture of her dear husband or parents because of the picture frame? Does her only remaining picture not deserve legal protection?”
Similarly, Shelly Akerly from Coppell explained, “I live in Dallas county and have seen how impactful the DA [is] to crime rates, public safety, and general quality of life to our community. The laws of Texas should apply to all Texans and should be enforced.”
Yet others condemned the bill because it would mandate the prosecution of laws they personally disagreed with.
For example, Austin resident Erich Fields said, “This bill would force prosecutors to obey a blatantly illegal directive to prosecute parents of transgender children, who support their children under advice from their physician, for child abuse.”
“It’s disgusting, illegal, and everyone involved should be ashamed,” Fields continued.