Texas Gov. Greg Abbott traveled to Crime Stoppers of Houston on Tuesday to sign four bail reform bills into law.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, bail reform has been a major focus for Abbott during the most recent legislature, claiming in April that it is a “deadly and broken bail system.”
The bail reform package signed into law by Abbott included Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 40, House Bill 75, and Senate Joint Resolution 5.
Senate Bill 9 allows prosecutors to file appeals for bail that is provided to alleged criminals who commit certain crimes while also allowing only elected judges to reduce the conditions of bail set by another elected judge.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 40 prohibits using state funding to help support any nonprofit that helps provide bail to criminals.
House Bill 75 was designed to encourage transparency throughout the early portions of the criminal process. Magistrates will now be required to provide a written explanation about why an arrest was conducted without probable cause.
Finally, Senate Joint Resolution 5 amends the Texas Constitution and requires judges to deny bail for criminals who commit the worst crimes. The state must prove that the defendant would be a threat to society or would not show up for future trials.
Abbott said while signing these bills that the state was dealing with a “revolving door bail system that repeatedly released dangerous criminals back onto the streets.”
“To the victims and their families, today your pain is answered. Not only are we signing laws that correct the wrongs, your efforts have led to a rewriting of the Constitution of the State of Texas to ensure criminals like those who harmed your families will never be out on the loose again,” he added, according to The Office of Gov. Abbott.
Abbott was joined during this event by Aimee Castillo, who has become a bail reform advocate after her brother was murdered by a criminal who was out on bail.
Castillo spoke during the event and echoed many of Abbott’s comments, calling the previous bail system a “revolving door” that allowed criminals to walk the streets.
“There is something deeply, tragically wrong with a system that gives repeat, violent felony offenders chance after chance, while families like mine are given a life sentence of grief. I am proud to have played a small role in getting these bills passed, and I am proud to tell my brother he became a catalyst for change,” she added, per The Office of Gov. Abbott.
Abbott was also joined at this event by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Chairwoman Joan Huffman, Chairman John Smithee, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO Rania Makarious, and Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services and Advocacy Andy Kahan.