State, Local Officials Still Seek Reform Change to Stop Harris County PR Bond Crisis
- ncookclark
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 1, 2025
By Natalie Cook Clark
Governor Greg Abbott met with local officials to discuss to ongoing crisis in Harris County where residents are being killed by dangerous criminals being let out on low or no bonds. Bills that change this are currently stuck in the government system.
A system is supposed to be designed to protect the public. Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott met as part of a round table discuss at Crime Stoppers of Houston to discuss the ongoing crisis in our county. Katy is a tri-county community and Harris County is the largest county in the city.
Currently the state legislative has bills stuck in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee that could amend the Texas Constitution, giving power to the local judges to deny PR bonds to violent criminals.
“Today was the first of a three-city event tour to put the spotlight on why we need to pass reform legislations,” says Andy Kahan, Director of Victim Services for Crime Stoppers Houston. He also serves on the State Commission on Judicial Conduct as appointed by Governor Abbott. “It’s disheartening to all of us to see the bills quickly passed pit of the Senate only to languish in a House Committee since we testified on March 18.”
Kahan says that events like yesterday, are important to bring attention to the failure of our criminal justice system.
According to reports, more than 200 Harris County residents have died because of violent criminals being put back on the streets. At yesterday's press conference, pictures of those victims were at the forefront as family members spoke about those lost.
“We’re tired of the environment that we are in,” says Governor Abbott. “The people of Harris County are tired of these repeat violent crimes.”
Local officials are confident that the proposed changes will help an obvious flawed system but it’s now in the Texas Senate to pass the bills to enact change. As mentioned, this is a nonpartisan issue and a common sense issue, yet delays are still happening.
“We keep putting pressure on the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee to vote the bill out,” explains Kahan. “It’s insane this has been in purgatory since March 18th.”
If violent criminals aren’t granted PR bonds, or in some cases no bonds, then they can’t get back out on the streets.
Concerned Katy residents should reach out to their representatives.
