Bail in Texas could see key changes under House bill, but some lawmakers still see an unequal system
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Around the Clock Bail Bonds on 10th St. and Nueces in Austin in 2019. Texas lawmakers are working on bills that could alter the way criminal defendants can be released from jail before trial. (Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune)
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The Texas House on Monday moved to alter the way criminal defendants can be released from jail before trial. The priority legislation would, in part, require judicial officers to use a risk assessment tool when making bail decisions and ban cashless release for those accused of some violent or sexual crimes.
Republican priority bail reform advances in Texas House
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Gov. Greg Abbott says one of his major goals for the legislative session that began this week is to make it fiscally impossible for a city to slash funding of police. Screen grab is from his appearance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation?s Policy Orientation event in Austin late Thursday.Lynda M. Gonzalez/Staff Photographer, MBR / Lynda M. Gonzalez/Staff PhotographerShow MoreShow Less
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This undated image released by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows DPS Trooper Damon Allen who was killed on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2017, while making a traffic stop in East Texas. Dabrett Black, 32, was charged Friday with capital murder. (Texas Department of Public Safety via AP)APShow MoreShow Less
Around the Clock Bail Bonds on 10th St. and Nueces in Austin in 2019. Texas lawmakers are working on bills that could alter the way criminal defendants can be released from jail before trial. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
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The Texas House on Tuesday passed a bill to alter the way criminal defendants can be released from jail before trial. The priority legislation would, in part, require judicial officers to use a risk assessment tool when making bail decisions and ban cashless release for those accused of some violent or sexual crimes.
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The criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana would be reduced under a bill passed by the Texas House
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A Texas House bill aims to lower the criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
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The Texas House passed a bill 88-40 Friday
that would lower the criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana and provide a path for many Texans charged with such a crime to expunge it from their criminal records. The bill applies to possession of 1 ounce or less.
Unbelievably, Texas is looking to reform its marijuana and psychedelic drug laws. Bills related to these drugs are now being considered in the legislature.