CJR Director Weighs-in as the Conversation of Bail Reform Continues
January 12, 2023
Senate Joint Resolution 1 calls for an amendment to allow judges to deny bail to people charged with certain violent, sexual, or trafficking crimes.
An amendment that would let judges deny bail to people accused of certain offenses advanced through the state Senate in a lightning session on Wednesday, moving from introduction to final passage in a matter of hours.
Howard Henderson, Professor and Director of the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University says,
“Quite honestly, you're going to see jail populations increase. I don't think much is going to change in the House, because of the implications and the impact of such a decision on poor and minority communities. We understand poor people, who are oftentimes in this case more likely to be members of racial, ethnic minority groups, are unfairly impacted by such a bill."
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