Controversial Travis County jail policy may be heading to court
Controversial Travis County jail policy may be heading to court
The early review program has prosecutors decide if charges will go to a magistrate, if another charge should be filed, or if the accused will be set free.
AUSTIN, Texas - The early review program involves staff members from the Travis County Attorney s Office and the Travis County District Attorney.
Under the program, which is focused on accused offenders who are brought to jail, prosecutors now decide if charges will go to a magistrate judge, if another charge should be filed, or if the accused will be set free. The policy itself may soon be put on trial.
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza also wants to keep guns out of the hands of potentially violent people. Our office has also adopted, for the first time ever, a firearm surrender protocol to ensure that people accused of crimes who may pose a threat to our community don t have access to firearms while their case is being adjudicated,” District Attorney Jose Garza said.
Both Interim Chief Chacon and County Attorney Delia Garza say they know business owners want more attention on low-level crimes as well, but expressed that there s only so much they can do.
“We are resource-strapped at this point and, at many times, lower level priority calls are holding for quite some time,” said Chacon. “And I think this has been a source of frustration.
Travis Countyâs top attorneys address criticism during virtual panel
Travis Countyâs top attorneys addressed criticism during a virtual panel discussion on crime in downtown Austin.
AUSTIN, Texas - Travis County’s top attorneys addressed criticism Monday during a virtual panel discussion on crime in downtown Austin.
For months police unions have accused Travis County Attorney Delia Garza and District Attorney Jose Garza of acting out of bounds enabling a loop of catch and release involving dangerous criminals. We can only hold people accountable when we have sufficient evidence to do that. And I just want to take this opportunity to let people know that there is a much higher legal burden to convict someone of a crime than there is to arrest someone or to accuse them of a crime, said District Attorney Garza.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
The Austin Police Department is in a state of crisis. More cuts to specialized APD units are coming this year, thanks to the “reimagining” of police led by Mayor Steve Adler and Councilmember Greg Casar. Travis County, meanwhile, steps up targeting police officers for prosecution.
According to an internal document provided to PJ Media, several units face deep cuts or outright elimination by summer’s end. The Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration (SOAR) unit is losing its officer positions, according to the APD document. Local Fox 7 TV has previously reported some of the cuts.
PJ Media’s source, who wishes to remain off the record, said: “As more units are cut, work conditions for those who stay will continue to deteriorate, causing more folks to leave, causing more units to be cut, and so on. It is basically a death spiral.”
No charges in alleged use of date rape drug on legislative staffer, DA in Austin announces
‘No crime occurred in this instance,’ law enforcement agencies said Thursday.
AUSTIN, TX - JULY 14: Cars drive on Congress Avenue in front of the Texas Capitol building on July, 14, 2020 in Austin, Texas. Austin public health officials reported 657 new cases of COVID-19 in Travis County on Monday. (Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)(Montinique Monroe / Getty Images)
Updated at 7:40 p.m.
with a statement from House Speaker Dade Phelan and Reps. Donna Howard and Senfronia Thompson,
and at 5:20 p.m.
with additional remarks from lawyers and a representative from the lobby firm.