Texas bill to require cash bail for those accused of violent crimes becomes law

[Draggingtree]

Texas Tribune

Texas bill to require cash bail for those accused of violent crimes becomes law

BY JOLIE MCCULLOUGH SEPT. 13, 20219 AM CENTRAL

Senate Bill 6 will bar those accused of violent crimes from being released from jail before trial unless they can put up cash. That provision of the bill will go into effect Dec. 2.

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed into law sweeping GOP-led bail legislation that requires people accused of violent crimes to put up cash to get out of Texas jails.

Senate Bill 6 was passed by the Texas Legislature last month, after Abbott declared changes to the state’s bail system an emergency at the beginning of the state’s regular legislative session that began in January. At a summit in Houston, Abbott said the bail bill, named after a slain state trooper, was one he would have called lawmakers back for continuous special legislative sessions until they passed it.

“The Damon Allen Act makes it harder for dangerous criminals to be released from jail on bail,” he said before signing the bill.    

[Draggingtree]

Build Back Beto

He isn’t as strong a candidate in 2021 as he was in 2018, but Beto O’Rourke is still the Democrat’s least bad option to challenge Greg Abbott.   

By Christopher Hooks