Whitmire waded into the debate over bond as the issue has become a central point of contention in elections of judges to local criminal courts — as well as the subject of a potential constitutional amendment that Texas voters could decide on in November.
During a Houston City Council meeting on April 9, Mayor John Whitmire threw out a startling statistic: “There are like 900 people charged with murder or capital murder on the streets of Houston today, out on bond or they’re fugitives.”
“They’re the most dangerous when the police pulls them over because they know there’s a strong possibility, if held accountable, they’re going back to prison,” Whitmire added. “So we have to speak out more. And I think I’m talking about naming names (of judges who let alleged murderers out on bond). Most of the judges are doing a good job, but there are some that just don’t take this serious enough.”
According to a search of the Harris County District Clerk’s website, 157 defendants in murder or capital murder cases were out on bond as of Monday. There were an additional 293 warrants for murder or capital murder suspects in Harris County, which includes Houston…