Ten police and criminal justice reform items appear on Tuesday’s agenda; seven by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, two by County Judge Lina Hidalgo and one by Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. They would:
- Examine whether to create an independent county civilian oversight board, with the ability to subpoena documents and witnesses, to investigate claims against police, including use-of-force complaints
- Order the creation of a universal use-of-force policy for all county law enforcement agencies, to include de-escalation techniques and alternatives to violence
- Determine how to engage the community in budget evaluations for all the county’s criminal justice departments;
- Create a public website with monthly use-of-force reports, including video footage, submitted by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and constables’ offices
- Determine the feasibility of creating a new emergency responder program to handle some responsibilities that currently fall to police, such as mental health and substance abuse crises
- Study whether to create a new county agency to run “violence interruption programs” to end cycles of violence in communities
- Determine how to expand alternative, non-punitive intervention techniques to address issues including poverty, homelessness and substance abuse
- Study the effect on poor arrestees of cash bail, criminal fines, fees and penalties
- Order a bi-annual report on current racial disparities in the justice system with recommendations on how to eliminate them
- Make improvements to the indigent defense system
Ellis, who has cited criminal justice laws as among his proudest achievements during his 26-year career in the Texas Senate, said in an email to constituents on Thursday that reforming law enforcement must extend beyond addressing police brutality.
“We must re-imagine what justice means, and open our eyes to the ways that the justice system intersects with racism, classism, and other societal inequities, and chart a new path predicated on community well-being,” Ellis wrote.
As noted, Commissioners Court has less power to affect policing in Harris County than Mayor Turner and City Council do in Houston because Sheriff Gonzalez and the Constables are all elected officials themselves. They do have the power of the purse, however, and can threaten to make budget cuts as needed to effect reforms. More transparency and a CAHOOTS-like program as proposed by CM Letitia Plummer both seem like strong ideas that can have a quick impact, and an oversight board with subpoena power is also needed. Now get some community input and start implementing these plans.
Anything that starts with “examine”, “determine”, or “study” sounds like the precursor to nothing but a lot of “hot air”.
I think that there are more important items to examine and study right at this very moment.
Do tell…
C.L. I do wonder if you are one of the ones racing your motorcycle around 610 at 3 AM. It wouldn’t surprise me if you would be a bad dude who runs some bad boys, with your pomade and straight razors that you bang on the curb and soak in the pickle barrel at Golinski’s Deli, getting that blade all rusty, with your guys, the Romans on their motorcycles whippin’ around 610 at 240 mph.
Looks like Jason is jealous.
Jason, that’s EXACTLY what I’m doing at 3am.