Governor Abbott鈥檚 Executive Order Undermines Public Safety, 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas Responds

March 30, 2020 3:45 pm

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AUSTIN, Texas 鈥 Governor Greg Abbott issued an Sunday denying the release from jail of anyone accused of certain crimes if they could not afford to pay bail. The order comes at a time when local criminal legal stakeholders attempt to decrease the population of detained individuals to stop an outbreak of COVID-19 in crowded jails. Days prior, the 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas and other organizations issued a letter to local criminal legal leaders urging them to take immediate action to curb the spread of the virus.

Sarah Labowitz, policy and advocacy director for the 老澳门开奖结果 of Texas, had the following reaction:

鈥淭exas has the highest incarceration rate of almost anywhere on the planet. For everyone鈥檚 safety, political leaders should be working to reduce the crowded population in prisons and jails that could lead to a potential coronavirus outbreak. Governor Abbott鈥檚 executive order puts people and communities in grave danger for infection. The order allows anyone who can pay bond to go free, while forcing those who can鈥檛 to remain in custody, giving preferential treatment to the wealthy. Governor Abbott needs to rescind his order and align with science-based evidence for how to fight this pandemic, which includes reducing Texas鈥 population of incarcerated people to avoid the possible steep loss of life.鈥

The letter to local criminal justice stakeholders is available here:

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