HOUSTON — This week, Governor Greg Abbott announced the Texas Repeat Offender Program (TxROP), a joint task force between state and local law enforcement that will further crack down on violent crimes committed by repeat offenders throughout the Houston area.
“Today, we are putting violent repeat offenders on notice,” said Governor Abbott. “We are coming for you. We are going to target you, arrest you, and put you behind bars where you belong. This is a Texas-sized effort by both the Texas Department of Public Safety and local law enforcement at every level to crack down on dangerous repeat offenders in the Houston area. Our goal is simple: every Houstonian deserves to walk the streets, take their kids to school, open their businesses, and go shopping or dining without fear.”
In collaboration with the Houston Police Department and federal law enforcement partners, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will place a renewed focus on repeat offenders who are prone to violent criminal acts. Law enforcement will be empowered to identify offenders and prioritize field operations to ensure compliance with any court-ordered conditions and arrest those terrorizing Texas communities.
DPS will utilize assets from the Air Operations Division, Homeland Security Division, and Criminal Investigations Division to support troopers in conducting this operation. These assets will be used in coordination with local and federal partners to support intelligence-gathering, tactical, and covert operations.
In June, Governor Abbottsignedthe strongest bail reform package in Texas history to protect Texans by keeping violent, repeat offenders behind bars, including:
Senate Bill 9 (Huffman/Smithee)gives prosecutors the ability to appeal bad bail decisions made in cases involving the most heinous crimes and repeat felons. This law also ensures only elected judges may reduce the amount or conditions of a bail set by an elected judge.
Senate Bill 40 (Huffman/Smithee) prohibits the use of public funds to pay a nonprofit organization that will then post bail for criminals.
House Bill 75 (Smithee/Huffman)ensures transparency in the initial stages of a criminal case, requiring magistrates provide a written explanation on why they determined an arrest was made without probable cause.
Senate Joint Resolution 5 (Huffman/Smithee) is a constitutional amendment that will require a judge to deny bail to a defendant charged with the most heinous crimes — such as rape, murder, human trafficking — when the state proves the defendant is a threat to public safety or will not show up for trial.
