This is a BFD, y'all.

Victims of crime deserve better.

District attorneys in Harris, El Paso and other counties say some cases, including murders, have been hobbled or lost because witnesses were detained, deported or too scared to come to court.

via @collendegu

This is good.

"I'm actually wearing one of his shirts and it's the first time in two and a half years I've worn anything of his, but I wanted to today."

Programming note: Harris County DA Sean Teare will appear on Hello Houston via Houston Public Media shortly after noon today to discuss crime and safety in Harris County. Tune in! #watchforfallingknowledge

Anyone who genuinely cares about reducing violent crime should be very concerned about the potential of SNAP benefits ending for nearly a million people across the greater Houston area.

Food insecurity is linked to so many challenges - including increases in crime.

If you or someone you know is a victim of family violence, visit our resources page to learn about some of the services that are there for you. dao.harriscountytx.gov/Resources

This shift may not get a lot of public attention, but it's an example of how good governance based on evidence and a commitment to reform can make Harris County safer and literally save more lives.

We're also cutting red tape for survivors, making sure we do whatever possible to ease the burden of going through the criminal justice process. We have trauma-informed staff and prosecutors working their cases.

Starting this month, our new Domestic Violence Bureau pivoted to a new high-risk model for managing DV cases. Thanks to millions of dollars from Commissioners Court, we are surging resources to cases that include strangulation, pregnancy, and violations of protective orders.

Gabby was murdered by her fiancé while they were travelling. Her case was the subject of a high-profile Netflix documentary.

Right now, the Harris County DA's office is hosting a training in Aldine to educate law enforcement officers on how to identify the signs of strangulation. We've partnered with Gabby Petito's step father for this full day event.

According to one study, victims who experience non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner are 750% more likely to be murdered by that partner in the future.

The good news is that we are not powerless against this challenge. Our job as prosecutors is to do more than just hold abusers accountable - we can also ID signs early on to stop the cycle of violence. One of those signs is non-fatal strangulation.

🧵Today we are announcing a transformative shift in how the Harris County DA's office manages domestic violence cases. Domestic Violence is an epidemic - even as violent crime falls the # of DV cases in TX has increased by 26% since 2018.

Texas v. Tavores Henderson YouTube video by Harris County District Attorney

On December 10, 2019, Sgt. Kaila Sullivan, a Nassau Bay police officer, was run over and killed by Tavores Henderson.

Harris County Assistant District Attorneys Lisa Stewart and Stephany Abner asked the judge for a life sentence. Judge Melissa Morris sentenced Henderson to 58 years in prison.

When we choose to support second chances for people who deserve it, we’re helping create a more stable future for themselves and their families. Not only that, we’re making Harris County safer—for everyone.

Ding Dong Ditch Isn’t the Only TikTok Prank Parents Should Be Aware Of The news of an 11-year-old Houston boy who was gunned down while fleeing a neighbor’s residence in a game of “ding dong ditch” hit home for former Harris County Chief Prosecutor Murray Newman.

"Texas, in recent years, has been very aggressive in loosening its gun laws, and what that has done is created a culture of people feeling like they can shoot first and ask questions later,"

www.houstonpress.com/news/tiktok-...

In this case, Goodwin Washington would bribe Haywood and exploit her ability to access and print official records as a DMV employee to obtain certified copies of car titles in order to commit the fraudulent sale.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Prior to making the sale, the conspirators would swap the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the stolen vehicle with a “clean” VIN from a different vehicle of the same make and model.

During the investigation, law enforcement officials uncovered an auto theft operation in which individuals would steal vehicles and then sell the stolen vehicles to a good-faith purchaser.

DMV employee Carlisha Haywood was charged with Bribery and 2 counts of Tampering with a Government Record. Co-conspirator Xavier Goodwin Washington was also charged with two counts of Tampering. All charges are second degree felonies punishable with up to 2-20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Today, DA Teare announced five felony public corruption-related charges against a local Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee and a co-conspirator involved in a car title laundering scheme.

DATA: As of today there are 8,876 people in the jail. Huge drop since high point on 2/2 when pop was 9,905. 900 (!) on the list to move to TDC. Average length of stay now down to 178 days - down from 188 six months ago. All important indicators that we're moving cases faster through the system!

DA Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social: We live in a democracy and we are a country who cares about due process.

Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social: Harris County jail population is down 9% since Feb. largest drop in a while. Not because we're dismissing cases, but because we're empowering prosecutors to make right decisions w/o fear of political retribution.

Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social: Last year we spent $54 million to bus people to other jails because ours is full. We empowered our lawyers to make the right choices without fear of political fallout. Result? Our trials are up 30% from any 3 month period in the past several years.

Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social : The Harris County jail is dealing with a huge overcrowding issue. Our jail has become a warehouse for human beings, what we are doing is moving cases to trials faster than before. Getting cases disposed of in a meaningful amount of time.

Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social: You can be both tough and smart on crime. I was elected to be the person to make those determinations. We need to recognize when there is overcriminalization and where second chances can work too.

Listen Live | Houston Public Media Houston Public Media provides informative, thought-provoking and entertaining content through a multi-media platform that includes TV 8, News 88.7 and HPM Classical and reaches a combined weekly audie...

Happening momentarily: DA Sean Teare on @houstonmatters.bsky.social to discuss smarter approaches to fighting crime in Harris County. Live stream here: www.houstonpublicmedia.org/listen-live/