City and county’s failure to change their arrest and arraignment procedures waste resources and make Austin less safe
Local politicos will know that one of our government’s most important initiatives, Counsel at First Appearance – a joint city and county program that will provide arrested people with defense lawyers when they first appear before a court – has been rolled out in fits and starts.
The holdups are also concerning because CAFA is just one of a broad set of procedures that desperately need retooling, and these procedures have public safety implications that affect everyone in our community. Empirical research shows that holding people who are arrested for minor offenses for extended periods often increases crime. One study found that people with no or minimal criminal histories who are held for just 2-3 days are 40% more likely to be arrested for another offense while their case is pending than similar folks who are released within 24 hours of arrest. These results are counterintuitive, but they make sense when you consider how jail time can affect someone’s life.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Austin Energy asks SW Austin to conserve after Thursday power outageAustin Energy is asking customers in southwest Austin to conserve energy until 8 pm Friday to prevent a repeat of the power outage in the area Thursday night.As
Read more »
KUT, Austin's NPR StationNews and information for Austin and Central Texas from KUT, Austin's NPR Station
Read more »
Opinion: NASCAR's Austin Dillon Penalty Brings a Necessary Close to a Nasty LoopholeBy setting a precedent that multiple intentional wrecks in one corner are unacceptable, NASCAR has finally set an admittedly low bar for driving standards.
Read more »
Can Kamala Harris Win Over Conservatives?See multiple perspectives from National Review (Opinion) and New York Times (Opinion) at AllSides.com.
Read more »
SAISD chief: Inadequate AC might force us to move studentsFour campuses in the district are at risk of being overwhelmed by Texas’ back-to-school hot weather.
Read more »
‘Inadequate’ Health Department oversight contributed to Jackson water failure, federal watchdog findsA federal watchdog report faults Mississippi's Health Department and the EPA for Jackson's prolonged water woes.
Read more »