Front Porch Politics Talks COVID-19 and Criminal Justice Reform With PBT



Front Porch Politics talks COVID-19 and Criminal Justice Reform with PBT member Ken W. Good.  You can listen to the podcast below.

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Most Read Posts Over The Last 30 Days

Linda Lois Traylor Tough But Fair Bondsman Passes Away

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Linda Lois Traylor, born August 17, 1947 in Houston, TX, passed away on August 21, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 78. Linda was a beloved matriarch, a successful business owner for over 40 years, and a woman with a work ethic like no other. Tough but fair, she lived life with strength, humor, and generosity. Her quick wit and legendary joke-telling could light up any room. She believed in working hard and playing hard. She found joy in fishing and glamping by the lakes in her RV, as well as trips to the casino with friends. Cooking was her love language, and her southern-style dishes were cherished by all who gathered at her table. She entered and won many cooking contests, but her greatest reward was sharing meals with family and friends. Above all, Linda’s greatest pride and joy was her family. She survives and is deeply cherished by her children, David Yokem, Tammie Little and Michael Yokem. Her grandchildren Cody Yokem and wife Sarah, Brandon Little and wife Ti...
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Summary of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session- Bail Matters

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  This is a summary of the bail bills or bills that may relate to the bail industry that were enacted in the 2025 Texas Legislative Session. HB 1522-  This bill amended the Texas Open Meetings Act to change the notice requirement from 72 hours to 3 business days.  The biggest impact of this change will impact Bail Bond Board meetings.  The notice now must be posted 3 business days before the meeting.  A weekend cannot be counted in that time period. To see the final bill CLICK HERE .  HB 1778- This bill created Section 43.032 of the Texas Penal Code with creates a new offense "Continuous Promotion of Prostitution." Additionally, the bill amends article 17.081 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to add 43.032 to the list of offenses.  This section requires that for the list of offenses, the bail bond must include the address and driver's license number for the defendant and the surety.  Additionally, article 17.465 (b) of the Texas Code of Crim...
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Amendment to Article 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure

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HB 2697- This bill amended article 17.19 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.  Article 17.19 authorizes a surety or bail bondsman to file a request for a warrant with the magistrate or the trial court based upon some action on the part of the defendant.   The existing statute required the surety or bail bondsman to give notice of the request to the defense attorney if the defendant was represented by counsel.  That notice must comply with Rule 21a of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.  Further, the statute requires that  the affidavit set out certain matters regarding the defendant including the reason why a warrant is needed. Section 17.19 states that if the request for a warrant meets the statutory requirements the trial court or magistrate must or shall issue a warrant of arrest for the defendant.   If the trial court refuses to issue a warrant, then the surety or bail bondsman has an affirmative defense to any subsequent failure to appear...
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Episode No. 71- When Police Stop Policing with Guests Dr. Eric Piza and Dr. Nathan T. Connealy

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 In 2020, there were protests in Seattle, Washington following the death of George Floyd.  For a period of 24 days, an area that became known as the Capitol Hill Occupation Protest (CHOP) was treated as an autonomous zone where the police did not respond to calls.  As a result, the CHOP zone became an example of what happens when police stop policing.  Dr. Eric Piza and Dr. Nathan T. Connealy largely used data from the City of Seattle Open Data portal, analyzing data from more than one year prior to CHOP with two microsynth models to understand average and seasonal crime trends.  Dr. Piza and Dr. Connealy looked at the impact of crime in three areas:  (1) the CHOP zone; (2) the two block radius around the CHOP zone; and (3) the precinct at large. The results showed a significant increase in crime within the CHOP zone, the encompassing two-block area, and the overall East precinct service area during the occupation period.   The study suggests that call...
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"The Cost of Bail Reform was My Daughter's Life"

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Less than a year ago, life was good.  I was the proud mother of  two beautiful daughters and grandma to the sweetest eight-month old girl  you'd ever seen.  We were planning a gender-reveal for the arrival of  Caitlynne's second baby when everything went wrong. My daughter's husband, Alex Guajardo, had been on a downward spiral.  In May 2019, he  was arrested for a second DWI and a hit-and-run.  He received what is called a personal recognizance or free PR bond and was released from  jail.  In July, he was arrested again on a charge of assault-family  violence for assaulting Caitlynne, who was then 17-weeks pregnant.  My daughter made a brave move and filed criminal charges against Alex for  beating her up. Immediately following Alex's arrest, I begged Caitlynne to stay with me so I could protect her and the babies.  She refused.  Caitlynne had convinced herself that the system would protect h...
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