A working criminal justice system is based upon accountability. When a defendant is arrested, he or she must answer the charges filed. The defendant is released from jail preconviction with assurances that they will return whenever demanded by the court to appear. If the individual misses court, state law requires that their bond be forfeited and a warrant issued. The case will then be put on hold awaiting the defendant’s return to court. The delay may be a few days, a few weeks, or even months or years. In a few rare cases, the individual may never return. The purpose of bail is to assure that the defendant will return for court. The consent decree in the case of O’Donnell v. Harris County , which was recently approved by the federal court in Houston, turns the concept of accountability on its face. The settlement will cause a fundamental deterioration of the criminal justice system that will manifest itself in a number of ways. In fact, ...
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