Harris County has seen a fair share of issues when it comes to not just allowing criminals out on bond, but those criminals also cutting off their ankle monitors. Just recently, two separate murder defendants in Harris County cut off their ankle monitors while on bond, just before their trials were set to begin. So, one Harris County Commissioner wants to take action to rectify the problem.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia told KPRC 2 News that he plans to bring a plan to the court aimed at strengthening their electronic monitoring program. Garcia, the former Harris County Sheriff, cited the two recent examples, saying the technology is good at alerting of potential escape. But he wants to ensure it is working to its fullest capability, especially in a county rife with activist judges.
The problem though is not necessarily a county thing, but more so a third-party issue. Many of these ankle monitors are surveilled by the third-party companies providing the technology. Which means they cannot attain live tracking and get notified on the spot.
Andy Kahan of Crimestoppers says this has made law enforcement and the District Attorney's Office lives more difficult.
"The DA's office has to file a subpoena to obtain the GPS data from the company that is monitoring the ankle monitors," he says.
Just think about that a second. Law enforcement had to file a subpoena request to get the tracking information of a violent individual charged with murder. That is the kind of thing that bogs down our justice system to the point we are now, wasting time and resources along the way.
"You should not have to file written requests when you have someone who has removed, destroyed or tampered with their ankle monitor, because time is precious," says Kahan. "When it is determined someone has removed, destroyed or tampered with their ankle monitor, law enforcement should be notified immediately."
In one of the aforementioned cases, the judge expressed frustration with the department, saying he wanted immediate alerts if the defendant was not following their requirements. But it is hard to do when you have to subpoena for basic location data.
The details of Garcia's plan have not been released, and he is expected to dole them out over the budget process in coming months.
The big solution though, really, is transparency. Not just for law enforcement, but for the citizens.
"There is no reason the public should not be aware of how many defendants have an ankle monitor, GPS or curfew requirement," Kahan says.
Kahan adds we need a deep dive here in Harris County to find out where we can address the issue.
One of the defendants who cut off their monitor has yet to be apprehended. The other is facing additional court issues in Italy.
Photo: Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News / Getty Images