A 2019 court-approved consent decree in Harris County eliminated most cash bail for misdemeanor offenses and required release on unsecured bonds.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Terms of the 2019 consent decree addressing misdemeanor bail practices in Harris County.
The 2019 Harris County misdemeanor bail reform consent decree established an independent monitor to oversee compliance with the decree's bail-practice requirements.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Accountability mechanism created by the 2019 consent decree related to misdemeanor bail reform in Harris County.
A 2019 consent decree in the O'Donnell case eliminated most cash bail for misdemeanor offenses in Harris County, required release on unsecured bonds for many misdemeanor charges, and established an independent monitor to oversee compliance with the decree.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Terms and structural changes set by the court-approved consent decree addressing misdemeanor bail procedures in Harris County.
A 2016 class-action lawsuit known as O'Donnell alleged that Harris County's prior misdemeanor bail practices were unconstitutional because they detained people charged with misdemeanors who could not afford cash bail.
January 01, 2016
high
temporal
Legal claim underlying the O'Donnell litigation challenging cash bail for misdemeanors in Harris County.
A 2016 class-action lawsuit alleged that Harris County, Texas, detained people charged with misdemeanors solely because they could not afford cash bail, arguing that those bail practices were unconstitutional.
January 01, 2016
high
temporal
Background legal claim that prompted the O'Donnell litigation challenging misdemeanor cash bail practices in Harris County.