by Thursday morning on KPRC,
2.
>> for more than a year, KPRC
2 investigates has reported on
the case, a violent felony suspect out on bond or later
suspect out on bond or later
accused of new crimes.
>> So we look into the
department in charge of
monitoring those defendants at
also identified possible
solutions, other counties that
implemented. >> Tonight, KPRC 2
>> Tonight, KPRC 2
investigates Maro Diaz goes
back to find out what’s
changed since our last report
and why some say it will never be enough.
be enough.
>> 12, 15, 12, 17. What sounds
like dates to 9, 12, 1912, 2012. 21 are signs of failure
2012. 21 are signs of failure
for Crystal Johnson 12. 22 12. 23 12. 24. 25 12 27 12. 28.
23 12. 24. 25 12 27 12. 28.
The dates are tied to Trayveon
Tatum. The man charged in her
son’s 2019 murder, January. First 2022. January second,
First 2022. January second,
January 3rd, 19 times from
December to January Tatum,
Electronic Monitor alerted
Harris County Pretrial
Services. He was in violation was like he’s not on an ankle
was like he’s not on an ankle
monitor when he really is. Law
enforcement says on February,
8th Tatum killed again,
gunning down a 20 year-old man
in North Houston. Why did you follow up and do something
follow up and do something
about it? Instead of letting
somebody else die. Tatum’s
case is reflective of one of
the biggest issues facing the
county pretrial services. The
department is responsible with
monitoring over 30,000 people
awaiting their day in court.
>> County commissioners,
judges bail bondsman. A new
head of the department are all
working to improving
department over. Well, bring
somebody on you. Spend 6
months training. They’re here
for another 10 months and
they’re on Natalie. Michael
leads to charge last fall at
the time. The department had a
record usage of electronic
monitors. Already the new boss is touting progress. You’re
is touting progress. You’re
down to 3,680, which is down
from 4,000. Also on the
decline, the overall number of defendants requiring
defendants requiring
monitoring since October 31st.
It’s dropped nearly 1100 pre
trial is taking proactive
steps to address closing of cases. Quickly. Michael
cases. Quickly. Michael
Leahy’s full strategic plan
will not be complete until
June, but already blueprint
strategies. Our reality part of what we’ve done is we’ve
of what we’ve done is we’ve
put officers in the courtroom.
>> Officers can be used as a
media resources by the court
for evaluating bail. Judge
Kelli Johnson says she and others are taking notice. We
others are taking notice. We
have been transitioning from.
Probation to pre trial. And so
in order to trust can have
that face to make that
transition. You’ve got to have somebody to be there to answer
somebody to be there to answer
the phones and communicate
with better lines of
communication, make the process more efficient. Judges
process more efficient. Judges
are able to be proactive, you
able look at the conditions
and be more thoughtful on what
needs to be done in specific
cases. In November. KPRC 2 investigates showed you how
investigates showed you how
it’s done in Bexar County, a
model for other programs
across the nation.
>> I really like what they’re
doing in their county. After
watching our report, Michael Levy’s proclaim she was going
Levy’s proclaim she was going
to plan a visit. But still no
contact with fair. Not that I
haven’t wanted to. I just have not yet.
not yet.
>> Improving the system is
important to Crystal Johnson,
but the change to keep family safe. It’s low. When you see
safe. It’s low. When you see
all of these violations.
>> you hear that pretrial
services is trying to change
their way. What message do you
have?
>> It’s too late. I mean, you shouldn’t change to the long
shouldn’t change to the long
time ago. You should have the
change that you should have
done right by the victims in
the first place. How many more
people have to die before the system stands of Sun does
system stands of Sun does
right.
>> Pretrial services says they
cannot comment on the Tatum
case without the court’s
permission. They did, though,
confirm to bond violation. Reports were submitted to the
Reports were submitted to the
court before Tatum was charged
again with murder. Right now.
Click 2 Houston dot com. We
have more on the challenges. Pretrial services is
Pretrial services is
experiencing as they work to
cut down on those cases.