Issue explainer

Policing, Crime and Bail

Public safety decisions are mostly local: cities fund police, counties run jails, and judges and magistrates set bail. Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2025 that requires judges to deny bail for certain violent or sexual felonies when prosecutors meet a set standard of proof. Reported crime in Texas fell in 2025, and people disagree about why and what works.

The basics

Reported crime in Texas fell in 2025. According to the Department of Public Safety, the statewide violent crime rate dropped 13.19% from 2024, and the property crime rate fell 13.31%¹. These figures count crimes reported by local police agencies. They do not by themselves show what caused the change.

Murders are down over five years. Reported murders fell from 2,071 in 2021 to 1,458 in 2025, about 30%¹.

Bail is the money or conditions that let an accused person stay out of jail while awaiting trial. On November 4, 2025, voters approved Proposition 3. It requires judges and magistrates to deny bail to people charged with certain violent or sexual felonies, such as murder, aggravated kidnapping and human trafficking, if prosecutors prove the person is a flight risk or, under a higher standard, a danger to public safety².

Lawmakers also passed related 2025 laws restricting no-cash personal bonds and barring public funds from being used to bail out defendants. A separate proposal to deny bail to certain immigrants did not pass².

Key terms

Bail: Money or conditions that let an accused person stay free until trial. It is meant to ensure they return to court and to protect the public.
Personal bond: Release without paying cash, based on a promise to return. Texas limited these for some charges in 2025².
Clear and convincing evidence: A high standard of proof. Under Proposition 3, prosecutors must meet it to show a defendant is a danger to public safety before bail is denied. Showing flight risk uses a lower standard, called preponderance of the evidence².
Violent crime rate: Reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents. It lets places of different sizes be compared¹.

In Texas

Supporters of Proposition 3, including law enforcement and prosecutors, argued it keeps the most violent defendants from reoffending while awaiting trial. Critics, including civil rights groups, argued that most people released on bail follow the law and that more pretrial detention can lead to higher reoffending and other negative social and economic outcomes².

In Tarrant County, you elect the Sheriff, who runs the jail, the District Attorney, who decides what cases to bring, and the judges who hear criminal cases. Bail is often set by magistrates. Colleyville's city council sets the local police budget.

How people see it

The strongest case for each view, in terms its supporters would recognize. We don't pick a side.

Tough enforcement

Real consequences deter crime and protect victims. Longer sentences for violent offenders, well-funded police and stricter bail keep repeat offenders from harming more people while their cases are pending.

Focus on repeat offenders

A small number of people commit a large share of serious crime. More officers and targeted attention on those repeat offenders gives the biggest safety return for the money.

Fund and reform

Police need solid funding, and public trust needs clear rules. Body cameras, use-of-force limits, good training and transparency make policing both effective and accountable.

Shift some funding to services

Many 911 calls involve mental illness, addiction or homelessness that armed officers are not trained to handle. Sending counselors and social workers to those calls frees police to focus on crime.

Major reform

Heavy incarceration has not made communities safer in proportion to its cost, and pretrial jailing punishes people not yet convicted. Investing in prevention, treatment and opportunity reduces crime at its roots.

Who decides

City Council: Sets the police budget and oversees the city police department.
County Sheriff (elected): Runs the county jail and patrols unincorporated areas.
District Attorney (elected): Decides which cases to prosecute and what charges to seek.
District and county judges (elected): Set or review bail and sentence people convicted of crimes. Magistrates often set bail first.
Texas Legislature and Governor: Write criminal law, bail rules and prison funding.

Questions to ask a candidate

What is one specific thing you would do to reduce violent crime here?
When should a judge be able to hold someone without bail before trial?
Should mental health professionals respond to some 911 calls instead of police?
How do you measure whether local policing is working?

Last reviewed 2026-09-26. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.

Sources

2025 Crime in TexasTexas Department of Public Safety
More people can be denied bail after Texas voters pass Proposition 3. What happens now?KERA News