Andy Kahan - Crime Stoppers Joins Houston's Morning News

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Seven, twenty two, now here on Houston's Morning News. All right,
let's let's talk to Andy Kahn about I know a
proposition that is very very important. You know, there are
seventeen different propositions on the ballot. Proposition three is of
the utmost concerned. Our next guest, he's a crime stoppers
has been for eons. As you know. It is a

(00:21):
constitutional meendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances
the person's accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony. Okay, well,
let's get into what that means specifically, Andy, What does
that specifically mean, because that's kind of a generic ballad
language they're using.

Speaker 2 (00:39):
Yeah, well, Harris County is ground zero for Prop three
for obvious reasons. Let me give you a classic example.
You might recall a camp who was sexually assaulted and
murdered by two defendants. When the two defendants were charged,
to judge grant to a bond, albeit a very high bond,

(01:02):
and there was public outrage, golore, and we had to
tell everybody, guess what. The judge had no choice but
to issue a bond. Prop three, very simplistically will give
judges discretion not to grant bond to defendant's charge with

(01:22):
certain violent crimes when prosecutors make emotion that the defendant
is a public safety risk, a flight not to reappear,
and or as a threat to public safety and or
the victim. It's really that simple. It's giving discretion instead
of allowing judges to have an excuse by saying we

(01:45):
don't have a choice. We have to give a bond. Now,
passing Prop three, you will have a choice, all right.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Is that the most common excuse that they give by
the way, that they don't have a choice.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
Pretty much, you know, you know, pretty much. Hey, it's
it's it's in the constitution. We have to give a bond.
The only offense that judge cannot grant a bond to
and that's his capital murder, and that's only when the
state is seeking the death penalty. So we've added about
six violent offenses that will allow judicial discretion. And that's

(02:21):
really I think, I truly believe this is a win
win for everybody passing Prop three. And I can go
case after case and case telling you why it's needed.
But Harris County was the impetus forgetting the ballot language
and I'm hoping that Texas voters will agree with us,
because the bottom line is they're the ones who are

(02:44):
going to make the decision whether judges should have discretion.

Speaker 1 (02:47):
So true, how would how is the ballot proposal? Warder?
Do you have any idea? Is it one of those
things both know for yes or yes or no? Or
is it? Pretty straight up?

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Pretty much you've got two choices, either you're for it
or against it. And you know, some of the opposition
it's kind of interesting. They're like, oh, it's going to
fill up the jails, and I'm like, it's not going
to be a fantasy. Let's be real right here. This
is only for offenders that are charged with the most
egregious offenses and only when the state i e. Prosecutors

(03:20):
are of the perspective that this particular defendant is a
public safety risk.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Seems very simple.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
I'll tell you what this had.

Speaker 1 (03:28):
This had.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
I mean you want to talk about bipartisan support. This
had bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate
by an overwhelming majority.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
And that's pretty rare these days. All right, Andy, thank
you appreciate you explaining it to us. Andy Kahn from
Crime Stoppers Vote yes. On proposition three, it is seven
to twenty six