LIBERTY AND JUSTICE PRETRIAL PRACTICES IN TEXAS

Correspondingly, victim costs are 3.5 times higher in the financial release system ($469 per defendant) versus
$133 where release is risk-informed. In Travis County, victim costs for new law-breaking average $1,900 per
offense, whereas in Tarrant County’s money based system, the amount is 4.7 times greater: $9,052. Overall, the
evidence is clear. Where judges are without an objective means to evaluate defendant risk, a small number of
very dangerous individuals released on cash or surety bond can bring serious and costly harm to the community.
Table 7. New Criminal Activity Committed by People on Bond
Financial Release System
(Tarrant County)
(n=8,958)
Risk-Informed Release System
(Travis County)
(n=4,692)
Victim Costs per Defendant $469 $133
Victim Costs per Offense $9,052 $1,900
VIOLENT FELONIES 7.5% 4.9%
Homicide 0.2% 0.0%
Attempted Homicide 0.0% 0.0%
Sexual Assault 0.4% 0.3%
Robbery 2.1% 0.8%
Assaultive 4.6% 3.6%
Other Violent 0.2% 0.2%
NON-VIOLENT FELONIES 38.1% 26.6%
Burglary 4.5% 2.6%
Theft 8.2% 3.8%
Other Property 3.3% 1.5%
Drug Offenses 16.5% 13.5%
Weapons Offenses 1.6% 0.7%
Other Felony 4.0% 4.5%
MISDEMEANORS 54.5% 68.4%
Weapons Offenses 4.9% 0.1%
Assaultive 5.0% 6.1%
Theft 11.9% 6.3%
Other Property 2.6% 2.3%
Drug Offenses 10.8% 14.7%
Other Misdemeanors 19.3% 38.9%
TOTAL 100% 100%
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