With the number of victims in Harris County killed by individuals already facing violent crime charges having skyrocketed to 110 over the last three years, lawmakers in Texas are now pushing legislation that would make it more difficult for such individuals to be released on bond.

Victim Services and Advocacy for Crime Stoppers of Houston Director Andy Kahan said he’s had enough of the rampant violence, and now stands in full support of Senate Bill 21.

“The majority of those occurred in 2020-21,” Kahan said of the killings. “The bottom line is we’re in a Harris County bond pandemic and people are paying the price for felony bond reform.”

Kahan said he now keeps a running count of victims who have been murdered by defendants released on multiple felony bonds and finds himself adding to the tally far too often.

Kahan said his figures only include individuals out on more than one felony bond who are accused of murder as their most recent charge.

“I’m just looking at murder,” he said. “God only knows what the other categories are. We’ve been up there pushing legislation on this.”

Though critics charge the bill unfairly targets indigent defendants, SB 21 has the backing of a growing number of Republican lawmakers.  

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg was among those appearing at a recent hearing to testify in support of the measure. Ogg told lawmakers in 2020 10,500 individuals out on bond were accused of committing 18,796 new offenses.