SAN ANTONIO, TX— In a remarkable bipartisan move, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales announced his support for efforts by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to eliminate bail for violent offenders via an emergency item this legislative session, calling for bail reform.
According to a Friday report from the San Antonio Express-News, Abbott declared bail reform to prohibit pre-trial release for individuals charged with violent crimes to be an emergency item for the legislature. Such a reform would require a new amendment to the Texas Constitution.
Gonzales, a Democrat, broke with his party’s typically soft-on-crime modus operandi and offered full-throated support for the effort from the Republican governor. He told the Express-News Friday, “Public safety will always be a top priority, and while Governor Abbott and I do not agree on many things, I am in support of his proposed bail bond reforms as they align with our office’s goal of maintaining public safety and holding violent offenders accountable.”
In a post to X on April 21st announcing the needed reform, Abbott wrote, “Texans must have the opportunity to vote on a critical bail reform amendment to the Texas Constitution. A constitutional amendment would ensure dangerous criminals are not let back onto the streets to harm more Texans. We MUST reform our bail system.”
In a subsequent post on Friday, he shared a video from Fox 7 and wrote, “5 career criminals robbed & murdered Xavier Jones Sr. in front of his girlfriend & her child. 3 of the murderers were out on 16 active bonds over the span of just 18 months—one as low as $1,000. Horrific. I'm demanding Texas lawmakers support bail reform to SAVE innocent lives.”
Abbott has been vocal in criticizing “rogue or radical” Democratic district attorneys and judges for releasing violent offenders back onto the street, only for them to continue offending. Responding to this, Gonzales seemingly sought to differentiate himself. “It’s imperative that we address claims of ‘rogue or radical DAs’ being responsible for rising crime rates, which is simply not accurate,” he told the outlet.
President Danny Diaz of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, whom the Express-News reported regularly clashes with Gonzales, disagreed, saying that the governor’s proposed amendment would close a loophole in the law that has allowed criminals to walk.
“It’s a community safety concern affecting both citizens and police officers,” Diaz said. “This bill is a critical first step in reforming the justice system in Texas.” He added that Gonzales should be “more accountable for prosecution,” and that keeping suspects accused of violent crimes in jail shouldn’t be a politicized issue.
According to a Friday report from the San Antonio Express-News, Abbott declared bail reform to prohibit pre-trial release for individuals charged with violent crimes to be an emergency item for the legislature. Such a reform would require a new amendment to the Texas Constitution.
Gonzales, a Democrat, broke with his party’s typically soft-on-crime modus operandi and offered full-throated support for the effort from the Republican governor. He told the Express-News Friday, “Public safety will always be a top priority, and while Governor Abbott and I do not agree on many things, I am in support of his proposed bail bond reforms as they align with our office’s goal of maintaining public safety and holding violent offenders accountable.”
In a post to X on April 21st announcing the needed reform, Abbott wrote, “Texans must have the opportunity to vote on a critical bail reform amendment to the Texas Constitution. A constitutional amendment would ensure dangerous criminals are not let back onto the streets to harm more Texans. We MUST reform our bail system.”
Texans must have the opportunity to vote on a critical bail reform amendment to the Texas Constitution.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 21, 2025
A constitutional amendment would ensure dangerous criminals are not let back onto the streets to harm more Texans.
We MUST reform our bail system. pic.twitter.com/tbWpUK9Jzq
In a subsequent post on Friday, he shared a video from Fox 7 and wrote, “5 career criminals robbed & murdered Xavier Jones Sr. in front of his girlfriend & her child. 3 of the murderers were out on 16 active bonds over the span of just 18 months—one as low as $1,000. Horrific. I'm demanding Texas lawmakers support bail reform to SAVE innocent lives.”
5 career criminals robbed & murdered Xavier Jones Sr. in front of his girlfriend & her child.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 12, 2025
3 of the murderers were out on 16 active bonds over the span of just 18 months—one as low as $1,000.
Horrific. I'm demanding Texas lawmakers support bail reform to SAVE innocent lives. pic.twitter.com/nDp66qE3Gg
Abbott has been vocal in criticizing “rogue or radical” Democratic district attorneys and judges for releasing violent offenders back onto the street, only for them to continue offending. Responding to this, Gonzales seemingly sought to differentiate himself. “It’s imperative that we address claims of ‘rogue or radical DAs’ being responsible for rising crime rates, which is simply not accurate,” he told the outlet.
President Danny Diaz of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, whom the Express-News reported regularly clashes with Gonzales, disagreed, saying that the governor’s proposed amendment would close a loophole in the law that has allowed criminals to walk.
“It’s a community safety concern affecting both citizens and police officers,” Diaz said. “This bill is a critical first step in reforming the justice system in Texas.” He added that Gonzales should be “more accountable for prosecution,” and that keeping suspects accused of violent crimes in jail shouldn’t be a politicized issue.
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