Set the Wayback Machine for the 1980s, and Houston’s law enforcement and criminal justice community had a very different reputation than it does now. Back then, Houston was known as a shooting city, one where the police would indeed shoot you if you tried something particularly stupid. In some ways, this reputation was a follow-on to incidents from the days of desegregation up to the Joe Torres murder, but, good or bad, Houston had the reputation that, if you were a criminal, Houston had zero tolerance for you stepping out of line.
Those days are long gone.
Thanks to the Democratic Party’s takeover of the Harris County criminal justice system, Houston is now known as the city where murderers get to walk free.
Mayor John Whitmire said that 900 people charged with murder are free on bond in Houston during a city council meeting this week.
If true, the mind boggles. Houston had 320 murders in 2024, so that’s just under three years worth of alleged murderers walking the streets.
The 248th District Court has been the subject of repeated criticism for releasing people charged with violent crimes, including capital murder, back into the community on bond.
“There are multiple people that have been murdered by people who were out on bond from this court,” said Councilmember Fred Flickinger at the meeting.
An analysis performed by KHOU 11 showed that about a third of those released are arrested for additional crimes committed while on bond.
Flickinger added that it was time to start naming the judges responsible for releasing dangerous criminals.
The National Police Association has done so.
In an article published in 2021 by the NPA, Doug Wylie explained that “Judge Hilary Unger is unapologetic about a philosophy—no matter how flawed—that compels her to release into the world individuals who have shown a propensity for violence and a callous carelessness for human life.”
The article details how district court judges regularly grant bonds to dangerous criminals who go on to victimize more people.
Social justice is the gift that keeps on giving…
One example occurred last week following a SWAT standoff when Houston police recovered the bodies of Austin Collette and his girlfriend. Authorities say he likely shot her before killing himself.
Collette pleaded guilty to murder in 2019, but Judge Unger authorized his release and had not scheduled a sentencing hearing.
“More blood is on Judge Hilary Unger’s hands. Austin Collette pled guilty to another murder in December of 2024, yet he was still allowed to be free before sentencing. Now he murdered his girlfriend and killed himself. This senseless tragedy was 100% preventable,” posted the Houston Police Officers’ Union on X.
Earlier this year, Unger released on bond a man accused of murdering a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy.
I previously covered Unger bonding out the accused murderer of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda here.
Elections have consequences. Letting social justice Democrats run your criminal justice system, and electing George Soros-backed DAs, is a surefire recipe for higher crime and greater disorder. And now that DA Kim Ogg (originally Soros-backed, but who later broke with him to pursue more sane policies) has been replaced with hard left Soros-backed Sean Trende Teare, law abiding Houston residents can look forward to more murderers walking Houston’s streets.
Tags: Austin Collette, Crime, Democrats, Fred Flickinger, George Soros, Harris County, Hilary Unger, Houston, John Whitmire, Kim Ogg, murder, National Police Association, Sean Teare, Social Justice Warriors, Texas
Note that there are 900 accused murders promenading Houston. KHOU 11 estimates a third of them will be rearrested for additional crimes. Assuming they are all imprisoned, there is no risk of their base numbers declining because Houston had an additional 320 murders in 2024.
Assuming these are all fresh new homicidal hombres, a 1/3 reduction of the preexisting free-range killers means there will be no net loss of murderers in Houston.
This is good news for social workers, probation officers, defense attorneys and most likely ambulance drivers, morticians, life insurance agents and florists.
So relax, everybody, the future economic well-being of Houston is assured!
Comrade Cartridge will be pointing out the Broken Window fallacy in 3…2…1…
Um, Sean Teare, not Sean Trende. The latter is the distinguished political analyst often featured on Real Clear Politics.
[Corrected. – LP]
“Austin Collette…murdered his girlfriend and killed himself. This senseless tragedy was 100% preventable,..”
It would have been a better outcome if the tragedy was only 50% prevented so as to relieve Judge Hilary from the seemingly endless task of freeing Austin yet again.
[…] YOU HAVE A PROBLEM: Murderer City? “If true, the mind boggles. Houston had 320 murders in 2024, so that’s just under three […]
“If you ever go to Houston,
Boys, you better walk right,
And you better not squabble
And you better not fight.
Benson Crocker will arrest you,
Jimmy Boone will take you down.
You can bet your bottom dollar
That you’re Sugarland bound.”
— Huddie Ledbetter
I don’t understand the math: If there are 900 people charged with murder free on bond, how does 320 murders YTD equate to just under 3 years of accused killers on the the street? my problem goes to “that’s;” is the antecedent 900 or 320 (as it appears to me). Thanks.
There’s a crooked street in Houston town
It’s a well born path I’ve traveled down
Now there’s ruin in my name, I wish I never got off the train
I wished I’d listened to the words you said
Don’t go down to Fannin Street
Don’t go down to Fannin Street
Don’t go down to Fannin Street
You’ll be lost and never found
You can never turn around
Don’t go down to Fannin Street
– Tom Waits
320 murders a year X 3 = 960, so a full three years worth of accused killers would be slightly more than 900.
Traditionally, the Fannin Street famous for brothels and saloons was Shreveport.
I’m so old I can remember when the political Left decried Wild West culture. But compare it with what we have today and the Old Ways seem a lot better.
If you ever go to Houston
Better walk right
Keep your hands in your pockets
And your gun belt tight
If you’re asking for trouble
If you’re looking for a fight
If you ever go to Houston
Boy, you better walk right
If you’re ever down there
On back near Lamar
You better watch out for
The man with the shining star
Better know where you’re going
Or stay where you are
If you’re ever down there
On back near Lamar
—If You Ever Go to Houston, Bob Dylan