Dallas County DA says Bail falls on Judges

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot is responding by calls by Police to curb a growing number of repeat offenders.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said on Wednesday that violent offenders are being let out of jail on low level bonds, leading to a jump in repeat offenders in communities of color.

“[The criminal justice system] has a responsibly to the public,” said Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata. “They need to stop giving more rights to criminals.”

Dallas Police are currently investigating an Officer involved shooting of a man who bonded out on gun charges, and the killings at Methodist hospital. The alleged shooter there was out on parole, which is handled at the state level.

Creuzot said Thursday that public safety is his office’s top priority.

“Despite our lobbying for the last four years for the ability to do so, the DA’s Office is not present when the initial bail is set by the magistrate, nor is defense counsel for that matter,” said Creuzot. “Bail is the responsibility of the judges, and they exercise their discretion. That being said, this DA’s Office has shown in the past, in the many, many instances we have reason to believe someone is a threat to the community and should remain in jail, we file the appropriate motions and have even gone so far as to have a judge successfully recused from a case.”

But Creuzot said “in the end, the ability to set bail and the amount of bail is subject to judicial discretion.”