HOUSTON — A brand new law not too long ago went into impact that makes it against the law for folks to bring to an end ankle screens.
Recently, two folks have been charged for doing it in Harris County.
The case that spearheaded the brand new law took place in 2018. Jose Rodriguez have been launched on parole and bring to an end his monitor. Shortly after doing that, he killed 3 folks in the Houston space. It used to be a tale that captivated all of the state.
“Rodriguez was the impetus for me doing the research … getting the bill filed,” Crime Stoppers Victim Advocate Andy Kahan mentioned.
Kahan labored with legislators, and this summer season, Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 1004 into law. Read the law here. In 2019, Kahan attempted to get the invoice to go nevertheless it failed.
“Any offender who is on parole, probation or bail who removes, destroys or tampers with their ankle monitor will finally now be criminally charged,” Kahan mentioned.
You can now be charged with a legal for taking away your ankle monitor. Before the law went into impact, it used to be as much as a pass judgement on to come to a decision what the punishment for that motion can be.
“We have had numerous numerous cases in Harris County … on a weekly or daily basis removes, destroys or tampers with ankle monitors,” Kahan mentioned.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice mentioned they are already caution people who find themselves out on parole.
“Don’t trade your electronic monitoring for a set of handcuffs,” TDCJ Director of Parole Division Rene Hinojosa mentioned.
Advocates like Kahan mentioned they hope criminals take the law critically.
“For me, if you were going to remove and destroy your ankle monitor, what on earth makes you think you are going to abide by the laws of society? You are sending out clues and signals galore,” Kahan mentioned.
Two males were arrested for doing it in Harris County already. They’re each indexed at the Harris County Jail roster.
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