Committee to evaluate implementation of cite-and-summons statute

The Texas House County Affairs Committee on Monday will consider a couple of criminal-justice related interim charges that may interest Grits readers:

• Continue oversight of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and issues jails currently face, including the mental health of those in jail, and make recommendations for refinement or improvement of processes and programs.
• Determine which counties have implemented a cite-and-summons policy, whether the policy has been effective in lessening overcrowding in county jails, and whether those cited by peace officers comply with the policy.

Grits will be particularly interested in the evaluation of the cite-and-summons policy. The hearing will be broadcast online beginning at 10 a.m. Monday morning.

See prior, related Grits posts:

• Hays County will use expanded citation authority to reduce jail overcrowding
• Austin PD will finally implement citations for petty misdemeanors
• Smart policies can boost police coverage even in tight economy
• Long booking times a strong argument for police using new citation authority
• APD finally implementing B misdemeanor citation policy
• Police union backs using citation authority at Austin PD
• Nuts and bolts of citations for low-level misdemeanors explained by Travis Sheriff's Office
• On the source of volitional jail overcrowding in Bexar County: Why solve a problem when you can create one?
• Tyler officials should listen to voters, use new tools to reduce jail overcrowding
• Sheriffs more likely than PDs to welcome new arrest discretion
• Jefferson County works out kinks with new cite and summons authority
• How one Texas county will take advantage of new law to reduce jail overcrowding
• HB 2391 could save Bexar taxpayers $10,000 per day
• Cite and summons for low-level offenses could free up jail space
• Texas Lege approved new tools to reduce jail overcrowding, if police can change their thinking