Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ 75% of people in Texas jails have not been convicted of any crime.

That is because many can’t afford bail.

Those defendants sit in jail, waiting, while others go free.

But Texas lawmakers might reform bail this year. #txlege

bit.ly/2TFVlUs

2/ The Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice likes to use this example:

A grandmother was kept in jail for about two months on a $150,000 bond after allegedly shoplifting $105 worth of clothes for her grandchildren.

#txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs

3/ Recent deaths in Texas county jails have drawn calls for reform.

A Harris County jail inmate died by suicide in January, for instance.

She was in jail because of misdemeanor charges and couldn't make a $3,000 bond. #txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs

4/ Meanwhile, judges have called the bail practices in the state’s two largest counties unconstitutional. #txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs

5/ Two years ago, bail reform bill died in the Texas Legislature.

But some of these new factors are working in bail reform’s favor this year. #txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs

6/ “I don’t believe I’ve seen anything more broken in the criminal justice system than our current bail bond process. If we do not fix it, ladies and gentlemen, the federal courts will.” — @whitmire_john #txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs

7/7 Will all this push this year's reform efforts to success?

Read more from @jsmccullou. #txlege bit.ly/2TFVlUs