Issue Position: Criminal Justice Reform

Issue Position

Rep. Eddie Rodriguez has worked to expand lawful access to cannabis in Texas and participated in efforts to reform Texas marijuana laws. Rep. Rodriguez helped to pass a bill that required community supervision for certain first-time offenders who are charged by law enforcement under the Texas Controlled Substances Act (HB 2668 - 78R). Since then, he has worked on expanding access to expunction and helping people clear their records after they have successfully completed diversion programs (HB 88 - 79R, HB 3628 - 80R). He joined the members of the Texas House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus and many others in calling on Governor Abbott to stay the execution of Rodney Reed in November and is closely monitoring the case of Rosa Jimenez.

Rep. Rodriguez has supported efforts to close the school-to-prison pipeline and he believes that we must end the cash bail system in Texas, end discretionary arrests and address disparities in the system experienced by minorities and LGBTQ Texans.

Highlights:

Joint Author, Hemp Farming Act (HB 1325 - 86R)

Coauthor, Expanded Compassionate Use Act (HB 1365 - 86R)

Coauthor, Decriminalization (HB 63 - 86R)

Coauthor, Diversion for First-Time Offenders Under the Texas Controlled Substances Act (HB 2668 - 78R)

Author, Expanding Access to Expunction (HB 88 - 79R, HB 3628 - 80R)

Policy Priorities:

Addressing inhumane conditions in the criminal justice system, particularly overcrowding, temperature control and the abuse of solitary confinement.

Exploring and addressing disparities experienced by people of color and LGBTQ Texans in interactions with law enforcement and in the criminal justice system.

Prohibit the diversion of local or state law enforcement resources for federal immigration enforcement.

End "discretionary arrests" for fine-only offenses.

Continuing to expand lawful access to cannabis and ending the prosecution of low-level offenses.

Reduce driver's license suspensions for unpaid fines.

Expanding funding for and access to diversionary programs, special courts and indigent defense.

Diverting people with mental illness who commit low-level offenses away from correctional facilities and into treatment settings, ramping up state funding for local- and state-level mental health programs.

Expanding training for jailers and correctional staff on mental health issues and de-escalation techniques.

Improving mental health screening, safety and suicide prevention procedures in correctional settings.

Investing in reentry programs and services that help people transition from incarceration to living full lives.

Expanding access to expunction, helping more people clear their records faster.

Ending the cash bail system, comprehensive bail reform.

Supporting overworked public employees working in the criminal justice system.

Prevent the hiring of police officers who have been previously fired or resigned while under investigation for serious misconduct / excessive force.

Require police departments to report every stop, arrest, and use of force to a state database. Include demographic data and release raw data and analysis yearly.

Require all police departments to make records of police misconduct and discipline public.

Reform use of force policies and implement new training policies.

Ban the use of knee holds and choke holds as acceptable practice for police officers.

Work to demilitarize our police force through a statewide ban on police departments purchasing military weapons from the federal government including tanks, armored vehicles, drones, grenade launchers, aircraft.

Explore opportunities at the state level to support local efforts to establish independent civilian review boards with robust investigative authority.

Create a pilot grant program for local communities to explore community-based response to local emergencies including: public health crises, unhoused people in crisis, people experiencing mental health crises, people exposed to intimate partner or community violence, and people with substance abuse disorder.

Work with the community, local government partners and law enforcement to facilitate a transition toward a culture of community policing, restorative justice and collaborative problem-solving. Advocate for changes to policies and practices that contribute to escalatory confrontations between police and protesters.

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