[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation\/","headline":"Texas Governor Greg Abbott Vetoes Criminal Justice Legislation","name":"Texas Governor Greg Abbott Vetoes Criminal Justice Legislation","description":"Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed some high-profile criminal justice bills presented to him at the end of this year\u2019s legislative session including a move to allow earlier parole and legislation intended to restrict the use of hypnosis in the criminal justice system. Bills vetoed by Abbott over the weekend included House Bill 686, which...","datePublished":"2021-06-24","dateModified":"2022-09-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/author\/kissprblog\/#Person","name":"Broden & Mickelsen, LLP","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/author\/kissprblog\/","identifier":11,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bd70e3cfe21ebfb97a169f95da73c8b9fdb6accce8b9ecb2173146feb882a8ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bd70e3cfe21ebfb97a169f95da73c8b9fdb6accce8b9ecb2173146feb882a8ea?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Broden, Mickelsen LLP","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Broden-and-Mickelsen-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Broden-and-Mickelsen-Logo.png","width":378,"height":77}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation.jpg","height":334,"width":500},"url":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation\/","about":["Criminal Defense"],"wordCount":469,"keywords":["Criminal Justice System","Dallas criminal defense lawyer","Texas criminal defense attorney"],"articleBody":"Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed some high-profile criminal justice bills presented to him at the end of this year\u2019s legislative session including a move to allow earlier parole and legislation intended to restrict the use of hypnosis in the criminal justice system.Bills vetoed by Abbott over the weekend included House Bill 686, which would have permitted earlier parole eligibility to inmates who are convicted of certain crimes if they were under 18 when they committed the offenses.The Texas Tribune reported HB 686 was authored by Rep. Joe Moody, a Democrat, and included in a bipartisan criminal justice package spearheaded by Republican House Speaker Date Phelan called \u201cSmarter Justice, Safer Texas.\u201dAbbott said in a statement he felt the bill would conflict with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, \u201cwhich would result in confusion and needless, disruptive litigation,\u201d the Tribune reported.Abbott also vetoed Senate Bill 281 authored by state Sen. Juan \u201cChuy\u201d Hinojosa, D-McAllen. The legislation supported a ban on the use of statements obtained under hypnosis in a criminal court. A recent Dallas Morning News investigation found police and other law enforcement personnel used hypnosis almost 1,800 times in Texas over four decades.The Governor objected to a late amendment to the bill that would have prevented statements made long after the hypnosis from being used as evidence in a criminal trial.We have previously highlighted concerns over the use of hypnosis in criminal trials and noted how the Texas Rangers stopped using this controversial technique.Abbott also vetoed the Safe Outdoor Dogs Act, branding it as \u201cmicro-managing and over-criminalization.\u201dSenate Bill 474 would have made the chaining up of dogs outside with no water, inadequate shade, or shelter, a criminal offense.The Tribune quoted Shelby Bobosky, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network.Bobosky heads up a nonprofit that lobbies in support of animal rights. She said Abbott\u2019s veto left the organization\u2019s members devastated, and the bill would have \u201cclarified the vague language that makes the statute completely unenforceable.\u201dAbbott also vetoed a bill that would have required middle school and high school students to learn about family violence, child abuse prevention, and dating violence. He said the bill did not give parents the option to opt out of instruction.He also vetoed Senate Bill 237 which would have cut penalties for criminal trespassing by allowing police officers to \u201ccite and release\u201d suspects instead of arresting them. Abbott said the change would have a \u201ctroubling impact\u201d on homeowners and businesses that \u201ccount\u201d on criminal trespass arrests from homeless people who refuse to leave their properties.Texas has many harsh penalties for crimes. Abbott has consistently resisted moves to reform the criminal justice system. If you or a family member has been arrested in Dallas or elsewhere in Texas, please contact our criminal defense team as soon as possible."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Texas Governor Greg Abbott Vetoes Criminal Justice Legislation","item":"https:\/\/www.brodenmickelsen.com\/blog\/texas-governor-greg-abbott-vetoes-criminal-justice-legislation\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]