In my opinion: ‘Your county is a ground zero for civil rights struggles’

Error message
In order to filter by the "in queue" property, you need to add the Entityqueue: Queue relationship.-
County NewsDear Colleagues: As black county officials working to repair broken systems that unfairly limit opportunities for our communities to prosper and unjustly deny rights to the people we serve, we should advocate for local criminal justice reform efforts that have the power and potential to effect systemic change on a massive scale.In my opinion: ‘Your county is a ground zero for civil rights struggles’
-
County News Article
In my opinion: ‘Your county is a ground zero for civil rights struggles’
Dear Colleagues:
As black county officials working to repair broken systems that unfairly limit opportunities for our communities to prosper and unjustly deny rights to the people we serve, we should advocate for local criminal justice reform efforts that have the power and potential to effect systemic change on a massive scale.
Mass incarceration, bail reform and the broader fight for equal justice together represent one of the greatest civil rights struggles of our time, and Harris County, Texas is a ground zero for that fight. Make no mistake — your county is a ground zero too.
Our civil rights movement is far from over. A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute has found that the incarceration of black people nearly tripled from 1968 to 2016 and black people today are more likely to be jailed or imprisoned than they were in 1968.
During this same time, the wealth gap between black families and white families has nearly tripled, leaving black families with fewer paths to prosperity and more vulnerable to a criminal justice system riddled with inequality and racial disparities.
If we don’t address the mass incarceration of minorities and the gross racial disparities found throughout our criminal justice system, fundamental rights will continue to be denied and whole groups of people will be treated as second-class citizens.
In Harris County, which has the one of the highest rates of mass incarceration in the country, the bail reform lawsuit brought by plaintiffs who were forced to languish behind bars because they were too poor to pay bail has exposed a two-tiered system of injustice.
This system that privileges wealthy defendants and punishes poor defendants — mostly black and Latino — is based on the size of their pocketbooks and not the alleged crimes.
In Harris County and elsewhere across the country, a wealthy defendant accused of a violent crime can pay to walk away while poor and vulnerable defendants accused of petty, nonviolent misdemeanors suffer behind bars for weeks and months at a time before they’ve even gone to trial or have been convicted of a crime.
These unconscionable practices have destroyed countless lives, forced innocent people to plead guilty, torn families apart and done nothing to make communities safer.
Fundamental rights are blatantly violated and this type of system abandons cherished values like fairness and liberty.
Both a federal judge appointed by former President George H.W. Bush and the ultra-conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agree. Both have ruled repeatedly that the Harris County bail system routinely violates the constitutional rights of poor defendants, unjustly denies poor defendants their liberty and is used as an instrument of oppression.
We all must join the fight to end mass incarceration and advocate for bail reform, fair sentencing and community-led solutions to crime and public safety. NOBCO’s commitment to bail reform is a bold step in this emerging civil rights movement.
I look forward to taking the journey with all of you to work together to coordinate strategic, local action around criminal justice reform and do our part in the ultimate quest for fair and equal justice for all people.
Anyone interested in initiating or furthering their existing reform efforts in their county are welcome to contact my office at 713.991.6881 or Comm_Ellis@cp1.hctx.net to connect to resources and discuss ways in which we can all work together on these important issues.
Dear Colleagues:2018-09-17County News Article2023-04-11
Dear Colleagues:
As black county officials working to repair broken systems that unfairly limit opportunities for our communities to prosper and unjustly deny rights to the people we serve, we should advocate for local criminal justice reform efforts that have the power and potential to effect systemic change on a massive scale.
Mass incarceration, bail reform and the broader fight for equal justice together represent one of the greatest civil rights struggles of our time, and Harris County, Texas is a ground zero for that fight. Make no mistake — your county is a ground zero too.
Our civil rights movement is far from over. A recent report by the Economic Policy Institute has found that the incarceration of black people nearly tripled from 1968 to 2016 and black people today are more likely to be jailed or imprisoned than they were in 1968.
During this same time, the wealth gap between black families and white families has nearly tripled, leaving black families with fewer paths to prosperity and more vulnerable to a criminal justice system riddled with inequality and racial disparities.
If we don’t address the mass incarceration of minorities and the gross racial disparities found throughout our criminal justice system, fundamental rights will continue to be denied and whole groups of people will be treated as second-class citizens.
In Harris County, which has the one of the highest rates of mass incarceration in the country, the bail reform lawsuit brought by plaintiffs who were forced to languish behind bars because they were too poor to pay bail has exposed a two-tiered system of injustice.
This system that privileges wealthy defendants and punishes poor defendants — mostly black and Latino — is based on the size of their pocketbooks and not the alleged crimes.
In Harris County and elsewhere across the country, a wealthy defendant accused of a violent crime can pay to walk away while poor and vulnerable defendants accused of petty, nonviolent misdemeanors suffer behind bars for weeks and months at a time before they’ve even gone to trial or have been convicted of a crime.
These unconscionable practices have destroyed countless lives, forced innocent people to plead guilty, torn families apart and done nothing to make communities safer.
Fundamental rights are blatantly violated and this type of system abandons cherished values like fairness and liberty.
Both a federal judge appointed by former President George H.W. Bush and the ultra-conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agree. Both have ruled repeatedly that the Harris County bail system routinely violates the constitutional rights of poor defendants, unjustly denies poor defendants their liberty and is used as an instrument of oppression.
We all must join the fight to end mass incarceration and advocate for bail reform, fair sentencing and community-led solutions to crime and public safety. NOBCO’s commitment to bail reform is a bold step in this emerging civil rights movement.
I look forward to taking the journey with all of you to work together to coordinate strategic, local action around criminal justice reform and do our part in the ultimate quest for fair and equal justice for all people.
Anyone interested in initiating or furthering their existing reform efforts in their county are welcome to contact my office at 713.991.6881 or Comm_Ellis@cp1.hctx.net to connect to resources and discuss ways in which we can all work together on these important issues.

About Hon. Rodney Ellis (Full Bio)
Commissioner, Harris County, Texas
Rodney Ellis is a Harris County, Texas commissioner and the president of the National Association of Black County Officials.More from Hon. Rodney Ellis
-
Forum / Meeting
2023 NCCAE-NACo Knowledge Management Forum
Aug. 16, 2023 – Aug. 18, 2023The National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) invite you to join us at the in-person NCCAE-NACo Knowledge Management Forum August 16-18 at the GFOA headquarters in Coo -
County News
Now I Know Your Priorities Change on Day One
Alexis Hill quickly learned how quickly the goals of a campaign make way for the realities of governing when she took office in Washoe County. -
County News
'All the way' is the only approach Mary Jo McGuire knows
Mary Jo McGuire found a match for her skills and talents representing her Ramsey County district, and she's bringing the same all-in approach as NACo's president. -
County News
County leaders can play role in helping fix ‘crisis in American civility’
A current “crisis in American civility” can be traced back to changes in journalism and social media in the past few decades, but county officials can play a role in fixing the problem, according to longtime journalist Joan Lunden. -
County News
Expanded perspective shapes Winfrey’s term as NACo president
Winfrey hopes her example motivates more women to seek NACo leadership roles -
County News
Father, son share county service mission in Minnesota
The Nagels are making names for themselves in Minnesota, where Joe is a McLeod County commissioner and his father Doug recently started as a Pipestone County commissioner.
-
Conference
2023 NACo Fall Board Meeting
November 30, 2023 – December 2, 2023Save the date to join county leaders for NACo's Fall Board of Directors MeetingRamsey County (St. Paul), Minn.113011:00 am<h3>Save the Date</h3>
<p>Save the date to join county leaders for NACo's Fall Board of Directors Meeting in Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minn. Nov. 30 – Dec. 2.</p>
-
Forum / Meeting
2023 Fall Board Meeting
November 30, 2023 – December 2, 2023Under the leadership of National Association of Counties (NACo) President Mary Jo McGuire, the NACo Fall Board of Directors Meeting and Forward Together Symposium will convene county leaders in Ramsey County, Minnesota November 30 – December 2, 2023.11302:00 pm<p>Under the leadership of National Association of Counties (NACo) President Mary Jo McGuire, the NACo Fall Board of Directors Meeting and Forward Together Symposium will convene county leaders in Ramsey County, Minnesota Nove
-
Basic page
NACo High Performance Leadership Academy
The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy is an online 12-week program that will empower frontline county government professionals with the most fundamental leadership skills to deliver results for counties and communities.pagepagepage<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="medium-call-out transparent">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Contact
-
Commissioner, Harris County, Texas
Related Resources
-
County News
Now I Know Your Priorities Change on Day One
Alexis Hill quickly learned how quickly the goals of a campaign make way for the realities of governing when she took office in Washoe County. -
County News
'All the way' is the only approach Mary Jo McGuire knows
Mary Jo McGuire found a match for her skills and talents representing her Ramsey County district, and she's bringing the same all-in approach as NACo's president. -
County News
County leaders can play role in helping fix ‘crisis in American civility’
A current “crisis in American civility” can be traced back to changes in journalism and social media in the past few decades, but county officials can play a role in fixing the problem, according to longtime journalist Joan Lunden.
-
Press Release
Winfrey Begins NACo Presidency
Will County, Ill. Board Member Denise Winfrey was sworn in as president of the National Association of Counties (NACo) on July 24 at the conclusion of NACo’s 87th Annual Conference in Adams County, Colo. -
Video
NACo President Denise Winfrey Announces RISE!
During the 2022 NACo Annual Business Meeting, NACo President Denise Winfrey outlined her presidential priority, “RISE!” -
Video
2022 NACo Annual Conference Livestreams
Tune in for livestreams of select conference programming from the 2022 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition.
Related Events
-
30Nov2023Conference
2023 NACo Fall Board Meeting
Nov. 30, 2023 – Dec. 2, 2023Ramsey County (St. Paul), Minn. -
30Nov2023
More From
-
Announcing 2023 Achievement Award Winners
NACo is pleased to announce the winners for the 2023 Achievement Awards.
Learn More