Criminal District Judge, 486th Judicial District
Vanessa Velasquez
Republican
Accountability
What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of cases that come before your court?
I run one of the most efficient criminal district courts in Harris County. I have the third lowest number of total cases of the 29 criminal district courts. This is because I know what cases are assigned to my court and I keep up with each case at each docket setting to see what discovery has been accomplished, including contact with Complainants. Once this is done, if a plea bargain cannot be accomplished, cases are set for trial 30 days later, provided both sides are available. Cases don’t get better with time.
Bail
In setting bail amounts, how will you balance Texas’s constitutionally mandated bail requirements with other conditions of release including minimizing any public safety threat the defendant may present to the community? Please discuss both first time and repeat offenders.
As soon as a defendant appears before me, I read them their constitutional rights and have the prosecutor read the probable cause for that person’s charged offense. I then ask for their prior criminal history, if any. I then ask if the Complainant(s) has been contacted and what they have to say regarding their safety concerns, restitution, and punishment. I take everything into consideration. Capital murders are denied bond until a hearing. Cases involving domestic violence and aggravated cases involving weapons are likely to have higher bonds depending on the allegations, criminal history, and Complainant/community safety. In cases of low level property crimes or drug offenses, I’m open to personal bonds, but on a case by case basis
