County approves settling suit over Houston area bail system

HOUSTON (AP) — Officials have approved a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the bail system in Texas’ most populous county which ensures that most people accused of misdemeanor offenses don’t languish in jail.
The bail system in Harris County, where Houston is located, had been deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge following a 2016 lawsuit alleging poor misdemeanor defendants remained jailed because of their poverty.
Harris County commissioners Tuesday approved the settl