The director of the Harris County Project, Janis Bane, has been a steady pulse in the criminal justice industry since 1978. Bane began her career as a probation officer in Harris County and continued her education with an master of science in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University where she is an adjunct professor.
As an advocate for minorities caught in the perils of the judicial system, Bane has fought to change the financial stronghold placed on petty criminals and continues to reach out to the community through her work with the William A. Lawson Institute of Peace and Prosperity, Be A Resource for CPS Kids (BEAR), American Parole and Probation Association and the Texas Probation Association. Bane is married to Gene Bane, has two sons, Jeremy and Cody, and a daughter-in-law, Heidi.
–alex green
Why is your work so important?
Justice, compassion and forgiveness are important to me, and I want everyone treated fairly. I know that people make mistakes, and I know that people can change.
What is your focus for 2011?
I’m focused, at the moment, on the indigent and their constitutional right to a bond and an attorney. The system can be discriminatory against the indigent in terms of bond decisions and pretrial release of the indigent. Those who are financially not able to retain a bondsman stay in jail, while someone who may be more dangerous to the community, but who has funds for a bondsman, will be released.
What can others do to bring awareness to unfair bail and bonding practices?
We need to educate voters and those who can impact change. According to the Pretrial Justice Institute, on Feb. 1, 2011, 68,294 people were in Texas jails. Fifty-five percent of those were being held during the pretrial stage — in other words, being held prior to being found guilty.
What advice can you give to others who are serving lengthy stays in jail due to lack of funds for bond?
The bond schedule in Harris County increases significantly for those with prior offenses, even if the event was many years ago and minor in nature. Those in jail with bonds they can’t afford to make, who have nonviolent offenses in their histor[ies], should ask that their individual issues be considered and should make calls and write letters along with their family members.
For more information, please visit www.criminaljusticecoalition.org/ or www.texasfairdefenseproject.org https://www.ipoftexas.org.
