Harris County commissioners on Tuesday approved a pilot program to make public defenders available at bail hearings, a step aimed at retooling a criminal justice system that has increasingly drawn criticism for jailing thousands of poor, low-risk offenders.
![Harris County to place public defenders at bail hearings](/sites/default/files/styles/blog_featured_image/public/articles/2021-08/H%2520Chron%2520Pilot.png?itok=XV074OhM)