Recommendations: Materially Misleading

Many media outlets have re-assessed the nature of their crime coverage since the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police Department in the summer of 2020. Our analysis shows that, despite balanced coverage of Harris County's misdemeanor bond litigation, sloppy crime reporting persists at the Houston Chronicle. In light of the findings detailed in this report, newspapers should acknowledge that their approach to reporting on bond and bond reform functions to undermine police accountability, bolster the power of law enforcement, reinforce racial stereotypes, and undercut further reform efforts.

Read our recommendations on how newspapers can transform their approach to reporting on bond and crime.