Overview
Police are the largest expense in the operating budgets for the City of Houston and Harris County. Due to the state’s anti-defund law, local governments face severe restrictions in reducing police spending. The median overall pay for the Houston Police Department during the 2022-2023 fiscal year was $97,792, higher than any other city department.
Visualizations
News
- City Council approves over $1 billion budget for Houston Police Department without proper public engagement - Shift Press
- Community Advocates Oppose Increasing Houston Police Budget At City Council
Datasets
City of Houston Open Finance Data Portal
Getting Involved
- RISE Houston
- “[RISE is] a grassroots coalition of Houston community members, organizers, civil rights lawyers, and concerned civilians dedicated to Re-Imagining Safety for Everyone (RISE) in Houston.”
- Houston Abolitionist Collective
- “The Houston Abolitionist Collective is a group of organizers committed to building power and a movement around abolition in Houston and Harris County through political education, mutual aid, transformative justice, and community organizing to end policing, punitive justice, and harm.”
- Pure Justice
- “The mission of Pure Justice is to empower members and supporters to advocate for the changes they want to see in [the] criminal justice system and for the economic opportunities they need. Through community organizing and civic engagement, [Pure Justice] aims to transform institutions, create equity, and improve the lives of low to moderate income families in Harris County.”