HOUSTON – Governor Greg Abbott is expanding the Texas Repeat Offender Task Force statewide after first launching the operation in the Houston area last year.
The governor announced the task force will now expand into the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas after what state leaders are calling a successful rollout in Houston.
Greg Abbott expands task force targeting repeat offenders from Houston to other large cities
According to the state, the operation has led to 728 repeat offender arrests, including 455 high-threat offenders.
But before calling the task force a success, KPRC 2 reviewed Houston Police Department crime data to answer a key question: Did crime actually go down in Houston after the task force launched?
HPD data shows violent crime was already falling before October launch
The task force officially launched in the greater Houston area on Oct. 1, 2025.
However, HPD data from April 2025 — months before the task force began — shows violent crime in Houston was already trending downward compared to the same time in 2024.
According to HPD’s Year-to-Date April 2025 crime report:
- Violent crime dropped 14.3%
- Non-violent crime dropped 8.5%
- Total crime dropped 9.7%
The report showed violent crime fell from 8,814 incidents in 2024 to 7,556 incidents in 2025.
Some of the largest decreases involved crimes the task force says it specifically targets.
Which crimes dropped the most in Houston?
HPD data showed:
- Robbery dropped 16.9%
- Aggravated assault dropped 14.5%
- Auto theft dropped 26.8%
- Burglary dropped 11.1%
Murders were the only major category that increased slightly, rising 6.3% from 95 cases to 101 cases through April 2025.
Violent crime not evenly spread across Houston neighborhoods
While crime impacts every part of Houston, the data shows violent crime varies significantly depending on the area of the city.
District B reported highest violent crime total
District B — which includes parts of northeast Houston, Kashmere Gardens and the Fifth Ward area — recorded the highest violent crime total citywide in 2025 with more than 1,100 incidents.
According to HPD data, the district reported:
- 787 aggravated assaults
- 223 robberies
- 13 murders
- 63 sexual assaults
- 23 kidnappings
- 2 human trafficking cases
District E reported lowest violent crime total
District E — which includes Kingwood and the Lake Houston area — reported the lowest violent crime total citywide with 276 incidents.
That district reported:
- 197 aggravated assaults
- 50 robberies
- 2 murders
- 20 sexual assaults
- 7 kidnappings
- 0 human trafficking cases
Questions remain about Houston task force impact
There are still several unanswered questions surrounding the task force and its direct impact on crime in Houston.
KPRC 2 asked DPS and the Governor’s Office:
- How many arrests are specifically tied to Houston and Harris County?
- How many officers are assigned locally?
- Whether violent crime dropped further after the task force launched on Oct. 1?
- Which neighborhoods saw the biggest impact?
DPS directed KPRC 2 to file a public information request for additional details. That request has been submitted.
KPRC 2 will continue following the response and any additional crime data tied to the task force.