Harris County courts, in the post-Furman v. Georgia death penalty period, were more likely to hand down death sentences compared to other courts because the county had the financial resources to pursue capital punishment while other counties, fearful of losing funds, preferred life sentences.
The passage explains that Harris County courts were more likely to impose death sentences during the post-Furman v. Georgia period, as opposed to other courts, due to their ability to afford capital punishment and the fear of losing funding in other counties.