Research has shown that youth in the juvenile justice system have improved later outcomes when supervised near their communities and families than comparable youth who were placed in state-run facilities. SB 1630 orders the creation of a plan by TJJD to divert all juveniles who can be effectively monitored in their communities away from expensive state-run facilities. The created plan shows a desire to protect public safety and improve the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Criminal Justice
License plate readers can aid police — but Texas needs guardrails
Earlier this summer, two Texas law enforcement agencies announced investigations involving the alleged misuse of Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. In Fort Bend County, a sheriff’s lieutenant admitted to conducting repeated searches unrelated to official law enforcement duties nearly 200 times. Shortly thereafter, Baytown Police opened internal affairs and criminal investigations into allegations that an...
August 19, 2026