With more than 1,700 criminal offenses on the books in Texas, policymakers should carefully weigh some key factors in considering whether additional criminal laws are needed. Evaluating these factors suggests that in many circumstances civil laws and market incentives can more efficiently and less onerously achieve the intended results.
Criminal Justice
Prosecute Traffickers, Not Victims
The central paradox of human trafficking is that victims, not traffickers, are most likely to face criminal charges. In fact, an individual is more likely to be struck by lightning than prosecuted for trafficking. Which begs the question, why? How Traffickers Turn Victims into Defendants To start, prosecutors and law enforcement act on the best available information...
September 1, 2026