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
Texas sets the standard in the fight against human trafficking
Originally published in the Dallas Morning News. New legislation stiffens penalties and provides for victims. A recent police effort underscored a disturbing but resolvable truth: Human trafficking doesn’t just happen in faraway places — it happens in our own backyard, and, too often, it targets our children. Through a coordinated effort by the U.S. Marshals...
October 30, 2025