Marc A. Levin is the Chief Policy Counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice and Senior Advisor to Right on Crime.
After years of watching home prices skyrocket out of reach for first responders, nurses, and young families, in December 2023, Austin city council voted to rewrite its zoning code. The first phase of its HOME Initiative—known as HOME-1—effectively allowed up to three homes on most lots that previously could host only one. A year later,...
When criminal records follow people forever, families struggle, employers lose workers, and communities lose productive citizens. Federal law offers almost no path to redemption, even though second chances strengthen public safety and the economy. Key Points The federal expungement system is effectively nonexistent. Permanent criminal records for non-violent federal offenses undermine work opportunities, family stability,...
CNBC wants you to believe states run by Democrats are the best to live in. But they rigged the data. The headline on CNBC’s shiny new 2026 list screams, “Best States to Live In,” complete with glossy profiles of high-“inclusiveness” northern enclaves. Don’t be fooled. This isn’t an objective guide for families seeking opportunity and security. It’s...