Comments Submitted to the Jail Standards Commission

August 5, 2010

Marc Levin, J.D.

Marc A. Levin is the Chief Policy Counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice and Senior Advisor to Right on Crime.

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

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Reinvigorating Federalism and Fiscal Discipline in Texas: Establishing the Office of State Sovereignty

Texas governments received $84.3 billion in federal funding in 2023, raising concerns over financial dependency and regulatory consequences. Creating an Office of State Sovereignty to monitor the application, receipt, and conditions of this aid could mitigate fiscal risk and improve transparency. Key points: Texas lacks a centralized system to oversee federal grants potentially flowing to...

September 9, 2026

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TWIA’s Expanding Reach Raises Fresh Concerns

TWIA has become the leading wind and hail insurer in the catastrophe area. Its position has direct and indirect consequences for Texans statewide. Key points: Since 2020, TWIA has steadily increased its market share in the catastrophe area, raising concerns about scope and cost. TWIA’s quasi-governmental model imposes potential costs on statewide policyholders and private...

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Marc Levin, J.D.

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License plate readers can aid police — but Texas needs guardrails

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