While Texas should maintain tough laws that keep violent offenders, sex off enders, drug kingpins, and habitual home burglars in prison for long periods, narrowly tailored policy changes can control future incarceration costs by rerouting nonviolent substance abuse offenders who do not pose a threat to public safety.
A Unified Standard: Ensuring All Children Are Given Active Efforts for Prevention and Reunification
Child Protective Services is required to undertake efforts designed to prevent the separation of families. Under current law, however, CPS is required to meet a higher standard for these efforts when a child qualifies as a member of a Native American tribe, effectively creating a two-tiered prevention system. Key points: Under current law, CPS applies...