Testimony before the Legislative Budget Board

Safer Communities Through Second Chances: The Case for Federal Expungement

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,...

Governing Blind: The Fiscal and Operational Impact of Immigration on Texas Public Systems

Governing Blind: The Fiscal and Operational Impact of Immigration on Texas Public Systems Written by Selene Rodriguez Download the full paper here. Key Points Texas operates at the intersection of federal immigration policy and the day-to-day realities of sustaining its public systems, bearing substantial costs driven by national mandates. This is very evident in education...

When an abuser’s sentence ends, the victim’s life sentence begins

Nearly every woman carries the fear of becoming a victim of a violent crime. She may not always say it, but every time she walks to the office, takes her children on an errand run, or double-checks the lock on her front door at night, there is an underlying calculation of what she needs to do to keep herself safe....