Testimony to the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

April 6, 2009

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.

Moral Injury in the Texas First Responder Workforce: Findings and Policy Recommendations

Moral injury affects nearly two-thirds of Texas first responders, yet remains undiagnosed and untreated. Targeted screening and evidence-based intervention can change that. Key Points 62.6% of Texas first responders surveyed had experienced a morally injurious event; half of those screened positive for probable PTSD. More than half reported numbness or detachment from people and surroundings,...

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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...

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Going Medieval on Education Technology Key points: Texas schools have acquired millions of one-to-one devices for use as educational technology. These devices are used for instruction, practice, assessment, and independent study. Significant evidence suggests that using screens reduces students’ reading ability, and the evidence for other subjects is mixed. Exposure to screens also risks harm...

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Marc Levin, J.D.

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