Andy Kahan is a familiar face in media coverage of crime and punishment in Texas, especially in Houston, where he was the police department’s longtime victim’s advocate.
Alternatives to Incarceration
A Texas ‘Crime Stopper’ Targeting Reform Judges Could Gain More Power Over Them
Texas teens embark on an idealistic quest to shut down the state’s last five youth prisons
Brimming with adrenaline, determination and wide-eyed optimism, a group of teenagers gathered outside the state Capitol last week, ready to take their first steps into the underbelly of Texas politics. Most had been under the iconic Pink Dome only for school field trips.
Repeal Texas’ OmniBase Program
Policy Background
The OmniBase “Failure to Pay / Failure to Appear Program” places a hold on a person’s driver’s license or renewal if that person fails to pay fines and fees or fails to appear in court, usually for traffic offenses. To date, roughly 400,000 Texans are unable to legally drive due to the program,1 hampering their ability to get to work, school, or medical appointments.
Youth-Led Coalition to Close Texas’ Youth Prisons Will Gather at State Capitol
On the opening day of the Texas Legislature’s 2023 session, a group of young people, formerly incarcerated organizers, advocates, and organizations will gather for a rally and advocacy day. The event is hosted by the Finish the 5 Coalition, which is advocating to close Texas’ inhumane youth prisons and instead invest in kids and communities. More information is available on the event registration page.
Give People Access to Supports that Prevent Drug Overdoses and Save Lives
Policy Background
For far too long, Texas lawmakers have based state drug policy on a Moral Model, which assumes that drug use and addiction are inherently wrong, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.