In back-to-back testimonies before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Right On Crime and the Texas Public Policy Foundation voiced support for two critical public safety bills that seek to protect human trafficking survivors and enhance law enforcement’s ability to solve violent crimes in Texas.
Policy Analyst Ross Jackson testified in support of Senate Bill 1278, authored by Vice Chairman Sen. Tan Parker. The bill would provide an affirmative legal defense for victims of human trafficking who were compelled to commit crimes by their traffickers.
“Women and minors throughout the state are prosecuted and incarcerated for crimes they committed while being trafficked and abused,” Jackson said. “This legislation would bring dignity back to survivors, acknowledge complex histories of abuse, prevent improper prosecution, and provide an avenue to rehabilitation and recovery for victims.”
Jackson cited grim statistics that underline the need for SB 1278. In 2023, the National Human Trafficking Hotline estimated more than 1,700 identified trafficking victims in Texas—80% of them women and 250 of them children. Additionally, a 2024 U.S. Department of Justice report revealed that 91% of girls in secure Texas Juvenile Justice Department facilities showed clear or possible signs of sex trafficking.
While the Governor Greg Abbott’s clemency program for survivors has been a valuable back-end tool, Jackson emphasized the need to prevent unjust convictions before they happen.
“Creating a human trafficking specific defense could prevent unjust convictions on the front end, limit stigmatization, avoid the waste of legal resources, and mitigate some of the negative effects of convictions on a victim’s recovery,” Jackson said.
Nikki Pressley, Chief of Staff and Texas Director for Right On Crime, testified in support of Senate Bill 2177, which aims to address violent crime clearance rates which are historically low across the state.
“Texas is currently only solving around 53% of homicides and less than 20% of rapes and sexual assaults,” Pressley told the committee. “Low clearance rates are not only denying victims and loved ones justice, but also fail to prevent crimes from occurring in the first place.”
Pressley stressed that these statistics are not an indictment of law enforcement, but rather a reflection of the growing challenges faced by departments statewide. Staffing shortages, lack of training, and outdated technology all contribute to the declining rate at which violent crimes are solved.
“SB 2177 signals a robust and sustained commitment to ensure investigations are properly resourced ,” Pressley said. “By providing further resources for hiring, training, and upgraded forensics and technology, we can better support law enforcement in solving crimes and send the message that committing violence against members of our community has the utmost consequences.”
Both testimonies emphasized conservative principles of justice and public safety, making the case that these reforms would respect the dignity of victims while making Texas safer.