Conversation

During the Stranger Danger scares of the 1980s, "child ID kits" -- where parents can record physical characteristics of their children to give to police if they go missing -- became hugely popular.

But there is scant evidence they have ever helped find a missing child and experts call them "crime control theater."

So why are states, led by Texas, spending millions to buy kits pushed by a former NFL player with a troubled history? My latest, with @kiahcollier:

https://www.propublica.org/article/kenny-hansmire-persuades-politicians-to-fund-child-id-kits