Trump Again Unleashes on 'Cryin' Chuck Schumer
Establishment GOP Scrambling to Fend Off MAGA Insurgent Nate Morris
How Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Intends to Nuke the Dems' Plan to Block...
Ted Cruz Says What Everyone’s Been Whispering About Biden for Years
She Blamed Trump for Rising Prices—His Clapback Was Brutal
Nancy Mace Just Made a Huge Announcement
Inside the Upside-Down
Californians Making Us Proud Following Ninth Circuit Decision
Newsom to California Voters: Let Me Rig the Maps Like Texas
Illegal Alien With Multiple Arrests Kills Mom and Daughter in New Jersey Crash
Trump’s Border Policy Is Doing What Biden Never Could
'Operation Seek and Ye Shall Find Out' Arrests 48 Child Predators
A United Airlines Flight Declared 'Mayday' Shortly After Takeoff
President Trump Is Passing a Moral Litmus Test That Many Others Are Failing
Trump: Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle Campaign Is the 'Hottest' Ad Around
Tipsheet

Republican Party Leading the Effort on Criminal Justice Reform

The Republican National Committee has passed a resolution calling for reducing the number of nonviolent offenders in prison, among other criminal justice reforms. If the resolution is again approved at the Republican National Convention, criminal justice reform will, for the first time, become part of a major party’s platform.

Advertisement

While criminal justice reform is typically framed as a Democratic cause, Democrats have never in fact included it in their platform. In the 1990s, the Democratic position was to support such policies as “three-strikes-you’re-out” sentencing laws and “$8 billion in new funding to help states build new prison cells,” which many believe have contributed to the current high rates of incarceration. As recently as 2012, the DNC committed only to “fight[ing] inequalities in our criminal justice system,” without mentioning any specific reforms.

While it is true that most Democratic politicians today support criminal justice reform legislation, despite its absence in their party’s platform, the most visible politicians currently fighting for reform are Republican. Republican Sens. Mike Lee and John Cornyn are working to gain new support for the stalled Sentencing Reform and Correction Act, comprehensive legislation aimed at reducing mass incarceration. On a state level, too, Republican leaders have shown initiative in passing criminal justice reform measures. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal backed legislation that greatly reduced their state prison populations. Ohio Gov. John Kasich fought for laws that would help prisoners get treatment rather than prison sentences.

Advertisement

In announcing the resolution, RNC member Tom Mechler cited these politicians and concluded, “The Republicans are the ones that have been leading the push on this.”

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Recommended

Trending on Townhall Videos

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement