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Statement of Principles Statement of Principles www.rightoncrime.com Jeb Bush Former Governor of Florida As members of the nation’s conservative movement, we strongly Newt Gingrich support constitutionally limited government, transparency, American Solutions for Winning the Future individual liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise. We Grover Norquist believe public safety is a core responsibility of government because Americans for Tax Reform the establishment of a well-functioning criminal justice system Edwin Meese III Former U.S. Attorney General enforces order and respect for every person’s right to property and William J. Bennett life, and ensures that liberty does not lead to license. Former Secretary of Education and Federal “Drug Czar” Asa Hutchinson Conservatives correctly insist that government services be Former U.S. Attorney and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration evaluated on whether they produce the best possible results at J.C. Watts the lowest possible cost, but too often this lens of accountability Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District has not focused as much on public safety policies as other areas Pat Nolan of government. As such, corrections spending has expanded to Justice Fellowship become the second fastest growing area of state budgets—trailing David Keene Former Chairman of the American Conservative Union only Medicaid. Richard Viguerie ConservativeHQ.com Conservatives are known for being tough on crime, but we must Chuck Colson (1931-2012) also be tough on criminal justice spending. That means demanding Prison Fellowship Ministries more cost-effective approaches that enhance public safety. A clear Brooke Rollins Texas Public Policy Foundation example is our reliance on prisons, which serve a critical role by Ralph Reed incapacitating dangerous offenders and career criminals but are not Founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition the solution for every type of offender. And in some instances, they Eli Lehrer have the unintended consequence of hardening nonviolent, low- R Street Institute risk offenders—making them a greater risk to the public than when Larry Thompson Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General they entered. Tony Perkins Family Research Council Applying the following conservative principles to criminal justice Rabbi Daniel Lapin American Alliance of Jews and Christians policy is vital to achieving a cost-effective system that protects citi- zens, restores victims, and reforms wrongdoers. Penny Nance Concerned Women for America John J. DiIulio, Jr. 1. As with any government program, the criminal justice system University of Pennsylvania must be transparent and include performance measures that Ward Connerly American Civil Rights Institute and former Regent of hold it accountable for its results in protecting the public, lower- University of California ing crime rates, reducing re-offending, collecting victim restitu- Jerry Madden tion and conserving taxpayers’ money. Former Texas House Corrections Chairman George Kelling Manhattan Institute 2. Crime victims, along with the public and taxpayers, are among Viet Dinh the key “consumers” of the criminal justice system; the victim’s Georgetown University Law Center and former U.S. Assistant Attorney General conception of justice, public safety, and the offender’s risk for Gary Bauer future criminal conduct should be prioritized when determining American Values an appropriate punishment. List of signatories continues on back www.rightoncrime.com John McCollister Platte Institute (NE) 3. The corrections system should emphasize public safety, personal Michael Carnuccio Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs responsibility, work, restitution, community service, and treat- Ronald F. Scheberle ment—both in probation and parole, which supervise most of- American Legislative Exchange Council fenders, and in prisons. David Barton WallBuilders Matthew J. Brouillette 4. An ideal criminal justice system works to reform amenable of- Commonwealth Foundation (PA) fenders who will return to society through harnessing the power Forest Thigpen of families, charities, faith-based groups, and communities. Mississippi Center for Public Policy George Liebmann Calvert Institute for Policy Research, Inc. (MD) 5. Because incentives affect human behavior, policies for both of- John Hood fenders and the corrections system must align incentives with John Locke Foundation (NC) our goals of public safety, victim restitution and satisfaction, and Craig Ladwig cost-effectiveness, thereby moving from a system that grows when Indiana Policy Review Foundation it fails to one that rewards results. Deborah Daniels Former U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney General Dominic M. Calabro 6. Criminal law should be reserved for conduct that is either blame- Florida TaxWatch worthy or threatens public safety, not wielded to grow government Richard Doran Former Florida Attorney General and undermine economic freedom. BJ Nikkel Former Republican House Majority Whip, Colorado House of These principles are grounded in time-tested conservative truths— Representatives constitutionally limited government, transparency, individual lib- Kris Steele Former Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives erty, personal responsibility, free enterprise, and the centrality of the Allan Bense family and community. All of these are critical to addressing today’s Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives criminal justice challenges. It is time to apply these principles to the Kelly McCutchen task of delivering a better return on taxpayers’ investments in public Georgia Public Policy Foundation safety. Our security, prosperity, and freedom depend on it. Donna Arduin Arduin, Laffer & Moore Henry Juszkiewicz About Us CEO of Gibson Guitar Right on Crime is a national initiative led by the Texas Public Policy Kevin Kane Pelican Institute for Public Policy (LA) Foundation, one of the nation’s leading state-based conservative think tanks. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the truly Bob Williams State Budget Solutions conservative position on criminal justice policy by demonstrating J. Robert McClure III the growing support for effective criminal justice reforms within James Madison Institute (FL) the conservative movement. This initiative will share research and Paul Gessing Rio Grande Foundation (NM) policy ideas, mobilize conservative leaders, and work to raise public Kevin Holtsberry awareness. Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions (OH) Joe Whitley Right on Crime couldn’t be timelier. With new majorities in 19 state Former Acting U.S. Associate Attorney General and U.S. Attorney legislatures and hundreds of new lawmakers who pledged to cut Jon Caldara Independence Institute spending now taking office, Right on Crime provides conservative Craig DeRoche principled solutions that are proven to reduce crime, lower costs, Former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives and restore victims. For more information, please visit B. Wayne Hughes, Jr. www.rightoncrime.com. Businessman and Philanthropist Mike Thompson Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Brenda Talent Show-Me Institute (MO) Donald Devine Former Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
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