Right on Crime is a U.S. criminal justice reform initiative that aims to gain support for criminal justice reforms within the American conservative movement by sharing research and policy ideas, mobilizing conservative leaders, and by raising public awareness. Right On Crime reforms are focused on “reducing crime, lowering costs and restoring victims.” The initiative primarily focuses on eight issues: over-criminalization, juvenile justice, substance abuse, adult probation, parole and re-entry, law enforcement, prisons and victims. Right on Crime is a project of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank.
Contents
Background
The Right on Crime initiative began its public affairs campaign in December 2010, in Washington, D.C. According to a January 2011 article in the Washington Post by former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former California Speaker of the House Pat Nolan, “The Right on Crime Campaign represents a seismic shift in the legislative landscape. And it opens the way for a common-sense left-right agreement on an issue that has kept the parties apart for decades.” The New York Times’ Charlie Savage noted the conservative movement’s growing support for Right on Crime in a Times editorial in October 2011, writing “The [corrections overhaul] movement has attracted the support of several prominent conservatives, including Edwin R. Meese III, the attorney general during the Reagan administration. He is part of a campaign, called ‘Right on Crime,’ which was begun last December to lend weight to what it calls the ‘conservative case for reform.’”
Beginning in 2011, Right on Crime expanded its campaign into individual states, including Texas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida. The Los Angeles Times explained the initiative is “setting the pace in states such as Texas,” in a November 2011 editorial.
In 2014, the BBC reported that in Texas, rather than building new prisons, Right on Crime has led to the closure of three prisons.
Statement of Principles signatories
Right On Crime’s Statement of Principles has been signed by the following individuals: