Issue Position: Criminal-Justice Reform

Issue Position

Sen. Rand Paul has said criminal justice reform should be a Republican Party plank, and he's right; during one of the 2016 presidential debates, he said this: "I think the war on drugs has disproportionately impacted our African-American community. What we need to do is make sure the war on drugs is equal protection under the law and that we don't unfairly incarcerate another generation of African-American males." Rand is absolutely right; if the GOP wants to become the party the champions individual liberty and limited (i.e., constitutional) government, then criminal justice reform must be part of its platform.

For this reason, I authored a bill (later signed into law by the governor) that expunged non-violent criminal records when a juvenile turns 17. Many young people have been discriminated against in employment, educational opportunities, and enlistment in the military service because of having a juvenile-court record, and passing this bill will help them make a fresh start. And it's also why I also cosponsored a body-camera bill that was also enacted into law. An informed citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic (see Jefferson, et al.).

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