Crime cannot go unpunished: those who break the law must be brought to account. Conservatives understand that accountability is vital to a criminal justice system focused on public safety: crime decreases when law enforcement is visible in the community and people know there will be consequences for their actions. Judges need the flexibility and tools to provide effective consequences to those who run afoul of the law and, where appropriate, incentives to inspire future good behavior.
More than a lengthy sentence, the greatest crime deterrent is a person’s perception of the probability they’ll get caught. When prosecutors categorically decline to prosecute certain crimes, law enforcement are discouraged from making arrests for those crimes and it emboldens criminals. Conservatives understand that for the system to work, law enforcers and prosecutors must uphold the rule of law.