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The issues that matter
Our organization is committed to advocating for public safety, accountability, second chances in our criminal justice system. We believe that by promoting these values, we can create a safer and more just society for all.
What issues does TAP focus on?
Law Enforcement
Police make our communities safer. Police do more to stop crime than any new piece of legislation ever could. More than a hefty 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 it disincentivizes law enforcement from making arrests for those crimes and it emboldens criminals. For the system to work, people thinking about committing crimes and our police need to know there will be accountability for those who break the law. By investing in training and community policing programs, legislators can give law enforcement the resources it needs to build healthy relationships with community leaders and members to ensure people feel safe when they see police walking their beats.
Due Process
Law and order requires the government and its actors adhere to its governing charter, the Constitution. Conservatives sympathize with the onerous task law enforcement and prosecutors are burdened with to keep our streets safe and want to arm them with every tool available, but those tools cannot violate the Constitutional rights of the accused and even the guilty. This includes the presumption of innocence, the right to fair discovery practices, the right to an unbiased jury, and the right to counsel. Conservatives committed to law and order support all of the protections provided by the Constitution, and do not pick and choose who receives those rights and which rights want to honor and those they would wish away.
Accountability
Crime cannot go unpunished. Actions have consequences and if people are shielded from the repercussions of their actions, there is no incentive to improve. Accountability is vital to a criminal justice system focused on public safety. Accountability is why crime is decreased when law enforcement is visible in the community – people think long and hard about committing crime when they know there is a strong likelihood that there will be consequences for their actions. Judges need the flexibility and tools to provide meaningful consequences and, where appropriate, incentives to those who run afoul of the law.
Redemption
Conservatives believe in strong families and a strong workforce. We know that families are better with two parents in the home. Unfortunately, there are times when people make bad choices and they need to be separated from society. But 95% of those who go to prison will someday come back to our communities. Our prisons can either serve as graduate school for violence and other anti-social behavior, or it can be a place where we incentivize people who have made bad choices to come out better able to contribute to their families and the community. Without rehabilitation in prisons and policies that allow people to utilize the positive skills and behaviors they learned, they can easily turn back to a criminal lifestyle. Nuanced policies setting people up for success will lead to safer communities and stronger families.