OPINION:
Nearly 30 years ago, as a boy in a brightly colored Uncle Sam hat, I proudly worked the passing throngs at a political candidate’s booth in front of the sheep barn at the county fair.
In the great tradition of Republican primary campaigns, I excelled at delivering sizzling one-liners and thrusting literature into the hands of passersby, including a boy a little older than I who took great exception when I called our opponent “a wimp.” A short but spirited tussle and exchange of blows ensued on the floor of the sheep barn. It was also how my parents met the boy’s father — our congressman.
In the 2024 presidential race, campaigns will make a ruckus in the sheep barn. Crime and policing policies have taken center stage, with candidates striving to look tougher than their rivals.
Political attacks on supporters of the First Step Act, like former President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, are being volleyed. But the attacks are misguided. This landmark legislation has garnered overwhelming support among Republican voters, underscoring the power of prudent and popular conservative criminal justice reform.
Violent crime is rising for myriad reasons, none of which are related to the First Step Act. The “defund the police” movement and absurd policies by liberal politicians have taken resources and tools away from law enforcement. Rogue prosecutors refuse to do their jobs. Not to mention the societal toll of locking up entire populations in their homes for months on end over hyperbolic fear of a virus.
The First Step Act addresses critical issues in the criminal justice system. By reducing mandatory minimum sentences for some drug-related crimes and offering shorter sentences for select prisoners, the act aims to promote rehabilitation and reintegration for low-level offenders.
Its resonance, with an impressive 86% of polled Republicans saying the First Step Act reflected their views, highlights the broad support for its conservative principles.
The popularity of the First Step Act among Republican voters is rooted in its alignment with conservative principles. It corresponds with the belief that safety and security are best achieved through well-trained and well-funded law enforcement and accountability for offenders, and it actively provides opportunities for rehabilitation.
With a focus on evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and judges’ discretion in sentencing, the First Step Act exemplifies a sustainable and thoughtful approach.
In recent polling and focus groups conducted by The Adams Project, a nonprofit that promotes principled criminal justice policy, Republicans expressed skepticism toward simplistic “tough on crime” or “smart on crime” rhetoric. Instead, they are drawn to solutions that address the root problems of crime and provide a pathway for rehabilitation and second chances.
The First Step Act strikes a balance between accountability and rehabilitation, resonating deeply with GOP voters. A strong majority, 82%, favor the idea of prisons focusing on both punishment and equipping incarcerated individuals with the knowledge and skills needed for their reintegration into society.
Similarly, 80% of Republicans agree that rehabilitated individuals that pose no threat to society should be given a second chance outside of prison.
The First Step Act is pragmatic and effective, reducing recidivism and making communities safer. The First Step Act’s recidivism rate of just over 12% for those released under it, compared with the 43% rate for the general population released from federal prisons, attests to its success.
Contrary to the claims of critics, polling reveals that only 9% of Republican voters support a solely punitive approach, while an overwhelming 63% favor a balanced strategy combining punishment and rehabilitation. Such nuanced views underscore the complexities of crime and safety issues that require thoughtful and responsible solutions.
Amid the highly polarized political landscape, it is crucial to recognize that popular and prudent criminal justice reforms can transcend party lines. The First Step Act stands as a testament to bipartisan collaboration, as it has garnered the support of 264 Republicans in Congress. By drawing inspiration from successful criminal justice reforms in conservative states, the act showcases the potential for effective conservative policies.
As contenders in the 2024 race strive to present their visions for a safer America, they should heed the resounding support for the First Step Act among Republican voters. Embracing thoughtful and pragmatic solutions like the act will allow candidates to demonstrate their commitment to constitutional justice and the well-being of their communities.
If campaign consultants and the candidates they serve are seeking to garner quick tough-guy points by delivering hasty attacks on the First Step Act, they are going to look like a couple of children rolling around on the sheep barn floor.
• Micah Derry is president of The Adams Project. He is former state director of Americans for Prosperity-Ohio.
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