Issue Position: Improve the Security of Our Communities

Issue Position

The people overwhelmingly demand the repeal of SB91. Any legislative fix that doesn't include this action is arrogance at its worst.

The thinking that gave us SB91 is related to the principle of reformation enshrined in our State Constitution. The progressive ideal that all criminals can be reformed is a fallacy. Only those individuals who choose to can be reformed. Our high recidivism rates indicate there are criminals not taking reformation seriously. We need to amend Article I, Section 12 of the State Constitution to prevent criminals from using the principle of reformation as a means to continue their lawless ways. The people's patience and good will has limits. If repeat offenders are unwilling to reform themselves, they should not be allowed to continue their lawless ways. "Thou shalt not steal other people's property" needs to be the law of the land again, and it needs to be respected.

The cost of incarceration must be reduced. Our State Criminal Administration policies are constitutionally required to protect the public. Incarceration is supposed to protect the public by removing the threat and by serving as a deterrent for potential criminals. Our high recidivism rates indicate that our incarceration policies are not effectively protecting the public nor deterring crime. Prisons are not country clubs and should not have revolving doors. Where there's a will, there's a way. We must reduce the cost of keeping criminals in prison. We must have incarceration policies that deter crime.

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