Reason magazine: on Crime


Chuck Grassley: Expand mandatory minimum s for firearm & terrorism offenses

[In the bipartisan package of criminal justice reforms], Grassley's influence can be seen in provisions that increase the use of mandatory minimums. [One analyst] summarizes that the new bill would "expand mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses, enhancing their use to punish selected firearm crimes and creating new mandatory minimums for offenses related to domestic violence and supporting terrorism." These changes "may address one of the common criticisms of mandatory minimums, which can result in heavier penalties for drug crimes than far graver offenses, such as violent crime."

Current firearm-related provisions dictate draconian penalties for people who never actually wield a gun--[the new package imposes] longer sentences for "selected firearm crimes." Likewise with "new mandatory minimums" for "supporting terrorism," which can include nonviolent actions such as donating money to the wrong charity or even exercising the right to freedom of speech.

Source: Reason Magazine on 2016 Iowa Senate race Oct 1, 2015

Justin Amash: Take accusations seriously, but follow due process

I think it's important that everyone have due process. If an accusation is made, you can't just say the person is guilty without a trial and a proper venue and all that. You can't just rush the judgment on it. Because accusations can be made that are false and we should be willing to acknowledge that. At the same time, we should respect people who are making the accusation and give them the full opportunity to make their case and to present evidence and have that evidence corroborated.
Source: Reason magazine on 2020 presidential hopefuls May 1, 2020

Martin O`Malley: Restore felons' voting rights; phase out for-profit prisons

O'Malley: The candidate has endorsed changes including civil forfeiture reform, the elimination of mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses, the use of body cameras to make law enforcement more transparent, an end to the death penalty, an end to solitary confinement for juveniles, much less solitary confinement for adults, the restoration of felons' voting rights, a phase-out of federal for-profit prisons, and steps that would make it easier for the feds to bring civil rights charges.
Source: Reason magazine on 2016 presidential hopefuls Oct 13, 2015

Merrick Garland: Tends to defer to law enforcement, wartime executive power

While Garland is undoubtedly a legal liberal, his record tends to line up in favor of broad judicial deference to law enforcement and wartime executive power. In the area of criminal law, Garland's votes have frequently come down on the side of prosecutors and police. In 2010, SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein observed that "Judge Garland rarely votes in favor of criminal defendants' appeals of their convictions."
Source: Reason magazine on 2021 Biden Cabinet Jul 5, 2018

Mike Pence: Called ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio a "champion of the rule of law"

Pence had kind words for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio who was pardoned by President Trump after a federal judge held him in criminal contempt. Pence introduced Arpaio as "another favorite, a great friend of this president, a tireless champion of strong borders and the rule of law." It was interesting choice of words, considering Arpaio was charged by federal prosecutors and convicted of contempt of court for refusing to stop his department's unconstitutional racial profiling of Latino residents.
Source: Reason Magazine on Trump Administration May 2, 2018

Doug Burgum: Tightened rules on civil asset forfeiture; curtailed police

Big forfeiture reforms are coming to North Dakota, a state notorious for allowing police to seize and keep people's property without actually convicted them of a crime. Burgum signed House Bill 1286 which seriously curtails law enforcement agencies' ability to arrest somebody, take his or her property, and attempt to keep what they've seized for themselves even when they cannot prove an underlying crime. We're talking about the controversial practice of civil asset forfeiture.
Source: Reason magazine on 2024 Presidential hopefuls May 6, 2019

  • The above quotations are from Columns and news articles in Reason magazine.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Crime:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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