People are often surprised when they hear about CPAC's criminal justice work. Why, they ask, does the CPAC Foundation's Nolan Center for Justice work on improving the legal system? The answer is because conservatives should always be worried about the government having too much power. Whether it's education, healthcare, or, indeed, criminal justice, all are marked by wasteful bureaucrats wielding massive power over individuals and families.
It is said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Nowhere is that truer than in today's criminal justice system. All one needs to look at is the weaponization of the Justice Department and political prosecutions by a few unhinged DAs in today’s headlines.
But our mission goes beyond that. The Nolan Center works on solutions that improve public safety, foster accountability, advance human dignity, and ensure taxpayers are getting the most public safety for their money. These are core values that everyone can get behind.
The bottom line is that we all lose when bureaucrats have unchecked power. The government must be held accountable for results it delivers (or fails to deliver) for taxpayers, just like citizens must be held accountable for their actions. And when it comes to criminal justice, clearly America can do better.
