Salt Lake City- Right On Crime announced the addition of Utah to its repertoire of states supporting conservative criminal justice policies and initiatives with Katie Stahl named Utah Director. Stahl, a native of Utah, will join Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and others tomorrow at the state capitol as the beehive state kicks off implementations of the Clean Slate Law.
Utah, the second state in the nation to adopt Clean Slate legislation, enacted the law in 2020, but due to Covid, implementation efforts were delayed. Clean Slate is a policy initiative that shifts the burden from the individual to the appropriate state agencies to process the expungement of criminal records for non-violent offenses once a citizen has met all requirements by the courts.
“Clean Slate is essential in helping low-level, non-violent individuals who have repaid their debt to society participate in the process of rejoining the workforce,” said Stahl. “No one should be denied a job or a chance to further their education because they can’t afford an attorney. Automatically removing these barriers will ultimately help strengthen Utah’s communities.”
Right On Crime supports Clean Slate legislation in states across the nation, and according to Executive Director Brett Tolman, a former U.S. Attorney of Utah, it’s common-sense, conservative policy. “Criminal records cost this nation tens of billions of dollars every year because citizens who have met all court requirements are unable to work,” said Tolman. “Once time is served and all court debts are paid for these non-violent crimes, Americans deserve taxpayers not tax burdens to help create stronger and safer communities.”
Tolman said adding Utah and Stahl to Right On Crime’s conservative policy initiatives is timely. “I’m incredibly pleased to welcome aboard my friend and fellow conservative criminal justice advocate, Katie Stahl,” said Tolman. “In Utah and every state, its’ more important than ever for conservatives to lead on meaningful changes to our criminal justice system.”
“I’m excited to work in a state where considerable effort has already been given to fixing broken aspects of the justice system,” said Stahl. “I look forward to utilizing Right on Crime’s research and data to continue to pursue positive criminal justice reform in Utah without compromising public safety.”
Stahl touts an extensive policy background in federal and state relations on matters impacting major corporations, non-profits, and individuals. She spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., working on the Senate Judiciary Committee and was a policy advisor for Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck. Stahl currently consults with the Tolman Group, a law firm focusing on state and federal criminal and regulatory actions. Stahl received her Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University.