Right On Crime, a national criminal justice campaign of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, announced Ja’Ron Smith as its newest Senior Fellow. Smith, a former Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of American Innovation for Donald Trump, is a policy expert in advocacy, legislative affairs, and policy strategy.
“Working shoulder to shoulder with Ja’Ron on the passage of the landmark First Step Act in his various roles as President Trump’s highest and longest ranking African-American advisor, I know firsthand the expertise he brings to our Right On Crime team… Ja’Ron will work tirelessly as a Right On Crime Senior Fellow to expand our footprint across the nation with his strategies for developing research-based solutions for communities and common-sense measures to improve our criminal justice system.”
Brett Tolman, Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney.
“Right On Crime is the gold standard for conservative criminal justice policy, and this is continually demonstrated across the country as they effect positive change. The addition of Ja’Ron as a Right on Crime Senior Fellow will serve to continue this success and momentum… Ja’Ron will be a valuable asset to the mission of TPPF and Right on Crime for conservative, data-driven policy.”
Greg Sindelar, CEO of Texas Public Policy Foundation.
“I’m honored to be a part of a team committed to community safety and a fairer criminal justice system… Right On Crime is a leader in this movement, and I’m happy to be a part of this rich tradition.”
Ja’Ron Smith, Right On Crime Senior Fellow.
In addition to serving as Senior Fellow at Right On Crime, Ja’Ron Smith is a Partner at Dentons Global Advisors Government Relations. Previously, Smith served as Executive Director at the Center for Advancing Opportunity (CAO), which supports students and faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU) as well as other majority colleges and universities in developing research-based solutions to the most pressing issues in fragile communities.
During his role as Deputy Assistant to President Trump, Smith spearheaded initiatives such as criminal justice reform, workforce development, opportunity zones, and served a chief policy strategist and manager of HBCU initiatives, crime and reentry, as well as the manager of the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. Prior to his time in the White House, Smith served in senior staff roles on the House Financial Services Committee and for Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).