Conservative conversations, policy, and best practices on criminal justice innovation in America.
Latest Episodes:
EPISODE 55 – Expanding Access and Opportunity Through Second Chance Banking
06/04/2026
In this episode, ROC’s Ross Jackson and TPPF’s Derek Cohen discuss how second chance banking and hiring practices can expand opportunity while maintaining important safeguards for both individuals and financial institutions. Their conversation highlights how thoughtful, structured approaches to reentry can help people rebuild stability through access to work and financial services. They also explore Right On Crime’s employer reentry handbook, Talent Unlocked, which provides practical resources for employers on second chance hiring and includes guidance on considerations around banking and payroll that can impact employee success.
EPISODE 54 – Clearance Rates and Public Safety in Texas
05/28/2026
In this conversation, ROC’s Nikki Pressley and Ross Jackson break down what clearance rates actually represent, why they matter for public safety, and how resources, staffing, and investigative capacity impact whether crimes are solved. They also explore why the certainty of being caught is one of the strongest deterrents to crime, and what it means when that certainty is low.
EPISODE 53 – The Hidden Cost of Debt Based License Suspensions in North Carolina
05/21/2026
North Carolina State Director Maggie Horzempa, joined Senior Policy Analyst Ross Jackson to break down how driver’s license suspensions for non–public safety reasons are affecting everyday North Carolinians. From missed work opportunities and barriers to employment, to the ripple effects on families and the state workforce, these policies often create more instability than accountability. Instead of improving public safety, they can trap people in cycles of debt, limited mobility, and ongoing legal consequences, including driving while suspended just to meet basic needs like work, childcare, and court appearances.
EPISODE 52 – Why Second Chances Are Worth a First Thought
05/14/2026
In this episode of The ROC Podcast, Idaho business leader Joey Looney joins Idaho Director Molly Lenty to discuss the transformative power of second chance hiring. Drawing from his own experience with incarceration and recovery, Joey shares how giving individuals with criminal records a chance to work can change lives, strengthen families, and help businesses grow. The conversation highlights the accountability, resilience, and drive many formerly incarcerated individuals bring to the workplace, while exploring why employment remains one of the most effective tools for reducing recidivism and improving public safety.
EPISODE 51 – The Return on Reentry: What Actually Works
04/30/2026
In this episode of The ROC Podcast, Arkansas Director Wil Cheatham joins Britt Allen to discuss what’s working in reentry—and where policy can do more. Drawing from Wil’s visits to reentry facilities across the state, they explore how different models, from faith-based to workforce-focused, are helping individuals successfully transition back into society. The conversation highlights the importance of structure, employment, and family stability in reducing recidivism, while also addressing persistent barriers like fines, fees, and access to basic documentation.
EPISODE 50 – Second Chance Hiring As a Business Strategy in Idaho
04/23/2026
In this episode, Right On Crime Idaho State Director Molly Lenty joins Britt Allen to explore the connection between reentry, employment, public safety, and why second chance hiring is becoming a key part of the conversation in business. From rising incarceration rates despite declining crime, to the real barriers people face when returning to rural communities, the discussion highlights how gaps in reentry to society and job access impact outcomes. Molly also shares efforts to bring Idaho’s business community together through a Second Chance Business Coalition focused on practical solutions that strengthen the workforce while improving public safety for everyone.
EPISODE 49 – From the System to Success: A Café Momentum Story
04/16/2026
Communities are strongest when young people are given the opportunity to succeed. In this episode of The ROC Podcast, Carley Widner sits down with Café Momentum Ambassador Tristyn Williams to share her personal experience in the Café Momentum program and how it is transforming lives. They discuss what Café Momentum does, why its model works, and how providing structure, mentorship, and workforce development for youth in the justice system directly strengthens public safety. The conversation also explores the broader impact of programs like this on the juvenile justice system and communities as a whole, showing that accountability and opportunity can go hand in hand.
EPISODE 48 – Reentry Done Right: Programming, Accountability, and Public Safety
04/02/2026
In this episode, Dwight Hudson sits down with Carley Widner to share his firsthand experiences touring reentry facilities and seeing the impact of comprehensive programming. From peer-led skill development inside prisons to housing, employment support, and accountability on the outside, reentry programs give people the tools and guidance they need to rebuild their lives. Dwight breaks down how addressing root causes, providing structure, and connecting returning citizens with critical resources not only helps them succeed, but also keeps our communities safer.
EPISODE 47 – Inside a Proven Reentry Program in Arkansas
03/19/2026
In this episode of The Right On Crime Podcast, Arkansas State Director Wil Cheatham sits down with Jim Bell, owner of Hidden Creek, a reentry facility partnering with the state corrections department to prepare individuals for life after incarceration. By allowing participants to spend the final months of their sentence in a structured program, Hidden Creek combines accountability with opportunity—offering life skills classes, education, and direct pathways to employment. For many who have never held a job or had a driver’s license, this holistic approach provides the foundation needed to succeed after release. The result: fewer people returning to prison and safer communities for everyone.
EPISODE 46 – Improving Public Safety and Keeping Families Together
03/12/2026
When a caregiver is incarcerated for a low-level, nonviolent offense, the consequences often extend far beyond the individual—separating families and destabilizing households even when safer alternatives may be available. In this episode of The Right On Crime Podcast, ROC’s Joey Comley joins Britt Allen to discuss Kentucky’s Family Preservation and Accountability Act, a proposal that allows judges to consider alternatives to incarceration for caregivers who are not a threat to public safety, ensuring accountability while keeping families intact. Joey also breaks down other priorities he’s working on this legislative session.
EPISODE 45 – Getting It Right, Later: The Case for Prosecutor Initiated Resentencing
03/05/2026
Prosecutor initiated resentencing (PIR) gives prosecutors the flexibility to reassess past cases, right-size sentences, and strengthen public safety. ROC’s Frank Russo and Marilyn Davidson join The Right On Crime Podcast to break down how PIR balances accountability and fairness, why courts and corrections work better when resources are focused, and how this approach saves taxpayer dollars while protecting communities.
EPISODE 44 – If Retailers Can Text You, Why Can’t Courts?
02/25/2026
Georgia’s legislative session is underway, and public safety is the focus. In this episode of The ROC Podcast, ROC’s Frank Russo breaks down what being pro-public safety really means: supporting law enforcement, strengthening reentry programs, and improving occupational licensing to remove barriers to work. We also discuss a unified court system and the Survivors Justice Act, which holds traffickers accountable and protects victims.
EPISODE 43 – Public Safety, Human Trafficking, and Georgia’s Legislative Session
02/18/2026
Georgia’s legislative session is underway, and public safety is the focus. In this episode of The ROC Podcast, ROC’s Frank Russo breaks down what being pro-public safety really means: supporting law enforcement, strengthening reentry programs, and improving occupational licensing to remove barriers to work. We also discuss a unified court system and the Survivors Justice Act, which holds traffickers accountable and protects victims.
EPISODE 42 – How a Trail Run Became a Federal Crime
02/11/2026
What happens when a technical mistake turns into a federal crime? In this episode of The Right On Crime Podcast, Attorney Alex Rienzie breaks down how his client, professional trail runner Michelino Sunseri, took the wrong trail in Grand Teton National Park and was criminally charged — despite causing no harm. Rienzie and ROC’s Rachel Wright discuss how a well-intentioned law was misapplied, why intent matters in regulatory crimes, and how overcriminalization can punish ordinary Americans for technical mistakes, affecting housing, jobs, and education.
EPISODE 41 – Pre-Trial and Public Safety in Oklahoma
02/04/2026
Pre-trial decisions have real consequences for public safety. In this episode, ROC Oklahoma Director Marilyn Davidson is joined by Texas Director Nikki Pressley and Americans for Public Safety President Justin Keener to discuss how risk-based pre-trial assessments can help judges in Oklahoma make smarter, fairer decisions—keeping high-risk individuals off the streets, preventing unnecessary detention of low-risk cases, and giving courts the tools to evaluate each case individually, considering criminal history, community ties, and risk factors.
EPISODE 40 – From Trail Run to Criminal Record with Michelino Sunseri
01/28/2026
What happens when a simple mistake becomes a criminal charge? In this episode of the Right On Crime Podcast, ROC National Policy Director Rachel Wright sat down with professional trail runner Michelino Sunseri to unpack how taking the wrong trail in Grand Teton National Park led to criminal charges — and a firsthand encounter with overcriminalization.
EPISODE 39 – Chris Valka on the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and Lowering Recidivism
12/03/2025
On this episode of The ROC Podcast, CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program Chris Valka joined ROC’s Nikki Pressley to discuss the mission of PEP, how the program encourages rehabilitation, and why second chances lead to public safety.
EPISODE 38 – Solutions for Safer Communities with Brett Tolman & Marilyn Davidson
11/19/2025
ROC Executive Director Brett Tolman and Oklahoma Director Marilyn Davidson join The ROC Podcast for a candid conversation on effective conservative criminal justice solutions. With public safety as the ultimate goal, they discuss how evidence based policies reduce crime, strengthen communities, and ensure accountability within the justice system.
EPISODE 37 – Public Safety Solutions in Oklahoma with Tricia Everest & Marilyn Davidson
11/04/2025
Oklahoma Secretary of Public Safety, Tricia Everest, joined ROC’s Oklahoma Director Marilyn Davidson for a conversation about fixing Texas’ broken bail system and how a constitutional amendment allowing judges the discretion to deny bail for the most dangerous repeat offenders would improve public safety.
EPISODE 36- Louisiana’s Path to Safer Communities with Dwight Hudson
10/21/2025
On this episode of The Right On Crime Podcast, Louisiana Director Dwight Hudson sits down with Britt Allen to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities in Louisiana’s criminal justice system. Dwight shares what first inspired him to get involved in justice reform, how Louisiana is learning from Texas on bail reform, and why reentry programs are key to lowering recidivism and producing better outcomes.
EPISODE 35- Earned Rehabilitation & the Louisiana Parole Project
9/30/2025
Executive Director of the Louisiana Parole Project, Andrew Hundley, joined ROC’s Dwight Hudson to discuss how earned rehabilitation and smart parole policies strengthen public safety. By holding offenders accountable and giving them a path to become taxpaying, contributing citizens, communities are safer, stronger, and more secure.
EPISODE 34- Human Trafficking, Law Enforcement, and More with Frank Russo
8/13/2025
Right On Crime’s new Georgia State Director and National Expert on Human Trafficking, Frank Russo, sits down with Britt Allen for a conversation on protecting victims of trafficking, supporting law enforcement, and the current state of criminal justice policy in Georgia and the nation.
EPISODE 33- Reentry and Public Safety with ROC’s Wil Cheatham
7/30/2025
Right On Crime’s Arkansas Director Wil Cheatham sits down with Britt Allen for a conversation on his background, effective reentry programming, and the current state of criminal justice policy in Arkansas.
EPISODE 32- Veterans Courts & Serving Those Who Served
7/14/2025
Veterans Courts offer more than punishment—they offer a path forward. In this episode, ROC Directors Maggie Horzempa, Danny Murphy, and Christian Cochran explore how these courts address the root causes of criminal behavior among veterans, and why a tailored approach to justice honors their service and promotes lasting change.
EPISODE 31- Reentry & Second Chance Hiring with ROC’s Marilyn Davidson & Molly Lenty
6/19/2025
ROC State Directors Marilyn Davidson and Molly Lenty sit down for a candid conversation about reentry programming, second chance hiring, and the unique opportunities in their states for change.
EPISODE 30- Family Mitigation & Preservation with ROC’s Joey Comley & Nikki Pressley
6/02/2025
ROC’s Kentucky and Tennessee State Director Joey Comley sits down with Chief of Staff and Texas Director Nikki Pressley to discuss how their states are working to both preserve families and improve public safety through family mitigation policy.
EPISODE 29- Affirmative Defense for Trafficking Victims in Texas with Elizabeth Henneke
4/29/2025
Elizabeth Henneke, Founder and CEO of the Lone Star Justice Alliance sits down with ROC’s Policy Analyst Ross Jackson to discuss why Texas needs an affirmative defense for human trafficking victims. Through stories of real victims and the struggle for justice, the two discuss the ability of a Mercy for Survivors bill to hold true perpetrators of crime accountable and restore dignity to survivors.
EPISODE 28- Bail Reform in Texas with Crimestoppers’ Andy Kahan and ROC’s Nikki Pressley
4/24/2025
Andy Kahan from Houston Crimestoppers sits down with ROC’s Texas Director and Chief of Staff, Nikki Pressley, for an in-depth conversation about fixing Texas’ broken bail system and how a constitutional amendment allowing judges the discretion to deny bail for the most dangerous repeat offenders would improve public safety.
EPISODE 27- Martha Stewart, Reentry, & Veterans Treatment with ROC’s Maggie Horzempa
3/25/2025
Right On Crime’s North Carolina Director and Development Manager Maggie Horzempa sits down with Britt Allen to discuss Martha Stewart, reentry, veterans treatment courts, and more.
EPISODE 26- Brett Tolman and Rachel Wright on Conservative Criminal Justice
2/24/2025
Right On Crime’s National Policy Director Rachel Wright sits down with Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman to discuss overcriminalization, Mens Rea reform, and the state of conservative criminal justice under the Trump administration.
EPISODE 25- The First Step Act & Motherhood with National Policy Director Rachel Wright
12/03/2024
Right On Crime’s National Policy Director Rachel Wright sits down with Britt Allen to discuss her professional background, the First Step Act, and how motherhood shapes her views on criminal justice solutions.
EPISODE 24- Honoring Our Veterans in the Justice System
11/11/2024
Right On Crime’s resident veterans Florida Director Christian Cochran, Kentucky and Tennessee Director Joey Comley, and Virginia & West Virginia Danny Murphy join The Right On Crime Podcast to discuss the importance of caring for our nation’s veterans in the criminal justice system.
EPISODE 23- Prosecutorial Innovation, Arizona and New Mexico Director Kurt Altman
09/17/2024
Right On Crime’s Prosecutorial Innovation Director, and Arizona and New Mexico State Director Kurt Altman sits down with Britt Allen to discuss prosecutorial innovation, the state of criminal justice in Arizona, and shares stories from his legal background that sparked his passion for creating change in the justice system.
EPISODE 22- Utah State Senator Todd Weiler
09/03/2024
Right On Crime Director Katie Stahl sits down with Utah State Senator Todd Weiler to discuss his time in the legislature, second chances, and prosecutor initiated resentencing.
EPISODE 21- Director Kurt Altman and Prosecutor for Platte County Missouri, Eric Zahnd
08/14/2024
Right On Crime’s Prosecutorial Reform Director, and Arizona and New Mexico State Director Kurt Altman sits down with Platte County Missouri Prosecutor Eric Zahnd to discuss his law background, innovative methods for prosecution, and rehabilitation for improving public safety.
EPISODE 20- Utah Director Katie Stahl
07/30/2024
ROC Utah Director Katie Stahl sits down with Britt Allen to discuss her extensive professional background, the opportunities in her state’s criminal justice system, and the importance of thoughtful solutions to lower recidivism.
EPISODE 19- Utah State Representative Tyler Clancy on Public Safety and Reentry
07/17/2024
Right On Crime Director Katie Stahl sits down with Utah State Representative Tyler Clancy to discuss his professional background in law enforcement, the subject of reentry, and how to increase public safety in their state.
EPISODE 18- Director Sit Down with Marilyn Davidson & Christian Cochran
06/19/2024
ROC Regional Director Marilyn Davidson sits down with Florida Director Christian Cochran for a candid conversation on the differences between their states, creating change in the criminal justice system, and their passion for public safety.
EPISODE 17- Director Sit Down with Danny Murphy & Joey Comley
05/29/2024
ROC Virginia and West Virginia Director Danny Murphy sits down with Kentucky Director Joey Comley for a candid conversation on their law and military backgrounds, the differences between their states, and the concept of second chances.
EPISODE 16- Texas Director Nikki Pressley
05/14/2024
ROC Texas Director and Chief of Staff Nikki Pressley sits down with Britt Allen to discuss her professional background, the state of the criminal justice system in Texas, and gives a breakdown of bail reform and clearance rates.
EPISODE 15- Florida Director Christian Cochran
04/30/2024
ROC Florida Director Christian Cochran sits down with Britt Allen to discuss his background in law enforcement, the state of Florida’s criminal justice system, and the importance of civic engagement.
EPISODE 14- Brett Tolman and Josh Smith on Creating Change in the Justice System
04/16/2024
ROC Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman sat down with Founder of Fourth Purpose, Josh Smith, to discuss his personal incarceration story, his passion in founding Fourth Purpose, and what it would take to create meaningful change in the criminal justice system.
EPISODE 13- Regional and Oklahoma Director Marilyn Davidson
04/01/2024
ROC Regional and Oklahoma Director Marilyn Davidson sits down with Britt Allen to discuss her professional experience within the criminal justice system, the importance of mental and behavioral health resources, and clean slate laws in her state.
EPISODE 12- Jason Pritchard on Recovery and Reentry
03/05/2024
Certified peer recovery specialist and President of the Board of SAARA (Substance Abuse & Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia) Jason Pritchard sits down with ROC’s West Virginia and Virginia Director Danny Murphy to discuss meaningful reentry back into society, his story of recovery, and how earned compliance credits can ultimately lead to increased public safety.
EPISODE 11- Kentucky Director Joey Comley
02/20/2024
ROC Kentucky Director Joey Comley sits down with Britt Allen to discuss his military and law background, the next legislative session, and the state of the criminal justice system in Kentucky.
EPISODE 10- Virginia and West Virginia Director Danny Murphy
02/06/2024
ROC Virginia and West Virginia Director Danny Murphy sits down with Britt Allen to discuss his law background, legislative session, and the state of the criminal justice system in Virginia.
EPISODE 9- Kentucky Senator Whitney Westerfield on Juvenile Justice and Public Safety
01/09/2024
Right On Crime Director Joey Comley sits down with Kentucky Senator Whitney Westerfield to discuss the failures to fund juvenile justice initiatives and the impact on public safety. The two discuss the importance of evidence-based solutions and accountability for the criminal justice system in Kentucky.
EPISODE 8- Prosecutorial Innovation in America: Kentucky’s Groundbreaking H.E.A.R.T. Program
05/05/2023
Right On Crime and Prosecutorial Innovation in America Director Kurt Altman sits down with Rob Sanders, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Kentucky’s 16th Judicial Circuit, Kenton County to discuss the benefits of the H.E.A.R.T. program. This innovative and groundbreaking program sees a 92% success rate, meaning only an 8% recidivism rate in drug cases. Sanders says the H.E.A.R.T. program is effective because it saves taxpayers money by freeing up prison space, addressing addiction, and giving people a second chance to avoid prison. Sanders believes being tough on crime is about saving prison cells for violent criminals to keep the community safe, he says “We must draw the line on who we’re afraid of and who we’re mad at versus who we’re just annoyed with.” Learn more by watching the podcast.
EPISODE 7- Prosecutorial Innovation in America: SEPARATING INNOVATIVE PROSECUTORS FROM PROSECUTORS WHO ERODE THE RULE OF LAW
01/27/2023
How do innovative prosecutors separate themselves from prosecutors who dominate headlines for eroding the rule of law? Jefferson County West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney Matt Harvey tells Right On Crime’s Kurt Altman every prosecutor must ultimately uphold the fundamental foundation of government while staying focused on “The Three I’s of Harm.” Check out the latest episode of Prosecutorial Innovation in America.
Host: Kurt Altman, Prosecutorial Innovation Director for Right On Crime
Episode 6- Prosecutorial Innovation Creating Safer Communities in Two PA Counties
12/15/2022
As violent crime paralyzes cities across the nation, convicting the most violent and dangerous criminals is the job of a prosecuting attorney. While some rogue prosecutors have made headlines by abusing power, many more are doing the job right and upholding their sworn duty to keep communities safe.
The latest episode of The Right On Crime Podcast featuring Prosecutorial Innovation in America explores the good work being done in two Pennsylvania counties, York and Bucks, as we give a voice to prosecutors who are holding criminals accountable while thinking outside the box.
Host: Kurt Altman, Prosecutorial Innovation Director for Right On Crime
Episode 5- Clean Slate Legislation Changes Lives One State at a Time
12/09/2022
Right On Crime presents a conversation on the impact and future of Clean Slate legislation in Texas, Oklahoma, and states across the nation. Clean Slate Initiative’s National Campaign Manager Jesse Kelley joins ROC Directors Nikki Pressley and Marilyn Davidson to discuss why the issue of record clearance is grabbing the attention of state lawmakers nationwide.
Host: Nikki Pressley, Texas Director for Right On Crime
Episode 4- NO MORE LOCK & FEED- CREATING A TOTAL PACKAGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN MISSISSIPPI
11/03/2022
Straight-talking and mincing no words, Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain is determined to change the world of corrections and make Mississippi a model for prisons across the nation.
Host: Scott Peyton, Correctional Director at Right On Crime
Episode 3- Building Better Lives to Improve Public Safety, The Correctional Leadership Network
10/13/2022
Episode three of The Right On Crime Podcast features The Correctional Leadership Network with dynamic insights from Louisiana Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc whose decades long career focuses on “building better lives not bigger prisons.” ROC Director Scott Peyton sits down with Secretary LeBlanc to discuss his innovative leadership, achievements, and the implementation of historic criminal justice reforms making a difference in Louisiana.
Host: Scott Peyton, Correctional Director at Right On Crime
Episode 2 – Prosecutorial Innovation in America
8/3/2022
Right On Crime’s Prosecutorial innovation in America supports prosecutors willing to think outside the normal prosecutorial box with common-sense and data-driven innovations which reduce crime and recidivism but never compromise public safety. A risk-based approach which strengthens the Rule of Law is essential to conservative criminal justice reform.
Host: Kurt Altman, Prosecutorial Innovation Director at Right On Crime
Episode 1 – Correctional Leadership Network
7/25/2022
With a peek behind prison walls, correctional experts from Tennessee, South Carolina, and Arkansas share best practices and conservative solutions as they implement the good and bad of criminal justice policy.
Host: Scott Peyton, Correctional Director at Right On Crime