Newsletter Collection

August, 2024

Hi friends, 

It’s almost impossible to reconcile the difference between news headlines of violent crime in our communities and the conflicting statistics that claim crime rates are down across the nation. Until we all feel safe walking the streets in our own neighborhoods, there is always room for improvement in our criminal justice system. 

Police need the resources to do their jobs, and we all need to know if a criminal is caught committing a crime, there will be consequences. We should have no tolerance for selective prosecution, sentencing disparities, or outdated clearance rates which can all undermine our trust in any crime reports or election campaigns. 

At Right On Crime, our commitment is that every American is treated fairly, without ideological or political bias. The integrity of our system depends on its ability to function impartially, without interference from officials who might let their personal ideologies shape their actions. 

During these next few weeks leading up to the November election, pay close attention to those who offer real solutions over political rhetoric. With your support, at Right On Crime, we will continue to educate and advocate for criminal justice policies that offer every American a system that is fair, consistent, just, and one that prioritizes public safety. 

Thank you for your support. 

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

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ROC Director Scott E. Peyton joined the American Correctional Association at Nashville Congress of Correction to present on second chances and rehabilitation.

Arizona Director Kurt Altman joined the Legal Deep Dive on 12 News for legal analysis on a local case.

July, 2024

Hello friends,

As this election season intensifies, I can’t help but take issue with the trend in current political campaigns using the term “convicted felon.” As someone who has built a career prosecuting and defending felony crimes, I can tell you that irresponsibly throwing around this term does a lot more damage than to just one political candidate.

We know that 1 in 3 Americans has some type of criminal record, so this narrative carries lasting consequences for more than 100 million Americans. It also further stigmatizes individuals who have paid their dues and are following the rules to reintegrate into society.

Our nation was built on the values of redemption and second chances. When we support the reentry of felons, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those who paid fines or completed community service, we are offering a path to meaningful employment and safe places to live and raise families.

Challenging that stigma, we are also strengthening our communities and economy by hiring those with a criminal record and encouraging a loyal and motivated workforce. This, in turn, reduces recidivism by keeping these individuals out of prison, saving taxpayer dollars, and creating safer neighborhoods.

At Right On Crime, we advocate for a more thoughtful approach to discussing the criminal justice system. By choosing our words carefully, we can fix what’s broken, support efforts that foster conservative values, and ultimately create stronger and safer communities.

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

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Recap

Check out this great event recap of Clean Slate Initiative’s 2024 Annual Convening, where ROC’s Brett Tolman and Scott Peyton joined Sheena Meade and her team sharing best practices to reduce recidivism and remove barriers for second chances.

Director Kurt Altman joins ROC’s Britt Allen for an upcoming “Meet The Director” episode of the Right On Crime Podcast.

June, 2024

Hello there,

I hope you had a restful and fun-filled Fourth of July surrounded by family and friends. As I spent time with my loved ones, I couldn’t help but be filled with gratitude to live in the United States, a nation founded on the principles of liberty, justice for all, and the values and freedoms that make our country great. 

With that gratitude, we must also acknowledge the growing threats to these freedoms. Our justice system, once a beacon of fairness, is increasingly being weaponized against those who dare to oppose those in power. 

This troubling trend, which is nothing new but continues to grow, endangers the fundamental rights our forefathers fought so hard to secure.

That’s why our Right On Crime team is committed to fighting this misuse of the justice system to preserve the core American values of liberty and justice. We continue to advocate for change that ensures the law is applied effectively and fairly, regardless of political affiliation. 

Together, we can work toward a future where our justice system upholds the freedoms we all cherish and assures true justice for all.

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

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Recap

Right On Crime Director Scott Peyton presented at the American Probation and Parole Association’s 49th Annual Training Institute in Indianapolis on reentry and second chances

May 2024

Hello friends.

It’s not surprising in today’s heated political environment that politics is quickly taking over any fidelity to the Constitution or the rule of law. 

In my 25-plus year career as an attorney, I’ve witnessed our broken criminal justice system get it wrong. Indeed, even when all parties check their biases and fulfill their roles in good faith as prosecutor, judge, and jury, a verdict of guilty does not always mean the convicted is a criminal.

As the greatest nation in the world, we are number one in a single category: the United States incarcerates more of our population per capita than any other country.

At Right On Crime, we do not believe this is the evolution of a sound criminal justice system. It’s imperative to create conservative and data-driven legislative policies that reduce crime and avoid rhetoric disconnected from the interests of public safety.

We must stop weaponizing the law just because we are mad at or dislike someone- we must punish those who pose a real danger to our communities.

Let’s work together to keep politics in the halls of Congress and away from the halls of justice. We can hold our legal system more accountable, stop placating judicial abuse, and demand transparency at every step in the criminal justice process.

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

Top Stories

In the News

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Recap

ROC Director Scott Peyton visited the Opelousas Police Department for National Police Week, and to deliver donuts as a thank you for their service

ROC Director Joey Comley attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the workforce development & job training center at Men of Valor’s Antioch campus, where they will facilitate the reentry of 93 residents.

April 2024

Hello friends. As I write this, I’m reflecting on conversations this past week in Washington D.C. where I testified to members of Congress and visited with lawmakers about overcriminalization and how it weaponizes our justice system. 

I always say you won’t care about the criminal justice system until it cares about you or someone you love, and by then it’s likely too late. For the average American, it’s estimated we all commit three felonies every day. From writing a check for less than a dollar to making a false weather report, the Congressional Research Service, the Justice Department, and the American Bar Association have all tried and failed to identify and count our federal criminal laws and statutes. That means that Americans have given unbridled impunity to prosecutors and bureaucratic agencies. With more than 4,000 federal criminal laws and 300,000 federal regulatory offenses, bad characters have the ability to manipulate our criminal code for something other than the administration of fairness and justice. At Right On Crime, we advocate that our federal, state, and local governments stop creating new criminal offenses, over-regulating industries, arbitrarily licensing occupations, and ensure a culpable mental state if a law is broken. 

Join us in our mission to uphold the conservative values of consistency and fair application of our laws for every U.S. citizen. Our individual rights and integrity of the law depend on it. 

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

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In the News

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Recap

ROC Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, National Director Rachel Wright, and Chief of Staff Nikki Pressley met with Sen. Mike Lee to discuss conservative criminal justice policy.

At this month’s American First Policy Summit, ROC Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman discussed the weaponization of government and bringing back respect for the rule of law on a panel with AFPI’s Matthew Whitaker, former Attorney General of Florida and AFPI’s Pam Bondi, Author and Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and AFPI’s Jessica Hart Steinmann.

March 2024

Hi friends, 

I always say you won’t care about the criminal justice system until it cares about you or your family. By then, it might be too late.

My family lived through the fear and frustrations of an unsolved crime, and I’ve spent a 30-year career in criminal justice putting away criminals and holding our government accountable. The cornerstones of sound criminal justice policy include fiscal responsibility, individual liberties, and prioritizing public safety.

That mission drives our entire team at Right On Crime.  As former law enforcement, veterans, attorneys, and public servants, we hold steadfast to our conservative values and data-driven solutions in capitals across the nation.

Your belief in our Right On Crime mission fuels our efforts every step of the way. As conservatives, we will continue to examine the root causes of crime and tirelessly advocate for solutions that create stronger families and safer places for all of us to live and work.

Sincerely,

Brett Tolman 

Executive Director of Right On Crime and former U.S. Attorney

Top Stories

In the News

Watch

Recap

The Right On Crime team joined TPPF’s Texas Policy Summit in Austin, to lead the charge on conversations surrounding conservative criminal justice solutions, creating safer communities, and confronting the real danger for all Americans when our criminal justice system is weaponized for political gain.

At a United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 68th Session Parallel event in New York, ROC Idaho Director Jean Fisher discussed the life-changing wrap around services of the Faces of Hope in Idaho at the Empowerment Through Support: Best Practices from Women’s Centers.

ROC Director Scott Peyton moderated a panel at the Pelican Institute’s Summit Solutions Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on data driven public safety with ROC Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney Brett Tolman, Doug Deason, Micah Derry, and Diana Rademacher.