Twenty-five years ago I graduated from the University of Utah College of Law and took a job as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Bingham County. I have practiced in criminal law in Bingham County–in approximately equal parts as a defense attorney and as a prosecutor–ever since.

I have a great appreciation for our criminal justice system. I agree with those who describe it as “the best criminal justice system in the world”.

However, we can, and must, do better.

As an Idaho attorney with two-and-a-half decades of experience in criminal cases, I believe I can offer valuable insight and perspective in reforms which will improve the criminal justice system in Idaho. I do not, as of right now, have a proposal or a plan for reform. I do have some thoughts and ideas.

It isn’t enough to be “tough on crime”. We need to be “smart on crime”.

“Tough on crime” means more and more jail cells and prison beds. It means higher expenditures and higher taxes. It means high recidivism rates and low success rates when it comes to rehabilitation. “Tough on crime” means lots of people in jail cells as they wait for their day in court, before guilt has been admitted or proven. “Tough on crime” means too much collateral damage in the form of marriages that are destroyed and children who are deprived of the influence of one or both parents.

“Smart on crime” means a commitment to exploring rehabilitation of Idahoans who have substance abuse issues and are nonviolent offenders. “Smart on crime” means using our prisons to address our dangerous offenders while looking to help those who can and will be helped to obtain tools and skills needed to become productive, law-abiding citizens. “Smart on crime” means not holding a societal grudge on those who have been in the system but who have paid their debt to society. “Smart on crime” means less collateral damage and more healing.

“Common Sense Conservatism” means that we don’t overspend tax dollars on non solutions.

I do not pretend to have all the answers when it comes to criminal justice policy. But, as a person who has experience in the criminal justice system, my commitment is to look for and embrace common sense reform that reduces out-of-pocket expenditures, reduces collateral damage to society, increases rehabilitation of nonviolent offenders and increases the likelihood of getting offenders out of the criminal justice “spiral”, and into productive, law-abiding life.