2024 presidential candidates on criminal justice

2024 presidential candidates on the issues

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Presidential election
Presidential candidates
Republican nomination

Democratic nomination

This page includes statements from the 2024 presidential candidates on criminal justice. These statements were compiled from each candidate's official campaign website, editorials, speeches, and debates.

The candidates featured on this page are the noteworthy Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2024 presidential election. Only candidates who address this page's issue on their campaign website, in public statements, or in public speeches have a quote featured on this page. See something we missed? Email us. The active noteworthy presidential candidates are:

Kamala Harris (D)
Donald Trump (R)
Chase Oliver (L)
Jill Stein (G)

Criminal justice

Democratic candidates

Kamala D. Harris

Harris' campaign website said, "As a prosecutor, Vice President Harris fought violent crime by getting illegal guns and violent criminals off California streets. During her time as District Attorney, she raised conviction rates for violent offenders—including gang members, gun felons, and domestic abusers. As Attorney General, Vice President Harris built on this record, removing over 12,000 illegal guns from the streets of California and prosecuting some of the toughest transnational criminal organizations in the world. In the White House, Vice President Harris helped deliver the largest investment in public safety ever, investing $15 billion in supporting local law enforcement and community safety programs across 1,000 cities, towns, and counties. [... As president,] she will also continue to invest in funding law enforcement, including the hiring and training of officers and people to support them, and will build upon proven gun violence prevention programs that have helped reduce violent crime throughout the country." ^{[source, as of 2024-09-09]}

Marianne Williamson

Wiliamson's campaign website said, "America’s criminal justice system creates just results for some people, but it is terribly unjust for far too many others. Research has shown that our history of 'tough on crime' laws have been directly responsible for America becoming the most incarcerated nation in the industrialized world. These laws disproportionately affect minorities and low-income communities. And because we do so little to rehabilitate those who are incarcerated, we have created a revolving door at our jails and prisons. Within five years of their release, three-quarters of formerly incarcerated persons are arrested once again, usually for minor infractions. Criminal justice has become both a political and moral disaster." ^{[source, as of 2023-12-19]}

Republican candidates

Ron DeSantis

In a Republican debate DeSantis said, "These hollowed out cities, this is a symptom of America’s decline. And one of the biggest reasons is because you have George Soros funding these radical left-wing district attorneys. They get into office and they say they’re not going to prosecute crimes. [...] And as President, we’re going to go after all of these people because they are hurting the quality of life, and they are victimizing innocent people in every corner of this country, and it will stop when I get into office." ^{[source, as of 2023-08-23]}

Asa Hutchinson

In his campaign annoucement, Hutchinson said, "What separates the United States from the rest of the world is our commitment to justice. The rule of law is the foundation for peace in our communities. I am the only candidate running for President with a breadth of experience in law enforcement. I will enforce the law and demand that local prosecutors do the same. Lawbreakers must be held accountable. Restoring respect for the law will not only reduce crime in our country; it will also bring out the best of America." ^{[source, as of 2023-04-02]}

Vivek Ramaswamy

In a Republican debate, Ramaswamy said, "We have a crime wave in this country, and we know how to fix it. The question is, do we actually have the spine to do it? More cops in the streets, who are on the streets able to do their jobs without looking over their shoulder for getting sued. And we also have a mental health epidemic in this country. Just over the same period that we have closed mental health institutions, we have seen a spike in violent crime." ^{[source, as of 2023-08-23]}

Donald Trump

Trump's campaign website said, "There is no higher priority than quickly restoring law and order and public safety in America. President Trump stands with the heroes of law enforcement. Joe Biden and the radical left politicians have defunded, defamed, and dismantled police forces across America. Murders spiked to all-time highs in Democrat-run cities and radical prosecutors and District Attorneys have given free rein to violent criminals who threaten our citizens. The streets of our once-great cities are now controlled by gangs and cartels, and plagued with mentally ill and drug-addicted homeless." ^{[source, as of 2023-12-21]}