Lisel Petis

Congress is moving to tie police funding to state bail policy. That approach ignores federalism, undermines local decision making, and risks weakening public safety rather than strengthening it. @RSI rstreet.org/commentary/why…

The other side of smart bail reform people don't generally know: “When violent offenders are detained, they lose the ability to harm our communities...Bail reform is being utilized as a public safety tool, to keep the most dangerous offenders detained." breakingac.com/news/2026/apr/…

The Safer Supervision Act is a smart move for public safety, with support from law enforcement, retired probation officers + federal judges, and people of all political stripes.

While cost concerns are common with efficiency changes, the status quo is far pricier. Some states have shown courts can move cases faster without cutting corners. When proven models exist, delay becomes a choice. @RSI rstreet.org/commentary/the…

Last year you got "Why Marvel’s Recidivism Rate Is Lower than DC’s." This year, you must check out @RSI's latest by @LoganSeacrest: "The Jedi Order Has a Criminal Justice Problem." rstreet.org/commentary/why…

More than half of all murders in America go unsolved. 🔒 ⚠️ Violent crime clearance rates sit at just 40%. ⚠️ Sex assault clearance rates? Below 25%. ⚠️ Property crimes? Single digits. 💡Young Voices debate speaker @smayranderson (@RSI) made a powerful point at our latest Oxford-style debate: “You can’t incarcerate people you don’t catch.” Sarah argues the primary problem in our criminal justice system isn’t a shortage of prison capacity — it’s a shortage of certainty that criminals will be caught and punished at all. ❌ Millions of victims never see justice. Communities lose faith in law enforcement. And building more prisons won’t fix that. Is she right? 🤔 🎥 Watch the full debate on our YouTube channel. 📲 Follow @joinyoungvoices for more insights from our live debates. #CriminalJustice #Crime #PublicSafety #Justice #CriminalLaw

‼️The current sentencing debate is not just soft vs. tough. It is whether the system has any room for judgment once the years start piling up. @smayranderson explains why second look laws are gaining traction, and why a serious public safety agenda should care about review, not just rhetoric.

"Will we protect individual liberty even when it risks political blowback? Will we constrain executive power even when we might agree with its aims? Will we defend institutional independence even when it's inconvenient?" @SL_Schaeffer @RSI rstreet.org/commentary/def…

Read the full article by @LiselPetis here: rstreet.org/commentary/haw…

Earlier this week, I testified before the #Maryland House Judiciary Committee in support of HB 360 — the #CleanSlateAct of 2026 — on behalf of @RSI. The bill would create an automated process to shield certain eligible criminal records after a period of law-abiding conduct. 🧵

Every year, more than 500 children under 11 are referred to Virginia's juvenile justice system on delinquency complaints. That could change soon with a new bill that sets the floor for arresting kids at 11. (THREAD)

I had the distinct pleasure of getting to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in my beloved state of #Colorado yesterday, in support of Senate Bill 115, which would establish a #SecondLook process for some individuals serving lengthy prison sentences. #COLeg #SB115

Its important to remember that most murders are not committed by illegal immigrants. False facts create false solutions.

Due to the misinformation spread at the SOTU about the horrific murder of Iryna, Im reposting this piece. rstreet.org/commentary/get…

It's time to retire the "it's not x, it's y" sentence construction. AI has ruined it. If you post it, I'll assume you're writing with a robot. That's not satire—it's survival. Desist.

3/ Read the full article by @LiselPetis here: rstreet.org/commentary/haw…

I get everyone is excited to see checks and balances work, but we talk a little more about how concerning this is?

Perfect words by Supreme Justice Gorsuch.

Great to see Hawaii continue to propose ways to improve their pretrial system. @rsi rstreet.org/commentary/haw…

Fatal shootings in Minneapolis have created a moment where body cameras went from a niche policy discussion to a front-page issue. Happy to chat with @AVPMikeFerguson this morning about where the field is headed.