Words: In terms of tort reform, Edwards feels more responsibility should lie with lawyers than with victims. He believes more DNA testing would reduce wrongful capital convictions, but supports the death penalty for “heinous crimes”. He endorses stricter penalties for hate crimes and feels that our justice system is not color-blind. “I support greater emphasis on drug treatment and elimination of mandatory minimums for certain non-violent crimes. I also support reform of our probation and parole systems to provide more support and supervision.”

Actions: Edwards voted FOR funding the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program (1999). CURE has given him a rating of 63%.

More about: Crime & Punishment, John Edwards.