BERKELEY, Calif.—When scholars from the Right and Left recently met at UC Berkeley School of Law to debate what to do about surging crime, the event provided a rare opportunity to identify key philosophical and policy fault lines as Americans ponder policing and criminal justice.
The conference, sponsored by Berkeley Law and The Heritage Foundation, featured not only scholars from across the political spectrum but district attorneys and former district attorneys—including San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin, now a professor at the law school and director of Berkeley’s Criminal Law & Justice Center. (The Daily Signal is Heritage’s news and commentary outlet.)
What became apparent throughout the conference is the stark contrast between each side’s view of human nature.
Although both sides said they want fewer crimes, a wide and seemingly intractable gulf appeared…
