Rafael Mangual knows crime.

As a criminal justice policy analyst, legal commentator, and author, he has become a household name for his work on policing, public safety, and crime policy. He is the Nick Ohnell Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where his research focuses on crime trends, prosecution, bail reform, and the broader impacts of criminal justice policies on communities.

His commentary and analysis have also appeared in major media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The New York Times, and he is a frequent guest on national television and radio programs.

His book Criminal (In)Justice blows apart common narratives about mass incarceration, policing, and systemic bias in the U.S. criminal justice system.

We’re honored to have Rafael join us on Holding the Line for a discussion of recent crime trends, law enforcement strategies, and the impact of policy changes on public safety—including insights into hyperlocal crime phenomena, the effects of drug legalization, and the importance of proactive policing.

Episode Links:

Get Rafael’s book: https://manhattan.institute/book/criminal-injustice

New York Post: https://nypost.com/author/rafael-a-mangual/

Manhattan Institute: https://manhattan.institute/person/rafael-a-mangual

Read some of his latest op-eds on criminal justice and policing:

New York’s Self-Induced Repeat Offender Problem https://www.city-journal.org/article/new-york-criminal-history-prior-arrests

(NYT Gift Link!) The Left Keeps Getting It Wrong on Crime https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/opinion/crime-police-progressive-policy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dFA.aDkA.uP9o20DVaYRM&smid=url-share

What possible justification do Dems have for not letting ICE deport a sex offender? https://nypost.com/2026/02/02/opinion/what-possible-justification-do-dems-have-for-not-letting-ice-deport-a-sex-offender

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How often do law enforcement officers actually use force?

After digging into the data, it turns out violent encounters are incredibly rare.

Over a million 911 calls, only 0.1% involve ANY use of force.

This episode debunks common myths about police use of force, highlighting the gap between public perception and reality. Sean and Jason analyze survey data, media reports, and real-world cases to clarify misconceptions and discuss the impact on law enforcement and community trust.

And just for fun, Sean obliterates the Washington Post “fatal force” database.

This week Sean sat down with his old friend Patrick Kenneally, former states attorney for a county outside Chicago who, as he says, was “mugged by reality” by his wild experiences with the criminal justice system and the radical policies and practices he saw up close - and their deadly outcomes.

This was a highly entertaining episode - Patrick is a great storyteller and we know you'll really enjoy this one.

He discusses the importance of accountability, challenging traditional views on addiction as a disease—and proved that strict enforcement of drug laws saves lives.

Consent decrees: what are they, when did they start—and what has the impact been on law enforcement and crime?

Our guest, Bob Scales breaks down the political, financial, and social ramifications of these agreements and discusses why they often fail to achieve meaningful reform.

Key Topics:

The history and legal background of consent decrees, starting from Rodney King and the 1994 pattern of practice law

How the Obama administration dramatically increased the use of consent decrees and the shift towards monetization and extended enforcement

The political dynamics influencing which police departments are targeted and how investigations are often predetermined

The impact of consent decrees on police morale, costs, and crime rates, supported by city-specific examples like Seattle and Phoenix

The role of activists, attorneys, and political actors in shaping and perpetuating consent decree processes

Case studies of cities like Baltimore, Phoenix, and Memphis that challenged or resisted federal intervention

The pitfalls of relying on consent decrees for police reform versus internal improvements and voluntary change

Doug O'Connell is a former special forces officer and retired Army Colonel (Jason apologizes for mistaking him for a former JAG officer) with a passion for defending innocent military members and law enforcement officers.

Based in Austin, Texas, Doug and his team have gone toe to toe with the radical Soros-backed DA in Travis County many times in defense of wrongfully-charged law enforcement officers—and they just keep winning.

Doug even got the court to sanction Garza's office after catching them withholding exculpatory evidence at trial in 2022... and he's doing it again!

Doug has filed a Motion to Dismiss the criminal case pending against LELDF supported officer Chance Bretches—alleging the Travis County District Attorney’s Office purposefully withheld exculpatory evidence during discovery.

Jose Garza is one of the 40+ prosecutors nationwide whose offices are controlled by the Wren Collective.

Dig into our report on the Wren Collective: https://www.policedefense.org/outsourcing-justice/

Don't forget to hit subscribe—and leave us a five star rating and review!

Part 2: After the Verdict

This is the second part of our in depth interview with former East Haven police officer Dennis Spaulding—one of four officers indicted by the Obama DOJ in 2012 after he and his team uncovered a massive illegal immigrant fraud network using illegal license plates and insisted on doing their jobs—enforcing the law—in their small Connecticut town.

Last week the first part of this interview clearly struck a nerve.

We heard from so many of you—predominantly new listeners who were shocked by the story, who had never heard of the case... and who want to know what happened next!

This conversation has been one of our most anticipated follow-ups yet. Today in part two we pick up where that story left off: The activist priest who interfered with his duties, the trial... and Dennis takes us inside his time in federal prison—what he experienced, how he endured it, and the personal toll it took on him and his family.

He reflects on what it’s like to go from serving your community as a police officer to serving time as a federal inmate—when his youngest daughter was a newborn.

We also explore the aftermath of the case: what happened to the East Haven Police Department—and how this prosecution continues to impact him and his fellow officers to this day.

Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture: What a pardon by President Trump would mean for these men and their families.

Former East Haven, Connecticut police officer Dennis Spaulding joins us to share his horrifying story—and it's one you’ve likely never heard.

In 2012, the Obama DOJ indicted four officers from the East Haven Police Department—Dennis Spaulding, John Miller, David Cari, and Jason Zullo—after a federal investigation into allegations that members of the department had violated the civil rights of Latino residents.

This was nothing but a politically motivated prosecution fueled by anti-police activism and federal pressure to make an example out of a small police department enforcing immigration laws.

These men were not corrupt. They were not rogue actors. They were committed, decorated professionals engaged in the unglamorous work of enforcing the law in a community plagued by fraudulent vehicle registrations, gang activity, and illegal enterprises. Yet because many of those arrested happened to be undocumented immigrants, the DOJ sought to brand the entire department as racist.

Spaulding was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

In this interview, Spaulding shares his side of the story for the first time in depth—and his hopes that President Trump will issue him and his fellow officers a pardon that will allow them to move on with their lives.

Coming Next: In Part 2, we discuss the aftermath of the trial, Spaulding’s time in federal prison, and the broader questions his case raises about federal civil rights prosecutions of police officers.

Leftwing activists have been targeting Sheriff Mike Chapman of Loudoun County, Virginia over his support of School Resource Officers for elementary schools in the district... but the slogans they're screaming don't make any sense.

The Sheriff joins the podcast to discuss the unique aspects of law enforcement in his jurisdiction, give insights on school security and safety, and so much more.

Sheriff Mike Chapman has devoted a lifetime to law enforcement. His book Step Up and Lead addresses the ups and downs leaders face, examples of what works and what doesn't, and how his unique "Step Up" strategy of improved Service, Technology, Efficiency, and Professionalism can help you succeed in your own organization.

Get your copy here: https://stepupandleadbook.com