Rachel A. Wright is the National Policy Director for Right On Crime. She brings almost a decade of prosecutorial and policy experience to this role and will rely on this background in advancing smart, effective, and data-driven criminal justice policy efforts.
Prior to joining Right on Crime, Rachel served as an Assistant Solicitor General at the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. In this position, she focused primarily on criminal appeals, providing written and oral advocacy to affirm convictions and defeat post-conviction and collateral claims. She also advised on illicit drug policy and crime issues, including working with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission to ensure that funds secured in the nationwide opioid settlement were resourcefully utilized across Kentucky.
Rachel also spent five years as counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C., where she advised Senators on legislation and committee hearings, particularly those dealing with illicit drug policy and criminal justice reform. In this position, Rachel was fortunate to staff Senator Grassley (R-Iowa) on the implementation of the First Step Act, as well as several other criminal justice focused bills.
Rachel began her legal career as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Kenton County, Kentucky, where she specialized on drug possession cases, particularly those where alternatives to incarceration – such as diversion and drug court – were effective. She also got to participate in multiple jury trials, including attempted murder, arson, and rape.
Rachel earned her bachelor’s degrees in political science and Spanish from the University of Kentucky and her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and dog. She loves to read, do barre workouts, and bake.