WASHINGTON -- As president, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders would expand the federal government's role in reforming criminal justice across the country, they told The Huffington Post in answer to a 20-question survey last month. What would the Republican candidates do? They didn't say.

Perhaps it's not surprising that the GOP candidates refused to explain their views. While the issues of criminal justice and police reform have played a major role in the Democratic campaign, they haven't loomed nearly as large for Republicans. The remaining GOP candidates occasionally claim that President Barack Obama does not offer adequate rhetorical support for police officers. But otherwise, they haven't made clear what actions they would take as president to improve the nation's law enforcement system.