Vera Action

Safety is a feeling. Even if crime is down, voters’ personal experiences and concerns matter. Everyone deserves to be safe, and even one act of violence is too many. For more, check out our most recent interactive polling report: veraaction.org/serious-about-…

"I have come to believe that a system that cannot reassess its own decisions risks losing sight of its purpose: to hold people accountable, to protect the public and to ensure that punishment remains fair and proportionate over time." nytimes.com/2026/04/14/opi…

Voters want better policing, not more policing. And they know that police can't be a one-size-fits-all solution to every social problem. Check out our NEW interactive webpage to see how voters in 2026 are thinking about policing, based on our research. ⬇️ veraaction.org/serious-about-…

Under AG Pam Bondi, the DOJ terminated ~$820 million in funding for safety programs that support causes such as violence prevention, law enforcement training, victim services, and youth justice. Her time leading the department made all of us less safe. davisvanguard.org/2026/04/bondi-…

94 percent of Democratic voters support providing government-funded attorneys for everyone who cannot afford one, including people in immigration court. vera-institute.files.svdcdn.com/production/dow…

The conventional political wisdom about crime is wrong. In poll after poll, voters favor a "serious about safety" approach—bringing together evidence-backed policies to deliver safety—over a "tough on crime" one. Got questions? Our website has answers: veraaction.org/serious-about-…

New York City Public Advocate @JumaaneWilliams on the creation of the Office of Community Safety: "We can't be focused, as leaders, on simply looking to be 'tough on crime.' We have to be serious about safety."

Last week, @NYCMayor Zohran Mamdani announced the creation of the Office of Community Safety (OCS), a step toward his campaign promise to address real concerns about crime. Comprehensive investments—not "tough on crime" band-aids—will deliver real safety for New Yorkers.

"This new approach — backed by both evidence and polling — is to be 'serious about safety.' This means delivering strong, accountable policing to solve serious crimes; investing in schools, jobs, housing and treatment; and targeting illegal guns to prevent crime and break its cycle."

Crime is down. Trump doesn't deserve credit. "Instead of letting Trump run through his well-worn playbook and continue to dictate the politics of crime, Democrats must go on offense," writes incoming Vera Action president Insha Rahman for @TheHillOpinion thehill.com/opinion/crimin…

Today, Vera Institute of Justice and @veraactionorg name Insha Rahman as the next president and director.

Ahead of tonight's State of the Union address, we need to be clear about the false narrative that Trump’s aggressive crackdowns are the reason crime is down. His administration's militarized invasions of U.S. cities and immigration raids are about power, not safety. #SOTU 🧵

In the latest episode of We Dream, @janosmarton dives in with Insha Rahman, VP of Advocacy and Partnerships at the @verainstitute, on challenging the politics of fear shaping today’s crime debate 🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/6skZ8k…

We released a policy agenda to deliver real safety that Americans can feel in their daily lives. davisvanguard.org/2026/02/vera-i…

Voters want to see investments that reduce harm, stabilize communities, and ensure accountability. For an agenda that champions the shared values of safety, accountability, and justice, look here: veraaction.org/resource/a-new…

Across the country, people are watching the Trump administration justify extreme militarized actions under the guise of crime control. To counter Trump’s punitive escalation, lawmakers need an affirmative policy agenda that offers proven solutions to build safe communities. 📽️

Voters want to see investments that reduce harm, stabilize communities, and ensure accountability. For an agenda that champions the shared values of safety, accountability, and justice, look here: veraaction.org/resource/a-new…

Vera Action’s 40+ rounds of polling and research consistently show that a majority of Americans—including Independents—prefer leaders who are "serious about safety," not reflexively "tough-on-crime."

It’s time for a new paradigm on safety. Today, we’re releasing a policy agenda that outlines real, proven solutions to counter crime fearmongering, rebuild trust with voters, and deliver safety people can feel in their daily lives. 🧵 Read it here: veraaction.org/resource/a-new…