Public safety should be measured by whether people are actually safe, healthy, and able to live with dignity—not by how many people we lock up. For decades, the United States has relied on mass incarceration and aggressive policing as a one-size-fits-all response to complex social problems, not because it works, but because powerful interests profit from it. Private prisons, cash bail systems, and punitive enforcement models have created a cycle where human suffering becomes a revenue stream. I believe we must invest in people, not prisons, by prioritizing housing, healthcare, education, and supportive services that prevent harm before it happens and create safer communities for everyone.

 

I support ending the death penalty, mandatory minimum sentences, cash bail, private prisons, and the failed war on drugs. These policies have not made us safer; they have enriched contractors, devastated families, and disproportionately harmed Black, brown, and low-income communities. We must stop criminalizing poverty, homelessness, and addiction by decriminalizing activities such as drug use and sex work, and instead focus on treatment, harm reduction, and economic stability. Incarceration should be a last resort and should be centered on rehabilitation, not punishment driven by political fear or profit incentives.

 

Public safety also requires rethinking the role of policing. Police cannot and should not be the primary response to every social issue, yet departments are often asked to fill gaps created by underfunded social services. I support ending broken-windows and quality-of-life policing, removing police from schools, decriminalizing truancy, and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. At the same time, I believe in using modern technology, data, and training to better protect both officers and residents, reduce unnecessary force, and prevent harm before it escalates. Public safety policy should be driven by evidence and accountability, not political optics.

 

Accountability is essential to trust, and trust cannot exist where power is shielded from consequences. I support ending qualified immunity, establishing independent civilian oversight with real authority, banning the use of tear gas and rubber bullets, and ending the transfer of military weapons and equipment to local police departments. Too often, misconduct is ignored or covered up because departments are insulated from oversight. Transparency, enforceable standards, and real consequences are necessary to protect constitutional rights and restore public confidence.

 

Reducing violence also means addressing its sources, not just its symptoms. I support strong gun violence prevention efforts, including enforcement against illegal trafficking and commonsense safety measures. I also believe we must take financial crime seriously. Fraud, white-collar crime, and the financial actors who enable and profit from violence, trafficking, and organized crime cause enormous harm but frequently escape accountability due to political influence and unequal enforcement. Public safety demands aggressive investigation and prosecution of these crimes—not just street-level offenses while powerful actors are ignored.

 

Finally, real safety requires second chances and real support for people harmed by both crime and the system itself. I support paying incarcerated people at least the federal minimum wage and expanding access to education, job training, healthcare, mental health services, and reentry support so people can successfully return to their communities. Victims of crime also deserve meaningful support, including trauma services and restorative justice options that focus on healing, accountability, and preventing future harm. A truly safe society is one that reduces violence by addressing its root causes, ends systems that profit from punishment, and ensures dignity, fairness, and justice for all.